Book Review: Military Rifles of Japan by Fred Honeycutt

Published on July 17, 2013
Duration: 6:11

This video reviews the book "Military Rifles of Japan 1867 to 1945" by Fred Honeycutt and FP Pat Anthony. The book is considered an excellent, comprehensive resource for collectors of Japanese firearms, covering long arms from the Type 30 through late-war emergency designs, including semi-autos and accessories. While the original 1977 edition is dated, updated versions exist, with the fifth edition being the most recent. The book details arsenal markings, rifle variations, and specific features like the Type 44's folding bayonet.

Quick Summary

Fred Honeycutt's "Military Rifles of Japan 1867-1945" is a comprehensive resource for collectors of Japanese firearms. It covers long arms from the Type 30 rifle through late-war emergency designs, including semi-automatics and accessories, detailing arsenal markings and specific model variations.

Chapters

  1. 00:05Introduction and Book Overview
  2. 00:17Book Title and Authors
  3. 00:26Book Edition and Age
  4. 00:34Original Publication Date
  5. 00:46Overall Resource Assessment
  6. 00:56Book Updates and Editions
  7. 01:04Scope of Coverage (Long Arms)
  8. 01:11Type 30 Rifle Introduction
  9. 01:20Type 99 and Late War Guns
  10. 01:29Semi-Autos and Accessories
  11. 01:43First Edition Condition
  12. 01:50Arsenal System Overview
  13. 01:53Character Markings Reference
  14. 02:14Rifle Type Description Structure
  15. 02:33Type 30 Examples (Tokyo)
  16. 02:45Variations in Type 38 and 99
  17. 02:57Type 44 Carbine Discussion
  18. 03:06Type 44 Nose Cap Variations
  19. 03:18Arsenal Examples (Tokyo, Kokura)
  20. 03:35Type 97 Sniper Rifle
  21. 03:43Unusual and Experimental Guns
  22. 03:48Paratroop Rifles
  23. 04:04Japanese Semi-Auto Experiments
  24. 04:08Type I Rifle Details
  25. 04:23Type 5 Semi-Auto Rifle
  26. 04:30Accessories Section
  27. 04:46Availability of Different Editions
  28. 04:54Recommendation for Fifth Edition
  29. 05:00Other Resources and Books
  30. 05:13Duncan McCollum's Book Comparison
  31. 05:31Bonsai Publications Studies
  32. 05:50Final Recommendation for Collectors
  33. 06:00Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the "Military Rifles of Japan 1867-1945" book about?

The book "Military Rifles of Japan 1867-1945" by Fred Honeycutt and FP Pat Anthony is a comprehensive reference for collectors, detailing Japanese military long arms from the Type 30 rifle through late-war designs, including semi-autos, accessories, and markings.

Which edition of "Military Rifles of Japan" is recommended?

While the original 1977 edition is a valuable resource, the fifth edition is recommended as it is the most recent and likely contains the most up-to-date information on Japanese military rifles.

What types of Japanese firearms does Fred Honeycutt's book cover?

The book covers Japan's long arms, starting with the Type 30 rifle, their first small bore smokeless powder bolt-action, and extends to the Type 99, emergency war-time guns, semi-automatics like the Type 5, and even experimental designs.

Does "Military Rifles of Japan" include information on markings?

Yes, the book provides an overview of the Japanese Arsenal system and includes a dedicated reference page detailing the various character markings encountered on Japanese rifles, such as arsenal stamps and production series identifiers.

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