Strange Japanese Rifle (?)

[Tom in N.J.]

A friend of mine sent me this photo of Japanese troops on Corregidor. What kind of rifle is the man on the right holding??

[mhb]

Hard to tell...

but it looks like a sporting rifle, rather than a military one. Possibly captured with the defenders of Corregidor.
Actually, I'd like to imagine I can make out the front sight, shadow of a Lyman 48 receiver sight, and suggestion of a cocking piece knob, which would make it a sporterized Springfield, maybe even an NRA Sporter. But that's stretching what can actually be seen...
mhb - Mike

[dave]

The guy holding it does not seem to be wearing all the gear the others have. Perhaps an officer? Using anything he wants? It sure is a sporter, I agree, probably a captured rifle.

[RCS]

In Col John Olson's book "Anywhere-Anytime" the history of the 57th Infantry PS on Bataan, shows on page 154, that Gen Wainwright presented Col Lilly on March 11, 1942, his Springfield 1903 sporter. I am sure some of the US officers purchased either NM 1903's or 1903 Sporters during the 1930's as personal weapons. The rifle in the photo sure looks like a 1903 Sporter !

[mhb]

I'd like to think...

that, if it is an NRA Sporter, it had earned its owner, whoever he was, some few notches.
You could do a lot worse than an NRA Sporter for that sort of shooting match.

mhb - Mike

[Tuna]

That almost looks like a Krag carbine he is holding but it's hard to tell from the photo. What ever it is it's definitely not a full size rifle.

[mhb]

Almost definitely not...

a Krag carbine: the barrel is too long, the stock is wrongly proportioned, and has a pistol grip, among other details. It does appear to be a full sized 1903 (the Sporter and the issue rifles both had 24" barrels), if that is what it is, but with the (a) sporter stock.

mhb - Mike

That almost looks like a Krag carbine he is holding but it's hard to tell from the photo. What ever it is it's definitely not a full size rifle.

[dave]

Did '03 sporters have hand grooves in stock?

[Guamsst]

Front sight looks to me like it matches the profile of an 03 sight perfectly.

[mhb]

No...

they don't. At least, the NRA Sporter does not.
This is another of the uncertainties about what we see in the photo: are there finger grooves? But the profile of the stock, especially the fact that it is pistol-gripped, make it obvious (to me, at least) that this is not a standard Krag carbine. Then, too, if those are finger grooves on the stock, the sideplate of the Krag magazine should be visible, as well, were it a Krag action.
That's my story, and I'm sticking with it...

mhb - Mike

Did '03 sporters have hand grooves in stock?

[Rick the Librarian]

It would be interesting if someone could locate a full resolution picture or scan of the picture and see. Picture taken at either Battery Hearn or Smith on Corregidor.

[dave]

I agree---not a Krag or a NRA sporter (stock at least). Face it---we will never know!

[dave]

Could it be a '03 M1 or M2, .22 rifle? Who's to say one didn't make it to the Phillpines?

[mhb]

It's possible, I suppose...

But it's clear to me that the profile of the stock in the photo is that of the M1922/NRA stock, rather than the 'for issue' .22 stock, and the NRA stocks I have are without grasping grooves, both the cal. .30 and .22 types.

So, if you are sure that the photo shows grasping grooves, more explanation is needed.

mhb - Mike

[dave]

I have a 22 stock and it has grasping grooves and they are quite long as the ones in picture seem to be!