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The wife and I hit the Chinese buffet last night and my fortune cookie said I would find an unexpected treasure. The wife and I joked about how it must mean I would find something really good at the gunshow today. After finding a paratrooper bayonet recently I kind of laughed it off as I doubted I'd find anything as rare again this soon.
Today, I saw a guy with a rack of good military rifles. He had a type 99 and a type 38 Arisaka both with bayonets. Both were in good shape but he had no prices on anything. I figured he was probably too high for me so I took a long good look before I asked about prices. The type 38 was back in the corner of the rack and a bit hidden. I could see the bayonet with frog, cleaning rod, and dust cover. As I got to the bottom of the stock I couldn't believe it. One bigass screw in each side. If you aren't familiar with what I am talking about, it is an "artillery, or tanker" rifle. The screws (bolts) in the stock are to fix it into a cradle next to the artillery piece, or tanks main gun, as an aiming device.
I have seen ONE before and it was at Tulsa. That one was not as nice and was missing one of the screws. It was also if I remember correctly, about $1,200.
I asked the guy and he said $650! Then he proceeded to tell me what it was and what the screws were for. He agreed to $500 without the Bayonet and I rounded up the money fairly quickly.
I am so happy with it. It's in great shape and matching numbers but no mum. I would have paid $300 for it if it was a normal Type38. So, I figure those screws are worth $100 a piece to me.
Today, I saw a guy with a rack of good military rifles. He had a type 99 and a type 38 Arisaka both with bayonets. Both were in good shape but he had no prices on anything. I figured he was probably too high for me so I took a long good look before I asked about prices. The type 38 was back in the corner of the rack and a bit hidden. I could see the bayonet with frog, cleaning rod, and dust cover. As I got to the bottom of the stock I couldn't believe it. One bigass screw in each side. If you aren't familiar with what I am talking about, it is an "artillery, or tanker" rifle. The screws (bolts) in the stock are to fix it into a cradle next to the artillery piece, or tanks main gun, as an aiming device.
I have seen ONE before and it was at Tulsa. That one was not as nice and was missing one of the screws. It was also if I remember correctly, about $1,200.
I asked the guy and he said $650! Then he proceeded to tell me what it was and what the screws were for. He agreed to $500 without the Bayonet and I rounded up the money fairly quickly.
I am so happy with it. It's in great shape and matching numbers but no mum. I would have paid $300 for it if it was a normal Type38. So, I figure those screws are worth $100 a piece to me.
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