Extreme caution refinishing your WWII Jap Arisaka.

[4thIDvet]

The Japs used a toxic finish on the rifles around the WWII era. Sanding the stock could make you very sick. Not all of them but it is difficult to know which has the toxic oils.

Poisonous Japanese Rifles of WW2 - YouTube

[mrkalashnikov]

Interesting article, I've never heard of that Arushi oil finish. I sanded and refinished my dad's Arisaka Type 38 carbine he brought back from Guadalcanal. The original orangish finish was flaking badly. After asking him if he minded, I fine-sanded, restained, and sealed it with multiple coats of boiled linseed oil. Came out looking pretty good, too.

[4thIDvet]

Interesting article, I've never heard of that Arushi oil finish. I sanded and refinished my dad's Arisaka Type 38 carbine he brought back from Guadalcanal. The original orangish finish was flaking badly. After asking him if he minded, I fine-sanded, restained, and sealed it with multiple coats of boiled linseed oil. Came out looking pretty good, too.

Yes I have one sitting in the safe here also and its an original unfinished bring back. The article does mention its hit or miss if you get one with that poison make yah sick oil?
Short of looking it up I think their 7.7 size rounds?? Damn I feel for those troops getting shot at with those shells coming at yah. Little larger and they would be artillery shells. I bet the Nips didn't carry a lot ammo around??

[mrkalashnikov]

All the Type 38 Arisakas were chambered in 6.5mm. The Type 99 rifles were chambered in 7.7mm. I believe the 99 was put into service in the late 1930's based on their experience in Manchuria. Either round would hurt I imagine.

[4thIDvet]

All the Type 38 Arisakas were chambered in 6.5mm. The Type 99 rifles were chambered in 7.7mm. I believe the 99 was put into service in the late 1930's based on their experience in Manchuria. Either round would hurt I imagine.

Yes mine is the type 99 thanks for clarifying that. We test fired it with some old WWII 7.7 ammo. Tied it to a wooden sawhorse secured a rope to the trigger and ran it back about 20 or so feet. We didn't trust them Nips they booby trapped every damn thing. Yanked the rope and nothing no bang. Ammo was bad needed a new firing pin hell I don't know but we put it away before someone got hurt.