Inside Japan’s WW2 20mm Anti-Tank Rifle - The Type 97 with Curatorial Assistant Joe Ford
This video provides an in-depth look at the Japanese Type 97 20mm anti-tank rifle, presented by Joe Ford from the Royal Armouries. The presentation covers its historical context, technical specifications, and a detailed disassembly and reassembly process. The rifle, chambered in 20x124mm, was produced mainly at Kakura Arsenal and served from 1939 to the end of WW2 with limited success, being outclassed by later tank designs. The video highlights its complex recoil system, gas operation, and the manual cocking process.






