November 17 & 18, 2021 Extraordinary Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/17/2021
Attractive Japanese Type 96 light machine gun as manufactured by Chuo Kogyo in 1940, August. Visible serial numbers appear matching on barrel, receiver, and lower assembly. Bolt, sear-safety bar, sear-safety spring, and charging handle slot cover and gas block cleanout hole cover are not present. Front sight blade insert and barrel retention latch knob also not present, which is typical. No magazine present. Op rod and mainspring are present. Rear sight adjustment knob indicates “9” when rear sight is in lowest position. The Japanese Type 96 machine gun bears a striking resemblance to the ZB26 machine gun. It fires from an open bolt and was an effective full auto only automatic rifle. The light 6.5mm cartridge was effective and produced little recoil, and with practiced trigger control, the firer can squeeze off individual shots. This model incorporates an adjustable gas port which was intended to mitigate the problem of fouling, which it did, but soldiers also found that it could adjust the rate of fire. This model was preferred over the earlier Type 11, which required oiling of the cartridges as they passed through the feed hopper. Japanese soldiers even generally preferred this model over the later Type 99 Model due to its lighter recoil and convenience of removing the barrel by way of a lever. The action of this gun is smooth when operated by hand, but it is currently non-functional due to missing parts. CONDITION: Overall appearance and finish is fine with an even brown patina and light pitting throughout the exterior surfaces with the occasion mark to the metal. Op rod is appropriately in the white. Bore is extremely fine with shiny rifling. Wood is generally also fine with a bruise on left side of pistol grip and a piece about 2” long at the heel is free-floating where it has split away from the rest. Buttplate is slightly loose. This can be restored with the appropriate expertise. Carrying handle in good condition with typical small chips away from the outer radius. This Japanese Type 96 is an attractive specimen of this model and with the addition of all the missing parts it could be restored to a firing condition. This is a full-auto only machine gun. 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 & RELIC ELIGIBLE. JWK 2021-11-001
Caliber/Bore
6.5x50mm Japanese