7th Series Nagoya
Very early production 7th series:
The earliest 7th series rifles were essentially the same pattern as the late 6th series rifles, with long rear sights, no monopod lug, cylindrical style bolt handle, and grooved style safety.
Very early in production Nagoya switched to the short ladder style, as seen on the following example on this page. As such, these early 7th series rifles with the long sight are incredibly rare, with only a few hundred likely made.
Very early in production Nagoya switched to the short ladder style, as seen on the following example on this page. As such, these early 7th series rifles with the long sight are incredibly rare, with only a few hundred likely made.
Early production 7th series:
This rifle is an example of an early production 7th series rifle. The following features should be noted:
-The bolt is a cylindrical style
-The rear sight is now a short ladder style. This is found only on the 7th series. Since AA wings were no longer installed, the extra top portion of the ladder was no longer needed to accommodate the length of the wings and was eliminated
-Still uses a screw in cleaning rod
-Still using a grooved safety as seen in the late 6th series
-The bolt is a cylindrical style
-The rear sight is now a short ladder style. This is found only on the 7th series. Since AA wings were no longer installed, the extra top portion of the ladder was no longer needed to accommodate the length of the wings and was eliminated
-Still uses a screw in cleaning rod
-Still using a grooved safety as seen in the late 6th series
Serial number locations:
Rare variant early production 7th series w/ long style rear sight:
Among the more rare variants of the 7th series are rifles that use the original transitional rear sight as found on the very late 6th series Nagoya rifles. Very quickly into 7th series production Nagoya switched to the short ladder rear sight, as discussed on the previous rifle. However, examples are known to exist from the 7th series that use this long pattern sight. The majority of known examples are in the very early part of production, scattered in the first few hundred rifles. However, this example is in the 17,000 range. The barrel appears to be original to the rifle, and the rear sight itself is Nagoya proofed, so it's an original part. A very interesting, uncommon variant.
Mid production 7th series:
This rifle is an example of an early production 7th series rifle. The following features should be noted as changing from the previously listed 7th series rifle:
-A thin style butt plate has replaced the previously used cupped butt plate
Most of the rest of this rifle is the same as the early 7th series example
-A thin style butt plate has replaced the previously used cupped butt plate
Most of the rest of this rifle is the same as the early 7th series example
Serial number locations:
Late production 7th series w/ reused early war stock:
This rifle is an example of a late 7th series that used a very early straight angle spliced stock, found on zero series to mid 3rd series rifles. Likely this stock was one that was never used, and finally taken out of storage and installed on this late 7th series. The bottom drain hole and square cleaning rod retainer have been filled in with a small piece of wood, very similar to early 9th series Izawa Type 99's.
The rest of the rifle has standard late 7th series features, including a cylindrical bolt handle, rough safety, short extractor, and short rear sight.
The rest of the rifle has standard late 7th series features, including a cylindrical bolt handle, rough safety, short extractor, and short rear sight.
Examples of the early stock features:
Serial number locations:
"Early" late production 7th series w/ metal butt plate (1):
This rifle is an example of a later production 7th series, showing some features that would be part of even later production in the series. The features of this rifle include:
-Rough weld safety
-The finger grooves have been eliminated on the stock, but it still uses the small style recoil bolt
-Thin style metal butt plate is still being used
-Rough weld safety
-The finger grooves have been eliminated on the stock, but it still uses the small style recoil bolt
-Thin style metal butt plate is still being used
Serial number locations:
Painted stock markings:
"Early" late production 7th series w/ metal butt plate (2):
This rifle is an example of a late production 7th series rifle just prior to the use of the fixed rear sight. The following features should be noted:
-The safety is no longer grooved, but switched to the rough weld style
-The stock has not been drilled for a cleaning rod and no retained is installed. The stock also no longer has finger grooves
-Stock now has a large late war recoil bolt
-The stock still uses a thin style metal butt plate
Photos from the collection of Gunboards member diss0lutus
-The safety is no longer grooved, but switched to the rough weld style
-The stock has not been drilled for a cleaning rod and no retained is installed. The stock also no longer has finger grooves
-Stock now has a large late war recoil bolt
-The stock still uses a thin style metal butt plate
Photos from the collection of Gunboards member diss0lutus
"Early" late production 7th series w/ wooden butt plate:
This rifle is an example of a late production 7th series rifle just prior to the use of the fixed rear sight. The following features should be noted:
-The safety is no longer grooved, but switched to the rough weld style
-The bolt now uses a short style extractor as noted in bolt photos
-The stock has not been drilled for a cleaning rod and no retained is installed. The stock also no longer has finger grooves
-Stock now has a large late war recoil bolt
-A wooden butt plate is now being used instead of the thin metal type
-The safety is no longer grooved, but switched to the rough weld style
-The bolt now uses a short style extractor as noted in bolt photos
-The stock has not been drilled for a cleaning rod and no retained is installed. The stock also no longer has finger grooves
-Stock now has a large late war recoil bolt
-A wooden butt plate is now being used instead of the thin metal type
Serial number locations:
Late 7th series (Variant 1):
This rifle is an example of a late production 7th series rifle. These rifles were among the first last ditch pattern rifles made by the Nagoya arsenal. A total of 3,000 or so rifle were made in this pattern, making it very uncommon. The following features should be noted:
-Nagoya has now switched to full late war production, with the classic "last ditch" style being used (short handguard, fixed rear sight, wooden butt plate, pinned in place front barrel band).
-The rear sight is fixed, though not the same as the later fixed rear sight. This unique style is found only on Nagoya late 7th, early 8th, and 40th series Jinsen rifles.
-The main stock is still 1 piece, and will switch to the 2 piece stock with separate forearm in the 8th series. The stock also is still using a 2 screw rear sling swivel
-Bayonet lug, despite being welded in place to the barrel, is still numbered. This will end sometime in the 8th series
-Nagoya has now switched to full late war production, with the classic "last ditch" style being used (short handguard, fixed rear sight, wooden butt plate, pinned in place front barrel band).
-The rear sight is fixed, though not the same as the later fixed rear sight. This unique style is found only on Nagoya late 7th, early 8th, and 40th series Jinsen rifles.
-The main stock is still 1 piece, and will switch to the 2 piece stock with separate forearm in the 8th series. The stock also is still using a 2 screw rear sling swivel
-Bayonet lug, despite being welded in place to the barrel, is still numbered. This will end sometime in the 8th series
Serial number locations:
Late 7th series (Variant 2):
This rifle is an example of the second variation late production 7th series rifle. The following features should be noted:
-The main difference between this rifle and the previous is that Nagoya has now switched to the late war receiver without the "Type 99" text below the mum. Other than that, all features listed on the previous last ditch rifle apply to this example.
-The main difference between this rifle and the previous is that Nagoya has now switched to the late war receiver without the "Type 99" text below the mum. Other than that, all features listed on the previous last ditch rifle apply to this example.