Firearm Restoration: Reclaiming an Arisaka from Bubba.

[AFJuvat]

Anti-aircraft sights added to original sight. The original intent was to have a unit fire "en volley" at low flying aircraft. It sort of worked in China with WWI era aircraft, not so well against fast, high flying aircraft



Located an original numbered dust cover (non matching of course), fit it to the slots in the receiver. The bolt body was replaced with a correct early style bolt.

Bolt Closed



Bolt Opened



Cleaning rod, reproduction muzzle cover (originals were made from Bakelite, relatively few survive today) and non reproduction monopod.
Front barrel band and cleaning rod were rust blued.



Reproduction early sling. The early slings were leather, the later slings were rubberized canvas, which means the few that did survive are prohibitively expensive.



7.7 x 58 mm ammunition is hard to find; and pretty pricey when it is available. New reloadable brass, on the other hand, runs about $0.50 each. Uses the same bullet as the .303 British, which are reasonably priced. Loaded myself 100 of them. The 7.7 x 58 performs about the same as a .303 British, or a 7.92 x 57 Mauser



All together with a Type 30 bayonet with the early hooked quillon I picked up. I can imagine that a platoon of these running at you screaming "Banzai!" would have been intimidating as hell..



Took it to the range, made one test shot and checked for headspace. Once that was verified, shot 8 more shots. Groups pretty well. Recoil is moderate, about the same as a .303 British or a 30-06