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Post by one50 on May 30, 2009 11:24:43 GMT 8
I wanted to share with you a rifle I just added to my collection. I have not received it yet, but it's on it's way and I could not wait to share it with you. Since I started collecting Japanese small arms, I always wanted to find a rifle taken off Corregidor by a 503rd soldier. I actually considered it my life long goal. This one is even a little more special in that the soldier carved a little something in the stock. I hope to find more some day as it would be neat to see if all these rifles were from the same arsenal and series. If anyone has a rifle taken from Corregidor, I would encourage you to post pictures too. This is a Type-38 rifle series 28 made at the Nagoya Arsenal. The "mum" has not been touched, as many were defaced after the war. All the parts match by serial number except the bolt You can't win them all. This rifle was sent home by Pvt. Fred G. Ries of Battery "D" 462nd PFABn. He also scratched his name in the stock near the rear barrel band. Enjoy the photos. I can not wait to put this in my hands.
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Post by batteryboy on May 31, 2009 6:03:30 GMT 8
Now that is a beauty! I know you will take more photos of it once it gets to your hands. Is it still in firing condition? Does this fire the semi-rimed or rimless round? Is it still in firing condition?
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Post by one50 on May 31, 2009 9:25:07 GMT 8
If you look at pictures 2 and 3 you will see a little rust on the metal. But I can clean that off pretty easily. Mechanically the rifle is sound. It should shoot just fine once I clean up the bolt. The spring and firing pin are a little gummed up. It looks to me like it hasn't been shot since 1945. Did I mention I already had this gun in my hands once while on vacation This being a Type-38 it shoot 6.5mm rim-less rounds. The semi-rimmed stuff is usually machine gun ammo. The Type-38 and Type-99 both use rim-less ammo. Once I clean it, I will not be shooting it. I do not shoot my collection guns. I have one Type-99 I bought just for shooting and thats all I shoot as far as Japanese guns go.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2009 12:44:49 GMT 8
Were there any Type 99 Japanese rifles on Corregidor?
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Post by one50 on Jun 5, 2009 22:37:02 GMT 8
Were there any Type 99 Japanese rifles on Corregidor? Until any tangible proof shows up on Corregidor about the Type-99. My educated guess will be NO. There's a logistical nightmare for you, 6.5mm (t-38) round fighting in the same cave as the 7.7mm (t-99) round. Thats just a guess though. The Imperial Navy did use the Type-99 so it is plausible.
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Post by The Phantom on Jun 6, 2009 2:58:54 GMT 8
One of the group found a gun bolt buried in front of a still existing rock lined foxhole above Middleside Barracks.
It was buried just a few inches down with one end sticking out of the soil. Mostly rusted away. Who buried it? and why? What rifle was it from?
The series of at least 3 foxholes still exist today.
They are on the former Trolley track, or road bed area immediately above Middleside Barracks and in front of the former officers Qtrs. and in front of the Middleside tunnel ( the showers) where so many awaited the surrender to the Japanese in 1942.
The destroyed concrete foundations of the Qtrs. are also still there covered in jungle. The jungle is particularly thick with nasty vines in this area.
Many items turned up in the area.
Several live 45 caliber slugs where strun all over the trolley bed, and the hillside from the top to the bottom.
Many radio parts, copper wiring.
Live 30 caliber slugs all over the place in groups.
At the bottom of the hillside was a fox hole lined with railroad ties.
A 1904 U.S. dime.
A red dice or die? with a hole drilled through for a chain......... A lucky piece discarded upon surrender?
Lots of conjecture at this point........
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Post by one50 on Jun 15, 2009 11:28:33 GMT 8
Back to the topic at hand. I received the rifle and it is a beauty. I'm currently cleaning it up. I cleaned the bolt up real good and it looks nice. The barrel is next. The stock has shrapnel still lodged in it, I will have photos of that area for you sometime soon.
I sent a letter to Pvt. Fred G. Ries about 2 weeks ago. Still no response. Not a big deal, as I get very little response for my Ohio project. To be expected as many of these fine men have faded away and families tend to have little knowledge of the subject.
More photos after the clean up.
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