"JAPANESE TYPE 5 EXPERIMENTAL SEMI-AUTO MILITARY RIFLE. SN NSN. Cal. 7.7 Jap. Made at Washino Mfg. Co. in Aichi, Japan which is near Nagoya, this rifle is the Japanese copy of the U.S. M1 Garand. It has a 23" bbl with square base front sight with protective ears and barleycorn blade with a rifle type rear sight mounted on rear flat of receiver which is graduated 100 to 1,200 meters. It has a stepped follower in the magazine which is operated like the Garand without the en-bloc clip. It has a gas trap system identical to the Garand with an identical op rod & bolt system with a long top tang down the wrist and a Garand style safety & trigger guard. Fitted with a fixed box magazine on bottom which will accept 10-rds from stripper clips through the integral slot in the ejection port. Mounted in a 1-pc mahogany stock with what appears to be, a 1-pc hand guard. It has sling loops on left side and a smooth stamped sheet metal buttplate. While the rifle has no external serial numbers there is a variety of assembly numbers on the various parts internally. A gentleman who is extremely knowledgeable of Japanese firearms and has researched them extensively disclosed that there were parts for about 125 of these rifles made at the Washino Co., but there is no record that any were ever assembled there giving rise to the lack of chrysanthemum or serial number. He stated that it appears these rifles were assembled post-war as souvenirs by the occupying American forces which justifies the mismatched assembly numbers. This gentleman also stated that a number of these rifles were returned to the U.S. for testing and evaluation, probably at Aberdeen Proving Ground. He further stated that it is absolutely unclear how many were ever assembled but he speculated that it was very few. He is in possession of copies of an entire set of drawings for this rifle and its accoutrements. Accompanied by a last ditch bayonet with twine wrapped scabbard and sheet metal throat & tip. PROVENANCE: Stern Collection. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, as noted. Metal retains about 70% of a black lacquer which the above referenced gentleman identified as being orig to some Japanese rifles. There is a hairline crack in wrist and another at tip of forestock, otherwise wood is sound with minor nicks & dings and retains most of an old restored finish. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. Bayonet is very fine. 4-33703 JR153 (15,000-25,000)"
Reloading kit for pinfire cartridges (5mm,7mm, 9mm & 12mm)
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