Type 97 Arisaka

The standard sniper’s rifle of the Imperial Japanese military in the Second World War was a relatively unimpressive creation, being little more than a standard Type 38 rifle fitted with a scope.

The History

The birth of modern sniping is commonly traced to the trenches of the First World War, but in the case of the Empire of Japan their land involvement had been minimal. As a result, a program to develop and introduce a specialized, optic equipped rifle for sniping use did not come about until the late 1930s. Following experience in Manchuria with enemy snipers equipped with scoped German rifles, a program was commenced at the Imperial Japanese Army Infantry School to develop such a rifle, coming to fruition in 1937.

The front sight of the Type 97 is identical to late pattern Type 38 rifles, incorporating the sight protector originally developed for use on carbines

The resulting Type 97 was so designated for its adoption in the year 2597 of the Japanese Imperial Calendar, and was at its heart a simple variant of the then-standard Type 38 Arisaka infantry rifle. As a result sniper candidates would already be familiar with the basic operation of the weapon, and standard ammunition and chargers could be shared with regular infantry, simplifying logistics.

The Type 97 is equipped with the same rear ladder sight of the Type 38 infantry rifle, with both a battlesight position and a ladder graduated from 600-2,000 meters

Japanese snipers were selected at the platoon level, and training was focused as a specialty in a similar manner to machine gunners or mortar crews, as opposed to the dedicated schools of other nations. In action, snipers worked on squad level, and could operate as regular infantry as well as in their more specialized role. The quick-detaching Type 97 Scope was carried in a rubberized canvas holster worn on a shoulder strap and could be deployed when needed for precision shots.

The action of the Type 97, showcasing the signature dust cover of the Type 38 series, along with its offset scope and bent bolt handle

Japanese snipers were infamous for their skill in action as well as their mastery of camouflage. Commonly, they tied themselves into trees and waited for enemy units to pass before engaging in a suicidal attack, sometimes waiting for days for a perfect shot. Notably, the Type 97’s long barrel and 6.5mm cartridge made for a relatively quiet rifle that produced very little flash, making it difficult for countersnipers to locate the shooter.

The receiver is a standard Type 38, with the Imperial Crysanthemum (defaced on this example), dual gas escape ports, and the model designation, Type 97 (九七式)

The Type 97 was produced by both Kokura and Nagoya arsenals, with production halting in 1943 in favor of the newer 7.7mm Type 99 sniper rifle, although the Type 97 remained the most common such weapon in Japanese hands during the conflict.

The Design

The Type 97 is essentially a bog-standard Type 38 rifle, with a few small alterations made. The primary difference is, of course, the eponymous Type 97 scope. This is a relatively unique optic among Second World War sniper’s rifles, with a 2.5x magnification that was low even by the standards of the time. In addition, the Type 97 scope is non-adjustable in the field, requiring this to be accomplished by an armorer in the event it should become necessary. As a consequence of this, the reticule of the scope is unique, intended to allow the operator to compensate for windage and elevation as needed with it. Notably amongst scoped period rifles, the scope is side mounted, allowing the weapon to be loaded with charger clips as on the infantry model.

Due to the offset mount of the optic, the Type 97 can still be loaded with chargers, an uncommon feature of Second World War Era sniper's rifles

Aside from the scope, the Type 97 is only differentiated by its designation, marked as such on the receiver (九七式, Kyu Nana Shiki) as well as its bent bolt handle, intended to clear the scope during operation. Early examples also were fitted with a monopod in the same style as that seen on the later 7.7mm Type 99 infantry rifles, although as the Second World War got going the Type 97 lost this feature just as the 99 did.

Early Type 97 rifles were fitted with a wire monopod mounted to the rear band. This example is missing, as is fairly common

This Example

The example seen here was manufactured by the Kokura Arsenal, which was responsible for the smaller share of sniper rifle production. It is a relatively early example, still featuring the monopod (as produced, characteristic scarring on the stock near the bayonet lug is present, indicating it was removed at some point as is fairly common). Overall condition is quite good, with matching serial numbers on all components save for the dust cover. The scope on this example is a reproduction mated to the original mounting rail, with a proper original type reticule. Due to the nature of the Japanese sniper not always having the optic attached it would become the overwhelming majoritiy of rifles that were captured without their scopes, the optic and case generally coming back as trophies with different GIs if at all. As a result only a tiny minority of Type 97s on the market today have their original, serial matching scope, and a great many are found like this one, without an optic altogether.

The Type 97 scope is a quick detaching type mounted via a rail along the receiver wall. Its locking mechanism consisting of a spring catch and a lever-controlled wedge on the scope

Opinions

The Type 97 is interesting amongst sniper’s rifles of the Second World War. Its best features are actually inherent of the Type 38 infantry rifle, those being the quiet cartridge with little muzzle flash. Modifications to sniper configuration are minimal, with a serviceable but unimpressive optic (the author has had the ability to experiment with an original optic as well as the reproduction seen here). It should be noted that none of the military optics of the period are impressive by modern standards, but the Type 97 is so even amongst its contemporaries.

The unique reticule of the Type 97 Scope

In summation, the Type 97 is an extremely interesting variation of the Arisaka family. The bolt and trigger are notably smoother and lighter than that on the Koishikawa Type 38 in the reference collection, and make for a very pleasant shooting experience. The optic is of relatively limited use, but is functional as well.

Chinese Communist soldiers inspect a captured Type 97 late in the Second Sino Japanese War

Observed Values and Frequency

Updated: October, 2024

AVERAGE VALUE (USD): $1,000 - $2,500

FREQUENCY: Very Rare

COLLECTOR’S NOTES: As mentioned, many Type 97 rifles lack their scope. The high price here is for a rifle with an original but non-matching scope in excellent condition. The extreme rarity of examples with original matched scopes prevents making an accurate assessment.