April 9th & 10th Premier Firearms Sale (MFIRE)
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/9/2016
31-1/4” barrel in caliber 6.5mm Japanese. In 1937 the Japanese adopted the Type 97 sniper rifle. No reference to the Type 97 sniper rifle has been found in Japanese text, thus the Type 97 sniper rifle is thought to have been experimental only. Two examples have been reported, having been manufactured in the 1920-30s. Given this information, this rifle may have been turned into a sniper at a later date, but the cuts in the wood are as ancient as the gun and all the patina matches on side rail and frame. There is no scope with this rifle. The serial number (12557) is forward of the scope rail where normally it would have been under the rail on a standard rifle, which also indicates that this frame was Manufactured. as a sniper frame. Most of the other features are the same as a Model 38. This rifle was manufactured at the Chigusa factory of Nagoya Arsenal. This rifle has the inverted V front sight without guards, adjustable rear sight to 2,200 meters (not standard), full royal mum on bridge, the characters “Type 97”, standard two piece buttstock with short handguard, knurled safety with smooth sides and notch safety indicator, flat forged butt plate. No straw colors on this rifle. Balance of gun is a blue-brown-plum patina. Has the barrel shaped bolt handle. Bolt is numbered 557 which matches receiver. Near mint bore and action. The forward position of the serial number does not be obscured serial number, the patina in the wood cut for the scope rail, the patina where the rail and frame meet, appears to have been on this rifle since its inception, that it is indeed a Type 97 sniper rifle sans scope. In addition, the rifle comes with an original canvas sling and a Nagoya marked bayonet with metal scabbard and original leather frog.