![]() And to some Japanese contacts, only the Type 38, the earlier of the contemporary rifles, is truly an “Arisaka.” It’s worth noting that Japanese bolt-action rifles are often discussed as one entity, which they aren’t. From 1906 to 1945, Japanese factories produced about 6.4 million rifles. Inhibited by a chronic lack of automatic weapons, especially submachine guns, Japanese soldiers tried to accomplish a lot that proved impossible. ![]() ![]() The story of Japanese battle rifles from 1905 to 1945 is brilliant and tangled. The venture set a course that leads here. I quickly discovered Masami Tokoi of Tokyo and several others. Fortunately, my next-door neighbor, Bill Flanagan, had a large collection of those rifles and knew a lot about them and their unique qualities. I was to be a consultant, properties master, acquisitions manager and weapons guy on an amateur WWII film project beginning the next year. In the spring of 1963, I had two American high-powered rifles and an interest in World War II history. Years ago, I’d seen Japanese battle rifles at gun shows and in the closet of my good friend Dexter Thunder, whose father boasted a captured “Jap 31.”
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |