M1899 Type 30 Arisaka Rifle

Introduced by Japan in 1897 in the move to smokeless powder. It was based on the Mauser and Mannlicher idea and was designated the Type 30. Used by the Japanese until 1905 when it was replaced by the Type 38. Japanese made Type 30 ammunition does not have any neck crimps, as opposed to the British manufactured ammunition discussed below.

                              

  

  

The notes I have with this cartridge state that in came from Vietnam. Cartridge is unusual in that it has a CNCS bullet. Neither Ken Elks nor Teruaki Isomura makes mention anywhere that the Japanese manufactured CNCS bullets.

BLANKS

                              

Rolled paper bullet blanks. Punch marks on the base for the number of times reloaded.

DUMMY

  

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Because of production backlogs during the First World War, the British acquired a large quantity of Arisaka rifles, but as production caught up, these became surplus and was sent to Russia. The British also supplied the Russians with ammunition from Royal Laboratories at Woolwich and Kynoch Ltd in Birmingham until September 1917. In total almost 600 million rounds were supplied to Russia.

As most of the rifles supplied to Russia were old Type 30’s, the British version, namely the .256 Ball Mk.2 was a step backwards from the Mk.1 (Type 38) and was loaded with the 160gr. round nosed bullet secured by three small slit crimps.

  

   This specimen has an almost ‘mini A-Base’

  

  

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