How about some more money with holes.

[DC/Id]

My Uncle Bob brought these back from the Pacific in WWII. He was in the USN. I don't know what they are for sure, but they are Japanese.

[attachment 31642 BobsJapmoney.jpg]

HH DC

 

[Brian(upstateNY)]

n/t

 

[Dave~UT]

n/t

 

[DC/Id]

My dad used to keep "That darn Jap rifle" in the cellar. He did not like the thing. He always thought of it as the enemy's weapon. Dad also thought that it was a cheap piece of junk and would blow up if fired. In fact, the type 99 is one of the srongest actions from WWII, and is as strong as the 98 Mauser that it was copied (Though crudely) from. The blow-up if fired thought came from some of the "Last Ditch" rifles that Japan made at the end of the war that had cast iron recievers. They would blow up. You can always tell a good 7.7 from the bad by looking at where the tang meets the reciever in the rear of the action. If it is a cast iron one, the tang and reciever will be one piece, where as the good ones are two pieces and will have a joint in that place. Inerestingly enough, the last ditch rifles are quite collectable, though not ever to be fired. I am sure you know this as well, but the fold out sites on the sides of the rear site are for firing at aircraft. They thought this would give the soldiers have the proper lead to hit moving targets. You can get reproduction slings, monopods and cleaning kits for this rifle if you want. Drop me a E if you are interested and I will give you the info.

I have dies and brass and have fired this gun quite a lot. It is fun to shoot and is very accurate. Mine has a mirror perfect bore. Norma makes loaded rounds for it if you don't hand load. I think Hornady has started making rounds for it as well.

I have a lot of wierd military rifles. I started collecting guns when I turned 12. Ever fired a 8x52r Siamese mauser? Try to find factory or surplus ammo for that one. I had to make my own from cut down, head turned 45 70 brass. Another fun hobby!


HH DC

 

[DC/Id]

n/t

 

[Brian(upstateNY)]

n/t

 

[Craig in Alabama]

n/t

 

[Ed SW Fla]

n/t

 

[charlie (ky)]

Several of the men I talked to still have them. To bad we can't keep neat stuff like that now.

 

[Brian(upstateNY)]

n/t

 

[Vernon in Virginia~Formerly Alaska]

1903 was the year the Springfield was patented. The model 1903 (or 03A3, some call them) was the longest standing military main battle rifle. It was used during WW1, the first part of WW2. Variants of it were used as sniper rifles in both the Korean and the first part of the Viet Nam War. It is still used today by precision drill teams because of its excellent balance. So for near 40 years this rifle has served its country with distinction finally being replace by the semi automatic M-1 Grand. The only rifle to surpass the "03" in military usage is the M-16 family of rifles, now going strong for more than 40+ years of military service.

Back in the '50's, you could go into most any hardware or department store and buy military surplus rifles, including the 03 Springfield, for $39.95 out of an old pickle barrel. In the '60's, they went up to about $69 to $99. Unfortunately, Lee Harvey Oswald purchased a surplus rifle that he killed President Kennedy with from Kline's Dept. Store. It was an old Italian military rifle that he paid $99 for.

Mine is the Remington version, M1903 modified rifle made in 1941. It was given to me by my father in law several years ago. He said he's fired it hundreds and hundreds of times, and he's also used it to take moose and bear in Alaska... who knows it's history before that? These rifles in unaltered condition are now worth around $600.00

[attachment 31714 Vwith03.jpg]

[attachment 31715 03.jpg]

 

[General Ray]

n/t

 

[Dave~UT]

n/t