1. Type 99 Arisaka Serial Numbers Search
2. Type 99 Arisaka Serial Numbers List
3. Type 99 Arisaka Serial Numbers Diagram
4. Type 99 Arisaka Serial Numbers Chart
5. Arisaka Type 99 Manufacture Dates

Japanese Arisaka Type 99 Stock& Handguard Set w/ Metal- Used This is an original stock& handguard set for the Arisaka Type 99. 7.7mm caliber rifle. It includes a stock and an early pattern handguard with a 16-3/8' OAL. The stock includes the trigger guard& floorplate assembly, magazine box, steel buttplate, recoil lug, and cleaning rod& retainer. I was just given an Arisaka Type 99 rifle by my son, who picked it up at a garage sale. My question revolves around a serial number stamped on the left side of the receiver in arabic numbers. There is what appears to be a shield of some type before the 5 digit number and four interlocking circles following the numbers. The last three digits of the serial number (508) are on the bottom of the bolt shank. And the bayonet lug on the forend of the rifle. The bayonet is a Type 30 with a straight contoured crossguard, contoured screw-retained grips and a contoured birdshead pommel. Type 99 Arisaka Serial Numbers The Type 99 also featured a quick release bolt and antiaircraft sights, as well as a rotating bolt (dust) cover and monopod. The Type 99 rifle is considered to be a very solid weapon and having one of the strongest receiver assemblies of any military rifle of its time. May 16, 2019 However, shortcomings in the Type 38 design during the Second Sino-Japanese War led to the introduction of a further generation of rifles, designated the Type 99 rifle from 1939. This new rifle used the more powerful 7.7×58mm Arisaka cartridge already in use with the Type 92 heavy machine gun and the Type 97 light machine gun.

Markings on Japanese Arisaka Rifles andBayonets of World War II

Last Updated 09/07/2000

Adapted from Japanese Rifles of World War II, by Duncan O. McCollum, 1996, published by Excalibur Publications, PO Box 36, Latham, NY12110-0036, USA, ISBN: 1-880677-11-3; and Military Rifles ofJapan, by Fred. L. Honeycutt, Jr., and F. Patt Anthony, FifthEdition, 1996, published by Julin Books, 5282 Ridan Way, Palm BeachGardens, FL 33418, ISBN: 0-9623208-7-0. Bayonet information fromBayonets from Janzen's Notebook, by Jerry L. Janzen,published by Cedar Ridge Publications, 73 Cedar Ridge Road, Broken Arrow,Oklahoma 74011-1142, USA. ISBN: 0-9619789-1-0.

Table of bayonet variations added 09/07/2000.

Production figures added 08/05/2000.

Spelling of Col. Arisaka's name updated 06/25/2000, based on informationsupplied by his great-granddaughter.

Markings on Japanese Arisaka Rifles and Bayonets of World War II

Type 99 Arisaka Serial Numbers Search

The Japanese manufactured over 6.4 million rifles and carbines in the 40years from 1906 to 1945. Most of these rifles were still in use duringthe Sino-Japanese War of the 1930s and the Pacific War of the 1940s. During the war and subsequent American occupation of Japan, thousands ofthese rifles found their way to the United States as war souvenirs, makingthem one of the most common foreign military firearms available in thecountry.

The Arisaka rifles are named for Colonel NariakiNariakira Arisaka, who headed a commission during the 1890s which wascharged with developing a new rifle to replace the earlier models such asthe Murata. The Arisaka rifles were designated with the year of thecurrent emperor's reign. Thus, the Type 38 rifle was designed inthe 38th year of the reign of Emperor Meiji (1905), and the Type44 carbine was adopted in the 44th year of his reign (1911). During the reign of Hirohito, rifles were designated by the last one ortwo digits of the adoption year according to the standard Japanesecalendar. Thus, the Type 99 rifle was adopted in Japanese calendaryear 2599 (1939), and the Type 2 paratroop rifle was adoptedin calendar year 2602 (1942).

A chrysanthemum with 16 petals (the symbol of the Japanese Emperor) wasusually stamped on the receiver of rifles manufactured for the ImperialJapanese Army, indicating that the rifle belonged to the Emperor. Thechrysanthemum resembles this:

The chrysanthemum was at least partially ground off on rifles which weresurrendered after the war, apparently as a face-saving gesture. Riflescaptured in the field, however, normally have the chrysanthemum symbolintact. The Type designation was stamped into the top of the receiverusing the character shiki for 'type' and Japanese numerals. Theshiki character and the characters for the Japanese numerals areshown in the following table.

1 2 3 4 5 6

Type 99 Arisaka Serial Numbers List

7 8 9 10

Japanese Characters Used on Arisaka Rifles

Character	Meaning
Type

A small number of Type 38 and Type 99 rifles had two concentric circles onthe receiver in place of the chrysanthemum. The purpose of thesespecially-marked rifles is not known, although it is speculated that theywere issued to paramilitary forces such as the Kempei Tai (Japanese SecretPolice), other military police, and guards at prisons, embassies, andother civil instillations. Some concentric circle rifles were remarkedstandard issue Type 38 and Type 99 rifles that had the chrysanthemumcompletely or partially removed and replaced with the concentric circlemarking. These rifles were serialized separately from regular productionpieces. Other rifles apparently were originally manufactured and markedwith concentric circles, which looks something like this:

Arsenal Marks

Each Japanese rifle was marked with the symbol of either the arsenal ofmanufacture or the arsenal that supervised the manufacturingsubcontractor. This mark can be found on the left side of the receiver atthe end of the rifle serial number. Rifles manufactured by a commercialsubcontractor bear the subcontractor's mark to the right of thesupervising arsenal's mark. These marks are shown in the following table.

Kokura Arsenal Nagoya Arsenal Jinsen Arsenal (Korea) Mukden Arsenal (Manchuria)

Japanese Rifle Manufacturers

Symbol	Arsenal/Subcontractor	Period of Operation
Koishikawa Arsenal (Tokyo)	1870-1935
1935-1945
1923-1945
1923-1945
1931-1945
Toyo Kogyo	1939-1945
Tokyo Juki Kogyo	1940-1945
Tokyo Juki Kogyo	1940-1945
Howa Jyuko	1940-1945
Izawa Jyuko	1940-1945

At various times, rifles were removed from military service and sold toother countries or transferred to Japanese schools as training weapons.Normally, the chrysanthemum on these rifles was overstamped with theKoishikawa (Tokyo) / Kokura Arsenal symbol or a ring of small circles toindicate that the rifle no longer belonged to the Imperial Japanese Army.Rifles given to schools often have an additional character stamped on thetop of the receiver between the chrysanthemum and the type designationcharacters. Most of these 'school-marked' rifles also have two or threezeros preceeding the serial number. The 'school' mark looks somethinglike this:

Serial Numbers

All Japanese military rifles had serial numbers except extremely rareprototypes, other pre-production guns, and occasional rifles assembledvery late in World War II. The serial number was stamped on the left sideof the receiver, followed by the arsenal symbol. Initially, rifles makein Japanese arsenals were numbered consecutively within each Typedesignation. In 1933 this scheme was replaced by a system in which rifleswere numbered in blocks, or series, of 99,999 each [actually 100,000,according to Honeycutt, running from serial numbers 0 through 99,999].Each series was identified by a small Japanese character (kana) placed within a circle to the left of the serial number. Specific blocksof kana were assigned to each arsenal or manufacturer to use for aspecific rifle type. The series markings are illustrated in the followingtable.

Series Mark

Series Markings

Series Number	Series Mark	Series Number
1	24
2	25
3	26
4	27
5	28
6	29
7	30
8	31
9	32
10	33
11	34
12	35
20	37
21	40
22	45
23

Production Figures

The following table, based on information from McCollum's and Honeycutt'sbooks, provides some information about rifle production at the variousarsenals, organized by type of rifle. These figures are only estimates,and are based on recorded serial number information. Blank entriesindicate that the information in the entry immediately above applies tothe blank entry as well.

Production information for sniper rifles, paratroop rifles (Types 100 and2), Test Type 1 rifles, and Type I rifles (produced by Italy for theJapanese Navy and not based totally on the Arisaka action) are notincluded.

Japanese Rifle Production Figures

Type	Arsenal/Subcontractor	Series	Serial number range	Dates
38	Koishikawa (Tokyo)	none	0-2,029,000 (see Note 1)	1906-ca.1935
Kokura	20	29,000-49,000	1933-1940
22	0-99,999
23	0-99,999
24	0-99,999
25	0-99,999
26	0-71,000
Nagoya	none	2,021,000-2,031,000	1923-ca.1933
26	0-99,999	ca.1933-ca.1940
27	0-99,999
28	0-99,999 (see Note 2)
29	0-8,000
Jinsen (Korea)	none	0-1,400 (see Note 3)	ca.1939-ca.1940
30	1,000-13,000
Mukden (Manchuria)	none	0-30,000	ca.1934-ca.1940
none	5,000,000-5,065,000
none	65,000-79,000 (see Note 4)
38 Concentric Circle	Nagoya	none	0-2,600 (see Note 5)	??
Kokura	none	0-1,500 (see Note 5)	??
38 Carbine	Koishikawa (Tokyo)	none	0-212,000 (see Note 6)	1906-ca.1935
Kokura	2	12,000-92,000	ca.1933-ca.1940
Nagoya	none	0-2,000	1923-ca.1933
4	0-99,999	ca.1933-ca.1940
5	0-99,999
6	0-4,000
Mukden (Manchuria)	none	0-7,000	ca.1934-ca.1940
none	600,000-628,000
6	29,000-44,000
44	Koishikawa (Tokyo)	none	0-56,000 (see Note 7)	1911-ca.1933
Kokura	none	56,000-70,000 (see Note 8)	ca.1933-ca.1940
1	0-9,000
Nagoya	none	0-2,000	ca.1930-ca.1933
2	0-12,000	ca.1933-ca.1940
99	Nagoya	none	0-99,999	1939-1945
1	0-99,999
2	2,500-99,999
3	0-99,999
4	10,000-99,999
5	0-99,999
6	0-99,999
7	0-99,999
8	0-99,999
10	0-99,999
11	0-99,999
12	0-1,000
Kokura	20	0-99,999	1939-1945
21	0-99,999
22	0-99,999
23	0-99,999
24	0-99,999
25	0-92,000
Toyo Kogyo	30	0-99,999	1939-1945
31	0-99,999
32	0-99,999
33	0-99,999
34	0-99,999
35	0-57,000
Tokyo Juki Kogyo	27	0-41,000	1940-1945
37	0-59,000
Izawa Jyuko	4	0-10,000	1940-1945
9	0-50,000
Howa Jyuko	9	50,000-99,999	1940-1945
Jinsen Arsenal	40	0-91,000	1939-1945
Mukden Arsenal	45	0-3,000	1939-1945
99 Concentric Circle	Nagoya	none	0-600	??
Nagoya	none	none (assembly numbers 0-700)	??
Tokyo Juki Kogyo	2	0-600	??
Kokura	none	0-1,400	??
Kokura	none	1,800-3,400	??

Notes:

1. Koishikawa switched from 'B' to 'S' barrel proof mark in the late800,000 serial number range.
2. Rifles in this series have been observed with (i) mum removed andeither an elongated M or the school mark substituted, or (ii) mumoverstamped by the Nagoya symbol, an elongated M, or other characters. The elongated M indicates 'military reserves'.
3. Some rifles have been reported stamped with the character signifying'for education' (not to be confused with the school mark).
4. Serial numbers in this range are preceded by two hiraganacharacters for 'i' and 'ro', the first two characters in the Japanesesyllabary. These characters resemble 'w' and '3', and these serialnumbers have been misidentified as being in the 300,000 range.
5. These rifles will normally be found stamped with a symbol similar tothe series mark for '4' stamped underneath the receiver or on the barrel,indicating a second class arm.
6. Carbines with a shallow '00' or '000' stamped in front of the serialnumber have been removed from service use.
7. Koishikawa switched from the 'B' to the 'S' barrel proof mark in thelate 20,000 serial number range.
8. 'T' proof mark stamped on barrel at receiver.

Bayonets

The primary kind of bayonet used on Japanese rifles in World War II wasthe Type 30, introduced in 1897. They averaged about 20 inches inoverall length and were produced in 18 distinct manufacturing patterns,but most are similar to the following 3 types (pictures copied fromBayonets from Janzen's Notebook):

• Hooked quillon:
• Straight quillon:
• Straight quillon with squared pommel:

The bayonets were normally serial numbered, but the serial numbers wereassigned independently from those assigned to the rifles.

Symbols indicating the arsenals at which the bayonets were manufactured,or the arsenal that supervised the subcontractor, are stamped on the rightricasso. These markings are identified in the following table:

Tokyo Arsenal prior to 1936Kokura Arsenal 1936-45 Nagoya Arsenal

Type 99 Arisaka Serial Numbers Diagram

Jinsen Arsenal (Korea) Mukden Arsenal (Manchuria) National Denki (National Electric) Unknown Unknown company under Kokura supervision National Denki under Kokura supervision Howa Jyuko under Nagoya supervision Unknown company under Nagoya supervision Toyoda Jidoshoki Seisakusho (Toyoda Automatic Loom Works)under Nagoya supervision Unknown company under Nagoya supervision

Japanese Bayonet Arsenal Marks

Symbol	Arsenal/Subcontractor

Type 99 Arisaka Serial Numbers Chart

The variations are too numerous to illustrate here, but the followingtable (lifted from Honeycutt) lists the more commonly found variations.The abbreviations are listed below the table. My references do not listany production information for the many variations.

Grip Fasteners Bright BHC

Typical Type 30 Bayonet Variations

Arsenal Mark	Blade Finish	Fullers	Crossguard Shape	Grip Shape	Pommel Shape
Yes	Hook	C	Screw
Blue	Yes	Hook	C	Screw	BHC
Blue	Yes	Hook	CWA	Rivet	BHF
Blue	Yes	SC	C	Screw	BHC
Bright	Yes	Hook	C	Screw	BHC
Blue	Yes	Hook	C	Screw	BHC
Bright	Yes	Hook	CWA	Rivet	BHF
Blue	Yes	Hook	CWA	Rivet	BHF
Blue	No	SC	CWA	Rivet	R
Blue	No	SC	S	Rivet	R
Bright	Yes	Hook	C	Screw	BHC
Blue	Yes	Hook	C	Screw	BHC
Bright	Yes	SC	C	Screw	BHC
Blue	Yes	SC	C	Screw	BHC
Bright	Yes	Hook	C	Screw	BHC
Bright	Yes	Hook	CWA	Rivet	BHF
Blue	Yes	Hook	CWA	Rivet	BHF
Bright	Yes	SC	CWA	Rivet	BHF
Blue	Yes	SC	CWA	Rivet	BHF
Blue	No	SC	CWA	Rivet	BHF
Blue	No	SC	S	Rivet	BHF
Bright	Yes	Hook	CWA	Rivet	BHF
Blue	Yes	Hook	CWA	Rivet	BHF
Bright	Yes	SC	CWA	Rivet	BHF
Blue	Yes	SC	CWA	Rivet	BHF
Blue	No	SC	CWA	Rivet	BHF
Blue	No	SC	CWA	Rivet	BHF
Blue	No	SC	S	Rivet	BHF
Bright	Yes	Hook	C	Screw	BHC
Bright	Yes	SC	C	Screw	BHC
Blue	Yes	SC	C	Screw	BHC
Blue	Yes	SC	CWA	Rivet	R
Blue	No	SC	CWA	Rivet	R
Blue	No	SR	CWA	Rivet	R
Bright	Yes	Hook	C	Screw	BHC
Blue	Yes	Hook	C	Screw	BHC
Bright	Yes	SC	C	Screw	BHC
Blue	Yes	SC	C	Screw	BHC
Bright	Yes	Hook	C	Screw	BHC
Blue	Yes	Hook	C	Screw	BHC
Blue	Yes	SC	C	Screw	BHC
Bright	Yes	Hook	C	Screw	BHC
Blue	Yes	Hook	C	Screw	BHC
Bright	Yes	Hook	CWA	Rivet	BHF
Bright	Yes	SC	C	Screw	BHC
Blue	Yes	Hook	C	Screw	BHC
Blue	No	SC	C	Rivet	BHC

The following abbreviations are used in the above table:

Crossguard:
SC - Straight contoured
SR - Straight rectangular
Grips:
C - Contoured, screw retained
CWA - Contoured, wrap around, rivet retained
SWA - Straight, wrap around, rivet retained
S - Straight, rivet retained
Pommel:
BHC - Birdshead, contoured
BHF - Birdshead, flat sides
R - Rectangular

As usual, I'm not responsible for any factual errors, but please reportany transcription errors to me.

33rd series T99 Arisaka Rifle (Mfg by Toyo Kogyo)
(九九式小銃or九九式長小銃　Kyuukyuu-shiki syoujyuu or Kyuukyuu-shiki tyousyoujyuu)
(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Arisaka Type 99 Manufacture Dates

Observations: (by 'Claven2')
Primary infantry rifle for the Imperial Japanese Army during World War 2. Check for matching serial numbers on left side of receiver and the last 3 digits of the serial number on the bolt shroud, bolt body, firing pin and extractor. Check for a cleaning/stacking rod provision and if present, ensure you get the rod (replacements are unobtainium). Check for availability of serial numbered action cover if an early rifle, which by itself can add approximately $100 value to the rifle. Lastly, check for a non-defaced chrysanthemum stamping over the model designation on the receiver ring as this adds greatly to collector appeal.
Collector's Comments and Feedback:
1. The Arisaka T99 was the much anticipated replacement of the earlier 6.5mm T38 infantry rifle in use since before WW1. Initially, both T99 Long rifles and T99 rifles were produced with the shorter of the two being intended for cavalry. Troop trials showed, however, that the shorter rifle was much more useful and production switched entirely to the recognized standard T99 pattern in the first year of production (1939).
Early on, rifles were made with sliding action covers, a folding monopod, anti-aircraft sighting arms on the rear sight, chrome lined bore and chrome plated bolt face. As the war progressed, supplies of suitable ordnance steel dwindled and the need for rifles increased dramatically. Gradually, early features were deleted and the level of finish applied to the rifles decreased. These were considered “transitional T99 rifles” and were generally made from late 1941 to about late 1943. The Transitional rifles were made to be functionally the equivalent of the early war rifles and even had provision for most of the early war features (except the useless monopod) – the idea being that when Japan won the war [sic], these rifles would be upgraded. As the situation worsened for Japan in late 1943, the “Substitute Standard” T99 was introduced – it is often mistakenly called a “last ditch 99”. These rifles were made as cheaply and quickly as possible. They are often characterized by crude welds, wooden butt plates, lack of any refinement and crude fixed sights with primitive stocks compared to earlier rifles. Contrary to popular belief, they are safe to shoot if in serviceable condition but the general lack of quality is quite evident. It is my personal belief that these rifles were never built with upgrading to full T99 standard in mind.
The rifle pictured here is a very early 33rd series rifle from the Toyo Kogyo factory in Hiroshima. The characters on the receiver ring translate to “type 99”. Toyo Kogyo was Hiroshima's largest employer, and while the factory was located far enough from the city center to avoid serious damage from the world’s first aggressive use of an atomic blast, many of Toyo Kogyo's employees were not; 400 workers died and the factory never made firearms again. Today the factory is owned by Mazda Motors. Toyo Kogyo made rifles from the 30th series to the 35th series for a total production of approximately 557,000 rifles, about 200,000 or so of which were substitute standard models.
Serial number observations indicate Toyo Kogyo made the switch from transitional T99 production to Substitute standard production within the first 9,000 or so rifles of the 33rd series, making this rifle one of the last transitional rifles they ever produced. In the pictures you can see that cosmetic finishes were pretty much a non-issue at this point on all non-critical surfaces. Aside from the ground chrysanthemum, this rifle is in excellent condition or a rifle of its type. The rough surfaces seen on the hinged floor plate, trigger guard, etc. are not due to pitting – the parts themselves were basically raw stampings and forgings, only lightly ground and blued at manufacture. The receiver cover, monopod, monopod boss and AA sighting wings are deleted on this rifle, though the receiver is still machined to accept a cover and the rear sight is machined for wings. The nosecap is also a 2 screw type, not the earlier 3-screw model. The stock has no drainage holes, but retains the early war small diameter recoil bolt. The stacking rod has been shortened and is no longer a cleaning rod. The bore is chromed, but the bolt face is not. Unlike the other T99 factories, Toyo Kogyo and Kokura arsenals continued to use the olive-shaped bolt knob and machined safety shroud until the end of production in 1945.
The stock, like all T99 rifles, is made of two pieces, with the toe of the butt spliced on. The finish is a reddish varnish called Urushi. Do not sand these stocks – Urushi is a powerful skin irritant in dust form. This stock retain the early war thick butt plate.
When reading the markings on the receiver wall, the first character, a kana, indicates the production series in Japanese, the next numbers are the serial number in Arabic numerals, followed by the Arsenal mark (1 or as in this case, 2 characters) and finished by an inspector’s Kanji.
The vast majority of rifles the collector will encounter have defaced chrysanthemum markings. This is because upon Japanese surrender in 1945, soldiers in the field were ordered to deface these markings so as not to dishonor the emperor and also because Gen. Macarthur issued orders that the same be done to all officially captured rifles. The US gov’t didn’t want to debase the Emperor’s power as it was felt he would be needed to aid in reconstruction of the country post-war. Only a small percentage of Arisaka rifles escaped this fate.(Feedback by 'Claven2')