40th Series Jinsen
Early 40th series:
-The earliest Jinsen Type 99's are very rare, as it seems Jinsen progressed quickly to late war style rifles
-This example has a full length cleaning rod and chrome bore and bolt face
-Rear sight adjustment slider has a provision for AA sights, but does not seem to have them installed
-Rear band has a monopod mount, but there is no evidence one was installed, such as wear to the front of the stock where the monopod would fold up
-The stock, rear sight, and other parts have Kokura arsenal proofs. Kokura also helped with Type 38 Jinsen production as those rifles also feature Kokura made parts
-The serial number on the bolt handle is parallel to the bolt handle itself, and this is a unique feature of Jinsen production on Type 99s. No other Type 99 producer seems to have placed their serial number is this fashion
-This example has a full length cleaning rod and chrome bore and bolt face
-Rear sight adjustment slider has a provision for AA sights, but does not seem to have them installed
-Rear band has a monopod mount, but there is no evidence one was installed, such as wear to the front of the stock where the monopod would fold up
-The stock, rear sight, and other parts have Kokura arsenal proofs. Kokura also helped with Type 38 Jinsen production as those rifles also feature Kokura made parts
-The serial number on the bolt handle is parallel to the bolt handle itself, and this is a unique feature of Jinsen production on Type 99s. No other Type 99 producer seems to have placed their serial number is this fashion
Serial number locations:
Early transitional 40th series:
This example is an early, transitional Jinsen 40th series. The main differences from the early 40th series rifle include:
-The rear sight slider no longer has any AA sight provisions
-The stock is still an earlier style with a drain hole, but no cleaning rod. The slot of the cleaning rod retainer is filled in with a block of wood, and no cleaning rod can be installed
-Bolt face is no longer chromed, but the barrel still has the lining
-A monopod rear band is still used, but never had a monopod installed
-The rear sight slider no longer has any AA sight provisions
-The stock is still an earlier style with a drain hole, but no cleaning rod. The slot of the cleaning rod retainer is filled in with a block of wood, and no cleaning rod can be installed
-Bolt face is no longer chromed, but the barrel still has the lining
-A monopod rear band is still used, but never had a monopod installed
Early late war 40th series:
By mid production of the 40th series, we now have an example in the classic "Last Ditch" pattern with a fixed rear sight and welded in place front barrel band.
-The rear sight used on last ditch 40th series rifles is unique to this series, as well as the 7th and 8th series of Nagoya.
-Stock now uses a large late war recoil bolt
-This example features an intact mum, which is VERY rare on Jinsen Type 99's for some reason
-Rear barrel band is still the split type, but no longer has a monopod attachment
-The rear sight used on last ditch 40th series rifles is unique to this series, as well as the 7th and 8th series of Nagoya.
-Stock now uses a large late war recoil bolt
-This example features an intact mum, which is VERY rare on Jinsen Type 99's for some reason
-Rear barrel band is still the split type, but no longer has a monopod attachment
Late war 40th series:
This is a slightly later production 40th series Jinsen. The changes from the previous rifle include:
-No dust cover grooves machined into the receiver
-Stock is noticeably rougher in quality
-Oddly, the rear band is still a split type even this late
-No dust cover grooves machined into the receiver
-Stock is noticeably rougher in quality
-Oddly, the rear band is still a split type even this late
Late war 40th series w/ reused Kokura stock:
This is a very late Jinsen Type 99, which uses a very interesting stock from a Kokura 24th series rifle with a square recoil bolt. This is a feature found only on 24th series Type 99's, and it seems Jinsen somehow acquired this stock from Kokura. Early Jinsen production of bother Type 38's and Type 99's were assisted with help by the Kokura arsenal, so it does make sense that this stock could have ended up in Korea. Interestingly Jinsen installed a small recoil bolt in this example.
It is also interesting that despite this rifle being in the 80,000 serial range, it is using an earlier Jinsen receiver with dust cover grooves still milled in the receiver. It's possible this was a previously rejected/unused receiver.
Photos provided by Gunboards member Bob In OHIO
It is also interesting that despite this rifle being in the 80,000 serial range, it is using an earlier Jinsen receiver with dust cover grooves still milled in the receiver. It's possible this was a previously rejected/unused receiver.
Photos provided by Gunboards member Bob In OHIO
Special Last Ditch (SLD) 40th series:
The very late Jinsen 40th series are known as "Special Last Ditch" and can feature a combination of the following unique features:
-No dust cover grooves machined into the receiver
-A flattened, even more rough front barrel band, still welded in place
-Enlarged rear barrel band, still with the split
-Scalloped out bolt release grasping area
Some SLD rifles may only have one of these features, while others like this example may feature all of them.
Also note on this rifle the finger grooves have now been eliminated.
-No dust cover grooves machined into the receiver
-A flattened, even more rough front barrel band, still welded in place
-Enlarged rear barrel band, still with the split
-Scalloped out bolt release grasping area
Some SLD rifles may only have one of these features, while others like this example may feature all of them.
Also note on this rifle the finger grooves have now been eliminated.
Unique features of SLD rifles:
Very late 40th series without a serial number:
It is not unheard of to find Type 99's, especially later war rifles, lacking serial numbers. Some, like the 27th series late rope hole rifles, are fairly "common". Other arsenals do not pop up as much. This Jinsen example is one of a handful reported. It appears to be a late war parts rifle, and doesn't seem to have any final proofs from the arsenal. The stock is Toyo Kogyo marked and looks to likely be off a 33rd series rifle, complete with a metal butt plate. The hand guard and fore end look more like late war Jinsen in style. Also of note are:
-No dust cover grooves machined into the receiver
-A flattened, even more rough front barrel band, still welded in place
-No other SLD feature appear on this example
-The bolt lacks any serial number as well
-No dust cover grooves machined into the receiver
-A flattened, even more rough front barrel band, still welded in place
-No other SLD feature appear on this example
-The bolt lacks any serial number as well