SOLD - Rare Type 97 Sniper Rifle - Kokura Arsenal

Description

12/22/21 - This is an early example of a rare Arisaka Type 97 sniper rifle that was made at the Kokura Arsenal. Kokura Arsenal made only ~8,000 Type 97 sniper rifles, all from 1937-39, compared to the nearly 15,000 Nagoya Arsenal made from 1938-45. These were based on the Type 38 rifle, and when fired, the mild 6.5x50mm Arisaka cartridge gave off little flash or smoke and made counter-sniper activity difficult. This particular rifle is all matching numbers throughout, including the bolt assembly. The bluing on the rifle is in great shape overall aside from the ground mum area, and the standard wear you'd expect to find on the buttplate. The stock has seen better days, unfortunately, as there's a notable chip on the underside and a surface crack on the left side. The rifle does come with the rare and correct 2.5x10 sniper scope, as well as the early leather scope case. The scope has a mismatched serial number is a rare and correct Kokura example. Clear optics, though one of the internal pieces of glass does have a minor defect that doesn't affect the sight picture. The rare leather case is in excellent condition and the Kanji markings under the lid indicate the case was made in 1938, the same year as our rifle. Rifle bore is generally clean and shiny throughout with good rifling, but has a little bit of frost.