Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com

[Francis C. Allan]

I just attended the Lakeland Gun Show. I spotted a counterfeit Test Type 1 Folding Stock Carbine. It was fabricated from a very beat up 2nd Series Kokura carbine rather than a 4th or 5th Series Nagoya carbine. It is a glaring fake, using brass welding on the fabricated hinge. Really a BAD counterfeit that would not fool even a beginner.

Unfortunately for me I could not contain myself and laughed when I first examined it. The dealer became furious and demanded I put it down and leave the table. He had also seen my BANZAI hat and knew that I was qucikly able to deduce it as a fake. He then put a large "Do Not Handle" sign on the carbine and refused my request to examine it further. I was not quick enough to get the serial number. I did have a friend who was at the show try to examine it, but the dealer was suspicious and would not let him handle it for more than a couple of seconds. There were fake Japanese characters on the top of the chamber and the tag indicated it was re-chambered for 7.7mm and that it was a "Prototype". And the dealer wanted $3,850!!!!!!!!

Frank
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Francis C. Allan
20Courtney Place
Palm Coast, FL 32137

(386) 445-4225

[arisakadogs]

You should be able to take photos of scoundrels like that & post them here & everywhere as a warning. Unbelieveable!
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"A woman, a dog & and a walnut tree. The more ya beat em, the better they be" (From "The Red Bagde of Courage")

[seinen]

Frank,

Sounds suspiciously like the one that was described on the "other" Japanese Forum a couple of weeks ago. That one was fairly rapidly deduced to be a fake, based on the described chamber markings and hinge. Here's a link to the thread:

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=29589

C/

[gwsiii]

Frank/Chip, correct me if I'm wrong, but externally they are easy to fake, but isn't the internal and periphreal mechanism of the hinge and its 'assemblies' a little more complicated than the crudeness implies? Trey
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I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!

[Francis C. Allan]

Yes, the latching mechanism is pretty complicated with a male protrusion in the rear half that enters a female cavity in the front, which trips part of the latch. The hinge itself is very crude. A further point is that if the weapon is in very good condition you can often see the remnants of the black paint that was applied on the hinge and mechanism parts. Mine only has a very few patches of it left.

However, few people have examined originals closely and might be fooled by a counterfeit. LET THE BUYER BEWARE.

Frank
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Francis C. Allan
20Courtney Place
Palm Coast, FL 32137

(386) 445-4225

[DEFUC]

Great tip on the counterfiet gun, Frank,Its always good to know where the fakes are... Im sort of a cavaet emptor guy when it comes to stuff myself also tho,if someone spends $3800 on something without having spent a few little time, and maybe a couple $30-$60 books ,I cant feel to much sympathy. Theres this really good t-38 book out there by this Allen guy that might prevent people doing really dumb purchases. I think I saw an ad for it somewhere recently .I think Trey said he could get someone an autographed copy for a extra $20 bucks.

[gwsiii]

Yes, thanks Frank!

Dave, you misquoted me, I'll sign anyone's book, anyway they want it for $20+ shipping (both ways)
_________________
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!