Type 99 Variations
Over the course of production of Type 99's there were a large variety of cleaning rods used by the different manufacturers of these rifles. This page will show some of the various examples used throughout Type 99 production.
Variation A:
Early Type 99's used a full length 23 1/2" long cleaning rod, held in by a square retainer on the bottom of the fore stock. Please note the 90 degree angle where the skinnier part of the cleaning rod connects with the main body. This is the style used by many series of Type 99's, including Kokura series 20-23, Nagoya series 0-3, Toyo Kogyo series 30-32, early 40th series Jinsen rifles, early 37th series TJK, and 4th series Izawa rifles.
Variation B:
This next style of cleaning rod is essentially the same as the previous variant, minus one change. Notice the 90 degree angle where the skinnier part of the cleaning rod connects with the main part of the rod now has a slight slant to it. This is generally only found on Nagoya made rifles, starting in the mid 3rd-5th series, and 4th series Izawa rifles. Kokura and TK made and subcontracted rifles do not seem to have this variant. Most area Nagoya proofed with a "Ri" proof for the "Torimatsu" facotry that produced these rifles at the Nagoya arsenal.
Variation C:
As the war progressed Japanese arsenals general switched from the long cleaning rod to a short, screw in rod that acted more as a stacking rod or a "sinker" to help with barrel cleaning. These screw in rods are 4 7/8" long. This particular variation of the short rod is found mainly on Nagoya made rifles from mid production 5th series to near the end of the 7th series. It is also found on Nagoya sub contracted rifles from the 9th series Izawa. 27th series Nagoya rifles never used cleaning rods in any form. Notice it has the same slant that Variation B has.
Variation D:
This screw in cleaning rod variant is the same length as Variation C (4 7/8") but notice it has the 90 degree angle where the two parts of the cleaning rod body connect. This variant was typically used by Kokura (23rd-25th) and TK (32-34th) subcontracted rifles, including the later 37th series and 40th series Jinsen.
Toyo Kogyo variants actually will use a style with 3/16" diameter threads that will not screw in to other arsenal's stocks.
Toyo Kogyo variants actually will use a style with 3/16" diameter threads that will not screw in to other arsenal's stocks.
Variation E:
This unique cleaning rod is found only on very late 23rd series and very early 24th series Kokura rifles. It seems Kokura briefly switched to a short, 5 3/4" cleaning rod that used the early square, push in retainer. Rifles that originally came with these cleaning rods will only have the stock drilled for this short push in rod. These are a very rare, collectable variant.