Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com

Winterhawk · Joined: Jun 30 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Texas

My 99 was given to me 47 years ago by one of my great uncles who obtained it on island of Saipan while taking Aslito Field. It was battle claimed all original matching numbers , crysanthamum intact complete with bayonet. rifle is series #2 mfg in Nagoya bayonet is from Kokura arsenal/armory.

gwsiii · Joined: Aug 21 2003 Posts: 2240 Location: Hayden, AL

Very nice, nothing like having a rifle with family history, mine is a Type 38 Carbine my Grandad brought back after the occupation. Trey
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I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!

whitesharkseeker · Joined: Oct 13 2006 Posts: 16

That is, without a doubt, the most beautiful T99 that I have ever seen...and comes complete with history! Glad that it's staying in the family (even though it would make an excellent musuem piece). Was your great uncle in the army or marines? The Army's 27th Inf Div (165th Regt.) captured Aslito airfield.

Thanks for posting, Eric

whitesharkseeker · Joined: Oct 13 2006 Posts: 16

I knew a former soldier who served in the 105th Inf. Regt on Saipan and brought back a Japanese knee mortar and beautiful Samurai sword captured from an officer that he had shot during the famous banzai charge on 7 July. Anyway, it was neat to hear the stories about the battle.

-Eric

Winterhawk · Joined: Jun 30 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Texas

My great Uncles were both in the 27th Infantry Division, although one was in the Combat Engineer Battalion of the 1341st. The story I was told was that when they took the airfield there was little resistance. In fact they only found one Japanese soldier hiding there. Hard to believe sinc ethe island was apparently crawling with japanes ordered to hold the airfield. I'm not sure where the rifle was captured but I think he mentioned fighting on the way to the airfield the day prior to them capturing the airfield. I remember having the monopod with the rifle when I was young but never knew what it was for. Somewhere along the way growing up and moving, it got seperated and lost. I'm going to try and completely restore her with a new cleaning rod, sling, and monopod. Tracing some of it's history adds to its personal value for me.