The Type 97 Arisaka (九七式狙撃銃 Kyū-nana-shiki sogekijū, lit. "97th year sniper rifle") was a Japanese bolt-action sniper rifle designed by Captain Kijirō Nambu in 1937 and produced by the Kokura and Nagoya Arsenals in Japan from 1937 to 1943. The fifth iteration of the Arisaka rifle, the Type 97 was essentially an accurized Type 38 Arisaka and was used as a sharpshooter's weapon.
History[]
In response to seeing German-trained Chinese snipers during wars, the Japanese felt that a sniper's weapon was required for use; as such, the Japanese began to develop a rifle for this very purpose. Research for optics in Japanese use however dates back to the 1920s when a Zeiss optic was acquired by the Japanese for research purposes.
The culmination of this research resulted in the Type 97, so named as it was designed in 1937, the 2597th year of the Japanese Imperial calendar. The weapon was adopted in 1938. The weapon was produced from 1937 to 1943 by the Nagoya[1] and Kokura Arsenals,[2] with the bulk of the rifles being produced by the Nagoya Arsenal.[3] The rifle was used to great effect by Japanese snipers as there was no noticeable muzzle flash when the gun fired due to the nature of the 6.5mm cartridge it used.[4] A total of 22,500 were produced over the course of the war.
Design Details[]
The Type 97 is a bolt-action rifle with a five-round internal box magazine fed by stripper clips. It is heavily based on the older Type 38 rifle, and as such both rifles are nearly identical from a technical standpoint.[4] However, the Type 97 features a slightly lightened stock when compared to the Type 38.
Notably, unlike the Type 38, the Type 97 was usually seen mounted with an optic; this was usually a 2.5× telescopic scope designated the Type 97 sniper scope. These scopes were manufactured by a variety of companies.[3] The Type 97 also had provisions for a monopod.[2]
Ammunition[]
The Type 97 used 6.5×50mmSR Arisaka ammunition; while slightly underpowered, the rifle was highly effective due to the lack of muzzle flash produced when the weapon fired.[4]
References[]
- ↑ https://www.icollector.com/Japanese-Arisaka-Type-97-Bolt-Action-Sniper-Rifle_i23666152
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/52/1734/early-wwii-japanese-type-97-kokura-sniper-rifle
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 http://www.nambuworld.com/t97sniperriflepix.htm
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 https://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=1139