Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com

[Helmets of Japan]

Looking to pick up a japanese rifle. I like the type 99. Question is what is more collectible, the type 99 or the last ditch type 99 with wood butt plate Etc?

Michael

[gwsiii]

It depends on what you like, I think the Transition, and Last Ditch rifles have much more character than the earlier guns with pods and all the goodies, so to me that makes them more collectible.

The rarest is probably the 12th series(last ditch), followed by the 45th series (transition), from there double circles (early/transition/last ditch) and rope holes (last ditch), and then the rest of the last ditch guns, transition guns, early guns.

You'll need to start with 3. Early (all bells and whistles: pod, rod, wings, dc), Transition (no pod, w/ or w/out wings, and rod), and Last Ditch (no extra parts, just your basic rifle (stock with action and fixed rear sight, rope hole for sling is most desirable as a rule).

In general you'll pay through the nose for matching and mummed, I collect rifles, not flowers, so mums don't really matter unless I'm upgrading. Decide on whether you want them all, or if you want to specialize, some folks use a 3 strike rule, varying what the strikes are: refinished, ground, not matching, missing parts, etc. I buy what I like: for 99s matching and in original condition, if very rare, I'll buy what I can find. Type 38s, non series guns, I buy pretty original condition matching/mum not required, series guns, I buy pretty original condition, matching required, mum not required. Of course, if its cheap, rare, or I just like it, I'll buy it reqardless. Buy the nicest you can afford and you're almost always happy. I've never paid too much for an Arisaka, but I have bought a bunch several years too soon. A wise man once told me the only gun deals he regretted where the ones that he sold, and the ones that he didn't buy......But ultimately it is up to you to decide what you want to collect, and how you want to go about it.
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I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!

[Helmets of Japan]

Hmmmm I am looking at a type 99 and a last ditch version. I kinda like the one with the goodies still on it for now.

Michael