April 27-30, 2021 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/27/2021
Being a licensed copy of the Czech ZB vz.26 machine gun, the Japanese utilized the Type 97 tank machine gun as the standard machine gun within their armored fighting vehicles during the course of World War II. While heavier than the Type 96 and Type 99 light machine guns, the Type 97 was was equipped with a bipod which could be utilized when the gun was dismounted from its vehicle. This Type 97 was manufactured at the Nagoya arsenal in August of 1942. The right side of the receiver is marked with the serial number above the date of manufacture "17.8" as well as the Nagoya arsenal emblem, with the top of the receiver bearing Japanese characters denoting the model. Barrel is not matching and is marked "15.10" indicating manufacture in October of 1940. Features include a protected blade front sight, adjustable peep rear sight, lever style safety, cooling fins along the barrel, as well as a 2-position rotating buttstock. Matching numbers include the receiver, trigger assembly, charging handle, and the stock. Accompanying this example are 3 20 round magazines, a bipod, a canvas brass catch bag, and an original 1.5x magnification scope in its original wood scope transit case. CONDITION: Metal components retain good amounts of their original blue finish, exhibiting areas of oxidation as well as some areas of wear and thinning that show through to a pleasant brown patina. Bore is bright and retains good rifling throughout. Buttstock and grips show usual dings and impressions from handling and use, with the right side of the buttstock exhibiting a split along the bottom of the top panel. Magazines have each been refinished in different finishes, exhibiting areas of oxidation below their newly applied finish. Canvas brass catch bag has had some minor metal components replaced, but otherwise retains good stitching and condition overall. Scope tube shows some scattered areas of wear, retaining a fine and clear optic and with the rubber eyecup exhibiting only some minor age related cracking. Scope transit case is missing the left portion of it's lid and bears a crack along the top of the lid, as well as some scattered handling and storage marks. Transit case also retains its dataplate and original Kanji characters painted on the lid. A nice example of a rarely encountered Japanese Type 97 tank machine gun, that comes equipped with a nice assortment of original accessories! THIS IS A NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT ITEM AND REQUIRES BATF APPROVAL PRIOR TO TRANSFER. THIS ITEM IS FULLY TRANSFERABLE ON AN ATF FORM 3 OR 4 AS CURIO AND RELIC ELIGIBLE. -MLW-
Item Dimensions: 48 x 12 x 8
Accessories
Scope, Scope transit case, bipod, canvas brass catch, three spare magazines
Caliber/Bore
7.7x58mm Arisaka