[bones92]

Saw an interesting one in a shop. Kokura Type 99, don't recall the series.

The rifle retains the AA wings, no pod, no rod, no DC. Rifle serial is xx764, matching bayo lug but bolt parts are 714. Mum is pristine.

What's interesting is that there is a bit of damage to the stock that is, without doubt, where the stock was hit with a bullet. It has the right shape for a bullet strike that grazed the forearm on the left bottom under the rear sight. Done a long time ago as noted by the aging of the exposed stock wood. Plus a bit of cracked wood forward of the struck area, as one might expect with the force of a round hitting it.

Forward part of the handguard looks to have been partially shattered. Someone glued it back together though there is a sliver missing on the left side edge of th handguard.

What's a market value for one like this? Shop wants $350 for it (though they don't really know much about milsurps).

 

[bones92]

The shop hasn't mentioned anything about the damage, almost as though they hope nobody will notice. They would surely play this up if there was a thought of making this a value-add feature. The gouged channel has aging that seems right. The shattered handguard adds to my suspicion that this rifle really did see some violent action. Add the untouched mum and the likelihood of an island-captured weapon seems to match up.

The trouble is this shop prices things with no real knowledge. The local expert makes a guess and that's what it gets listed at.

 

[bones92]

Well, someone thought it was worth something, as it's gone now. I think it went for closer to $250.

 

[bones92]

There were some other issues, but I still think it was a combat capture rifle. The front sight base appeared to have been brazed back on at some point. The mag floorplate had an odd impression in it, as though struck by something, which may fit in with the likely battle damage it received. The bullet hit was unmistakeable, though.