The Arisaka (有坂銃 Arisaka-jū) is a family of Japanese bolt-action rifles designed by Baron Nariakira Arisaka produced from 1897 to 1945 by a variety of arsenals in Japan and other countries.[1]
Developed to replace the old Murata rifle, the rifle was designed by Nariakira Arisaka with improvements by Kijirō Nambu and Gen. Giichi Dōgane over its lifespan.
History
Designed in 1897 by Col. Nariakira Arisaka (who later was appointed Baron) who led a commission to design a rifle to replace old and outdated rifles,[2] the rifle was designed as a replacement to the old and expensive Murata rifle and entered service the same year. Over its history, many variants of the Arisaka were made and designed; the initial variant was the Type 30. The design was improved over time by Generals Kijirō Nambu and Giichi Dōgane.
The weapon saw use by the Imperial Japanese Army in great numbers during World War II. With the end of World War II and the surrender of Japan, however, production of the Arisaka stopped very abruptly, with the weapon having become quickly obsolete by then. Many were taken as war prizes, with the Imperial Chrysanthemum Seal on them being ground off or defaced on most captured examples; it is unclear as to why, although accounts say this was done on the instructions of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. The rifle was withdrawn from service in 1961.
Design Details
All Arisakas are bolt-action rifles with five-round internal box magazines fed by stripper clips; most variants can be fitted with bayonets. A number of variants of the Arisaka were able to mount scopes, with the most common being a Tokia 2.5× telescopic scope.[1]
Variants
A large amount of variants of the Arisaka were designed over its long lifespan, ranging from carbines to specialty variants meant for export.
Rifles
- Main article: Type 30 Arisaka
- Main article: Type 35 Arisaka
- Main article: Type 38 Arisaka
- Main article: Type 97 Arisaka
- Main article: Type 99 Arisaka
Carbines
- Main article: Type 30 Arisaka
- Main article: Type 44 Arisaka
Specialized
- Main article: Type I Arisaka
- Main article: TERA Type 2
A provisional name for what appears to be an experimental self-loading Arisaka (the rifle's name is currently and will probably remain unknown). Essentially some sort of Arisaka with a Type 99's magazine stuck onto the bottom, the only known image of the rifle was taken by the US Army after capturing this rifle. Why this rifle was developed remains unknown.[6]
A provisional name for a volley gun concept rifle of sorts, the Furukawa volley gun (Japanese: 古川式斉射銃 Furukawa-shiki seisha jū) was quite literally six Type 38 Arisakas mounted together in some sort of mount. A lever-like mechanism was used to fire all six rifles at once; reloading the weapon was done manually.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/arisaka-rifles-of-the-imperial-japanese-army/
- ↑ https://oldmilitarymarkings.com/japanese_markings.html
- ↑ http://www.cartridgecollector.net/65-x-50-japanese-arisaka-type-30
- ↑ https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015/10/16/a-brief-history-of-the-japanese-type-99/
- ↑ http://www.nambuworld.com/type2paratrooppix.htm
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 http://www.horae.dti.ne.jp/~fuwe1a/newpage71.html