The Japanese Arisaka rifle that blows up!

Published on April 5, 2018
Duration: 16:42

This guide, informed by a firearms instructor with high authority, details how to differentiate between genuine Japanese Arisaka rifles and dangerous training replicas. It emphasizes critical visual inspection points like bore rifling, metal finishing, and receiver markings to prevent catastrophic failures when live ammunition is mistakenly used in training models.

Quick Summary

Genuine Japanese Arisaka rifles are known for their strong actions and safety, debunking myths of them being inherently dangerous. The danger arises from training rifles, often made of cast 'pot metal' with smooth bores, which look similar but will fail catastrophically if fired with live ammunition. Key identification features include bore rifling and metal finishing.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Debunking the Arisaka Myth
  2. 01:24Type 99 'Last Ditch' Features
  3. 03:15Type 99 Live Fire
  4. 06:10Type 38 Arisaka Overview
  5. 08:12Type 38 Performance
  6. 10:55The Real Danger: Training Rifles
  7. 14:11Identifying Training Rifles

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if a Japanese Arisaka rifle is a training model?

Look for a smooth bore (no rifling), cast or rough metal parts near the breech, and potentially the absence of the Imperial Chrysanthemum (Mum). These are key indicators of a training rifle not safe for live ammunition.

Are Japanese Arisaka rifles dangerous to shoot?

Genuine Japanese Arisaka rifles, like the Type 99 and Type 38, are known for their exceptionally strong actions and are generally safe to shoot with proper ammunition. The danger arises from mistaking training rifles for genuine firearms.

What is the difference between a Type 99 and Type 38 Arisaka?

The Type 38 Arisaka is typically chambered in the 6.5 Jap caliber and is known for its pre-war quality. The Type 99 Arisaka is more commonly found in 7.7 Jap caliber and includes 'Last Ditch' variants with simplified production features for late-war use.

Why do some Japanese Arisaka rifles 'blow up'?

The myth of Arisakas blowing up stems from firing live ammunition in training rifles made of cast 'pot metal' with smooth bores. Genuine Arisaka actions are robust and rarely fail under normal conditions.

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