May 8-10, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/8/2024
Extremely fine Japanese Type 99 light machine gun manufactured by Hitachi under the supervision of Kokura Arsenal in June of 1944. Right side of the receiver has both the Kokura arsenal and Hitachi symbols followed by serial number and date code of "19.6" for 1944, June. The following minor pieces are not present: flash suppressor, charging handle cover, which rides in the slot with the charging handle, sear safety bar and spring, barrel headspace disk, gas cylinder cleanout hole cover, ejection port cover spring, firing pin, and mainspring. However, a non-standard coil spring which provides tension on the bolt and operating rod, and a small, tapered pin, which provides the appearance of a firing pin are present. The magazine dust cover and ejection port cover are non-matching, "5426". Now, the good news. The buffer, bolt, operating rod, barrel (dated 19.6) and gas regulator are all matching to the receiver. Even better news is that an original muzzle cover, appropriate original Japanese 2.5x13 power Type 99 scope, and original 30-round magazine are included with this lot. The barrel has been welded at the chamber with a significant amount of the chamber mouth destroyed in the process, such that the chamber would need to be replaced, or the entire barrel replaced, in order to restore this gun to a firing condition. Electronic NFA registry indicates “JAPAN” as the manufacturer. CONDITION: Overall appearance and finish is extremely fine original finish, with some thinning to the finish in places. Wood furnishings also with a chip out of the left side of the carrying handle and light handing marks. Wood buttstock shows only minor handling marks. Pistol grip also extremely fine. Scope optics are cloudy with specks, and small “spider web” crack to left of graduation scale, with two of the small cover screws missing. Still, one can see through it enough to call it serviceable. Bore not observed due to chamber being welded shut. Bolt face extremely fine. Action functions when operated by hand, but spring tension is inadequate for normal function. Sear cover forward of pistol grip slightly bent. This is a full-auto-only machine gun. The Type 99 Model was the larger more powerful cartridge version of the earlier Type 96. Both were used by Japanese forces until the end of World War II. The Type 99 was generally considered an improvement due to the more powerful cartridge and wedge-type barrel fastening system. These went to the elite units first, such as the Japanese marines, and a significant number of these guns were retained on the home islands "saving the best for the final defense." The desirable accessories included with this specimen more than offset the minor missing parts, which certainly can be acquired. This gun is a particularly attractive specimen in better condition than most encountered. This gun was amnesty registered as a DEWAT (Deactivated War Trophy), and, as such, can be legally reactivated into a “live” gun upon application and approval by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF). THIS IS A NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT ITEM AND REQUIRES BATF APPROVAL PRIOR TO TRANSFER. THIS ITEM IS FULLY TRANSFERABLE ON AN ATF FORM 5 AS CURIO AND RELIC ELIGIBLE. JWK 2024-05-001
Accessories
Scope, muzzle cover, 1 mag total
Manufacturer
Imperial Arsenal Japan