September 9, 10, & 11, 2025 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/9/2025
Very desirable Japanese Type 11 machine gun as manufactured by Kokura Arsenal in November 1940. Visible serial numbers are matching on: receiver, buffer, retaining latch, ejector, charging handle, gas cylinder, hopper cover lever, and gas regulator. Wood stock and stack hardware show clear evidence of an encounter with a flame-thrower, but remain completely serviceable. This model utilizes standard 6.5 Japanese rifle ammunition on stripper clips loaded into the hopper, and then, with the hopper cover closed, there is essentially an articulating “track” which feeds the rounds into the action. The stripper clips drop out of the bottom of the hopper after the rounds they were holding have been fed into the feedway. A very innovative way to mitigate the effects of the inhospitable climate on cloth belts, with an added bonus that as long as one had riflemen with ammunition on hand, there would be readily available ammunition for the machine gun support weapon. An unusual system, but one that endured from 1922 until the late 1930s when this model was replaced over time with first the Type 96, and later the Type 99 machine guns. The Type 11 remained in service all the way to the end of WWII. Note that the chamber has been plugged with a steel weld (not brass), and the left side of the barrel and this plug welding to the receiver, rendering this gun deactivated. This gun is registered for private ownership with the BATF as a DEWAT (Deactivated War Trophy). Electronic NFA registry indicates “JAPAN” as the manufacturer. CONDITION: Overall appearance and finish is fine original finish with areas of brown and gray patina. Right hand side of stock shows some areas where it was somewhat scorched and some of the residue scraped off. Left side of stock has some grain checks and what may have been a chipped off piece glued back into place, but this as good and permanent a repair as one could have. To this cataloger, authentic battle-damage and subsequent repair enhances the attractiveness of an machine gun. White filled markings on top of receiver stand-out with a very attractive appearance. Bore condition not checked due to plugged chamber. This cataloger always gets the same questions with every plugged chamber machine gun: 1. “Can it be restored to a firing condition?” Answer: “Yes”. 2. "How much work will it be, and what will it cost?" Answer: “Until one starts to work on this gun, and opens up the chamber, there can not be any definitive answer.” Perhaps the barrel can be saved, and the chamber restored. If not, then a replacement barrel can be acquired, or fabricated, and fitted. This cataloger would not shy away from purchasing this gun due to the plugged chamber. This is a full-auto only machine gun. This is a very desirable model of Japanese machine gun because it is so “different” from conventional magazine or belt-fed rifle caliber machine guns, and will have particular appeal to those collector who desire genuine evidence of combat service machine guns. 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 A DEACTIVATED CURIO AND RELIC ELIGIBLE NFA ITEM. JWK 2025-09-117.
Caliber/Bore
6.5mm Japanese