Fall 2023 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
November 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th, 2023
This auction will feature an outstanding collection of items spanning multiple categories including Modern, Military, Sporting, & Antique firearms & militaria! Below is just a small grouping of select highlights from the massive offering to be featured in this upcoming sale!
RARE AND DESIRABLE WW2 JAPANESE TYPE 5 SEMI-AUTO MILITARY RIFLE
23-1223
Cal. 7.7 Japanese
S# 161
This very rare firearm was an attempt by the Japanese Navy to develop a semi-automatic military rifle. Records are very scarce but according to information in the book Military Rifles of Japan by Honeycutt this was probably solely a Navy development as the rifles are thought to have been produced at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal however definitive records are not available to substantiate this. The Japanese Army and Navy were not noted for inter-service cooperation and independently developed their own equipment. There were efforts before World War II to develop a semi-auto rifle based on the US Pedersen rifle, the Czech ZH-29 and domestic designs. The type 5 seems to be an attempt to adapt the design of the US Garand for Japanese use. Making the Garand clip work with the 7.7 Japanese cartridge was a major stumbling block. The solution was to modify the design for the use of standard 5 round stripper clips which also gave a magazine capacity of 10 rounds. The rear sight is a tangent type graduated to 1,200 meters and is windage adjustable. The aperture on this sight is very small making it difficult to use.
The front sight is the standard inverted V with open protective ears. The 23 1/8″ barrel carries the S# on the bottom of the chamber. The assembly number 17 is found on the flat underneath the chamber, the bolt, magazine follower and front face of the trigger housing inside the mag. well. The major features of the rifle are similar to the M1 Garand including the gas cylinder assembly, operating rod and trigger group. The magazine well is extended downward to accommodate the extra 2 rounds. Hardwood stock set has the typical Japanese features including a side sling, grasping grooves, detachable tangs and the 2 piece buttstock construction with cup type buttplate. Reproduction brown leather sling with Japanese characters in white.
STATUS: CURIO
