Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com Forum Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com
An information board for the Collector of Nippon Militaria
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch    Back to Castle-Thunder.comCastle-Thunder.com    MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
  Castle-Thunder.com ChatLive Chat    ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

type 44 Carbine bayonet field repair?

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com Forum -> Japanese Weapons and Militaria
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
gwsiii



Joined: Aug 21 2003
Posts: 2228
Location: Hayden, AL

PostPosted: Wed Feb 15, 2006 3:32 pm    Post subject: type 44 Carbine bayonet field repair? Reply with quote

I picked up a pretty neat Type 44 carbine the other week. The condition and wear on the stock indicate heavy use in the China campaign. I've been cleaning on it a little at a time, and something about it has been bothering me. I realized the other night, its the bayonet release button. It is slotted, not knurled, and the wedge that attaches to it is crudely made. The rifle is a first variation Tokyo, serial number is O 10683. All numbers match except for bayonet housing and bolt. Bolt release spring is blue, so that, coupled with preceding 'O' in the serial number lead me to believe it is an early rework.

Here are pictures of the housing.







The main difference in this and an original locking mechanism is that an original wedge includes the post for the thumb button to screw on to. Once permanently attached and staked, the button is knurled. This one, as you can see, is quite simplified, and used a screw and crudely hand tooled wedge instead of an intricately machined wedge with post.








struck mum, (almost looks gouged out with a chisel) indicative of a post war souvenir, not a captured chinese import.


note fuller on left side almost completely smooth, and how far below receiver line (serial number area) stock is worn.

All in all, probably my worst conditioned Type 44, but quite interesting. If this one could only talk!
_________________
Subscribe to BANZAI!
Fill out a Japanese Rifle Datasheet.
I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Bushido101



Joined: Feb 11 2006
Posts: 46

PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 12:26 pm    Post subject: T44 Reply with quote

That is a neat T44, unusual repair, I have a T44 that has a lot of stock wear also, the left finger groove on mine is almost worn flat, also on the area just below the serial number and the number is worn a little also, these old rifles saw a lot of use and have a lot of history, also mine has been handled so much the mum even looks a little worn all in all very interesting rifles.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
gwsiii



Joined: Aug 21 2003
Posts: 2228
Location: Hayden, AL

PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 1:17 pm    Post subject: 44 carbine Reply with quote

I expect that the weakness of the mum, numbers, and markings may be a result of the hard use in the elements coupled with quasi-reworks somewhere close by that involved buffing, rebluing only, and half-assed replacement of broken/missing parts. There is just too much blue left on these for the metal to be so worn without more affecting the finish. These rifles saw hard use! The stocks are worn from true Cavalry use, with rifle slung over the shoulder and the stock rubbing against various pieces of field equipment and the soldiers back. While I like my fine condition 1st variations, they probably sat in a warehouse throughout the war, whereas this little jewel was right in the thick of things for 30 years, 'defending the Empire from outside aggression and conquest' (for lack of a better, more politically correct term) and I think that adds a lot of character. I don't think you find many other military weapons from anywhere but Asia that saw this much use. Trey
_________________
Subscribe to BANZAI!
Fill out a Japanese Rifle Datasheet.
I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Bushido101



Joined: Feb 11 2006
Posts: 46

PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 2:15 pm    Post subject: T44 Reply with quote

I really do not like beat up rifles, you might say I like them when they have that well used look, I think the stock on mine with the wear along the left side of the stock really looks good, by the way the stock on mine is worn in just about the same places as yours and worn about the same ammount
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
gwsiii



Joined: Aug 21 2003
Posts: 2228
Location: Hayden, AL

PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 2:42 pm    Post subject: Type 44 Reply with quote

If you haven't, please fill out a Type 44 datasheet on yours and send it to Frank Allan, he is currently working on a book on the 6.5 family. Are ours very close in serial numbers? Trey
_________________
Subscribe to BANZAI!
Fill out a Japanese Rifle Datasheet.
I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Bushido101



Joined: Feb 11 2006
Posts: 46

PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 4:22 pm    Post subject: T44 Reply with quote

Mine is a five digit number with three zero's before the number, I can't get over it the wear pattern on the left side of the stock is almost exactly the same as mine.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bushido101



Joined: Feb 11 2006
Posts: 46

PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 4:23 pm    Post subject: T44 Reply with quote

My dad picked this one up at Iwo Jima
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
gwsiii



Joined: Aug 21 2003
Posts: 2228
Location: Hayden, AL

PostPosted: Sat Feb 18, 2006 7:06 pm    Post subject: Type 44 Reply with quote

That is a great piece of history! Thanks for sharing it. Trey
_________________
Subscribe to BANZAI!
Fill out a Japanese Rifle Datasheet.
I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
arisakadogs



Joined: Oct 05 2003
Posts: 191

PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 11:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Seems I've heard of a fair number of T-44s being picked up on Iwo Jima. I don't have my books handy, but I seem to recall that some cavalry troops were there.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
gwsiii



Joined: Aug 21 2003
Posts: 2228
Location: Hayden, AL

PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:19 pm    Post subject: cavalry Reply with quote

I don't have any books on the makeup of the fighting forces on the various islands. The wear would indicate that the rifle would have been from a unit involved in the china campaign. Or at least that's where the weapon had started out. Trey
_________________
Subscribe to BANZAI!
Fill out a Japanese Rifle Datasheet.
I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Bushido101



Joined: Feb 11 2006
Posts: 46

PostPosted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 3:55 pm    Post subject: T44 Reply with quote

I've seen at least three T44's that came from Iwo Jima, wonder if they were reissue to japanese troops or what ?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
arisakadogs



Joined: Oct 05 2003
Posts: 191

PostPosted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'll have to dig for my Iwo books. I believe there were some seasoned cav. troops that went to Iwo from China. This would explain the worn stocks.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com Forum -> Japanese Weapons and Militaria All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum



Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group