New "Last Ditch" Kokura Type 99 Full Mum

[artyldr01]

Good Evening.

I acquired a gorgeous "last ditch" Type 99, Toyo Kogyo Series 35 rifle. I thought it was a Kokura but dug deeper. This is conceivably a survivor of the Hiroshima attack SN 56550. I am still very new to Japanese rifles but bought the McCollum book to help. The only parts with Serial Number markings are the receiver, bolt handle and extractor. The stock hasn't been messed with at all. It came with a bayonet which is completely unmarked. My initial research is that it is a either also a "last ditch" or training bayonet, I am leaning towards training. I couldn't be happier. I'll let you look at the photos and any thoughts and opinions are appreciated! It is hard to fathom this rifle may have been on the assembly line when the Enola Gay changed life for ever.

[artyldr01]

A few more photos

[psteinmayer]

Pretty sweet condition for a last-ditch! Interesting that the bolt handle is the plum shape... not often seen in a last ditch! Is the safety knurled, lined, or welded? The series marks are sometimes hard to decipher... and to be honest, that could almost be a 12. Is there another mark next to the arsenal mark? You can use this data sheet to identify the markings: http://www.gunboards.com/sites/banzai/DataSheets/M99/M99Data.htm#Model_99


Dean... what do you think?

[artyldr01]

I just realized (and edited the original post and title) this is a Series 35 Toyo Kogyo rifle, based on it's late SN 55650, it is quite possibly a Hiroshima survivor. I clearly have much more research to do but indications are that it was made in the very last months of WW2 and the arsenal was in Hiroshima. WOW...

Thank you for the data sheet and assistance!

[Deano41]

Toyo Kogyo kept the plum shaped bolt handle throughout production. "The high s/n for the 35th series rifles reported in Military Rifles of Japan is 56591, although at least one higher is known."

[psteinmayer]

I thought it looked like a 35... Yes, that is a Toyo Kogyo 35!

Thanks Dean... I didn't know that later Toyo Kogyos kept the plum!

Paul

[artyldr01]

Toyo Kogyo kept the plum shaped bolt handle throughout production. "The high s/n for the 35th series rifles reported in Military Rifles of Japan is 56591, although at least one higher is known."


Thank you for confirming. So is it a safe assumption this was made in July or August 45?

[Jkibler2]

I too have a series 35 about ten thousand earlier than yours. You have a nice Rifle. I shot mine with Norma ammo. Damn thing is pretty accurate!

[dave]

That bayo is hardly a 'last ditch or training'. the hooked quilian (sp?) was done away with long before last ditch stuff was resorted to.

[artyldr01]

Other posts I have read suggest that it is a training bayonet since it does have the quillion, fuller, and no blade markings. It does have a number 16 on the right side handle wood, perhaps a rack number?

[dave]

As for the quillion, other posts are incorrect! Altho it could be a very early made trainer, I suppose. The handle does look a 'lil crude and narrow so perhaps it was made up of used or condemned parts and used for training or whatever. But the curves on bottom of handle also indicates early style altho they are rather severe. It does look strange! Last ditch had straight square handles, small
qullions, bamboo or wood sheaths with twine to hold half's together.

[artyldr01]

So I spoke to the gentleman I got it from. He said it was covered in cosmoline and that he used mineral spirits and Murphy's Oil soap only to clean it. I don't know what that would do to the originality of the finish. Does it remove it completely, modify it, or is it minimal impact? With this information, what does that tell you about how close this is to original coloring and what your beliefs and recommendations are as to my suggested actions (leave it as is or some degree of "restoration?" It sounds "minimally invasive" to me, or am I wrong? Thanks again to all!

[Deano41]

Picture #3 that you posted on the gunboards forum, 1/1/2017 shows the difference between the original color and what's on there now. Urishi is a pretty durable finish, and not cut by mineral spirits or Murphy's oil soap. The person who stripped and refinished the stock probably used varnish or clear lacquer to finish it. Either "post original" finish can be removed with Formby's Furniture Finisher. You could then attempt to re-stain the stock closer to the original finish, and reseal it with satin lacquer.
That's quite a project,and I'm not sure I would do that, but rather leave the stock as it is.

[artyldr01]

That's what I'm thinking too. Anything more done to this is further degrading any history. Oh well, once again should have done more research before pulling the trigger, so to speak, but I still love that it is all matching and one of the last Type 99s made.

[pdawg1911]

As for the quillion, other posts are incorrect! Altho it could be a very early made trainer, I suppose. The handle does look a 'lil crude and narrow so perhaps it was made up of used or condemned parts and used for training or whatever. But the curves on bottom of handle also indicates early style altho they are rather severe. It does look strange! Last ditch had straight square handles, small
qullions, bamboo or wood sheaths with twine to hold half's together.

I think the better question is - is it dull on the cutting edge ? Every trainer rifle that I have owned that had a bayonet with it, the bayonet edge was so thick that best you could do with it was beat butter, but not cut it.

Regards,
Pat

[artyldr01]

I think the better question is - is it dull on the cutting edge ? Every trainer rifle that I have owned that had a bayonet with it, the bayonet edge was so thick that best you could do with it was beat butter, but not cut it.

Regards,
Pat

It is quite dull, and, it is almost curved like an "S" it is so NOT straight! LOL

[TSimonetti]

Aren't finger grooves in the stock normally absent in last ditch rifles? Or was that perhaps a feature of that particular manufacturer so late in the war?

[artyldr01]

Aren't finger grooves in the stock normally absent in last ditch rifles? Or was that perhaps a feature of that particular manufacturer so late in the war?


Toyo Kogyo, generally kept higher quality all the way to the end. Other than the systemic changes (peep sight vs. anti-aircraft sights, monopods, etc) their quality was top notch (though clearly not the same as at the beginning of the war). For example, they maintained the "plum" shaped knob on the bolt though others went to the barrel/quicker made variety. It is also possible, they had the quantity of "finger groove" stocks available through the end of the war.

[Deano41]

Looks like you've been doing your "homework" AL1. I looked in "the book" this morning, and it mentioned that that arsenal was using anything they could get, including prior rejected stocks to complete their rifles.