Original WWII Imperial Japanese 1943 Dated Type 99 Display Light Machine Gun with Resin Magazine

Original Item: Only One Available. Japanese machine guns very rarely show up for sale, so we are especially proud to offer this fantastic BATF approved non-firing original example. Constructed from a legally demilitarized (de-milled) parts set, this is a wonderful and rare Imperial Japanese WWII Type 99 Display Light Machine Gun. It is built using original parts on an original BATF compliant non-firing display receiver, making this a 100% legal display machine gun. This receiver was created by using portions of the original torch cut receiver, which was correctly angle cut removing 1/4" inch of material with each cut, including one through the barrel bushing. This was combined with some new made steel portions It has properly had a 25% section of the total length completely replaced entirely with solid steel bar stock. Meaning a 1/4 length section of the display receiver is solid steel, making this totally legal to own without a license of any kind.

The barrel of this example had been removed prior to demilitarization of the receiver, so it is still live, with an intact chamber and a good bore, though there is a bit of past oxidation damage to the chamber end as well. The display gun comes complete with the original bipod, rear monopod, and carry handle. It also comes with a resin display magazine, which is unfortunately a bit undersized, and does not lock at all into the magazine well.

The Type 99 was developed in 1939 as a replacement for the Type 96 LMG and fired the new, heavier 7.7mm Japanese cartridge. These weapons proved to be very successful throughout the war by all the Japanese forces and were used on all the Japanese held islands and mainland China. They are very similar in appearance to the British Bren gun in that they have a top mounted curved box magazine, a forward mounted folding bipod, and a new quick change, finned barrel that featured a top mounted carrying handle. These were a well made machine gun that featured all machined parts with a hard wood buttstock and pistol grip.

Due to how the BATF requires demilitarization of the receiver, unfortunately the markings on the right side were partly obliterated by the flame torch. We can however still see 九 九 式. Kyuu (九) is Japanese for number 9, and shiki (式) is the word for type, so it reads "99 Type". Under this is is marked with what looks like serial number 3785 and date 昭 18.3. This would be read as Showa Era year 18, 3rd month, or March 1943. Much of the metalwork suffered past oxidation, so we were not able to see any other serial number markings. The inert display receiver has been painted with our lovely gunmetal gray paint to give it a great look. The other components have a lovely aged blued finish, with some past peppering in areas.

The butt stock and pistol grip are both original and have a lovely color, however both definitely show wear and damage from use in service. The front carry handle is present, and as usually seen, some of the high ribbed wood grip is cracked off, particularly near the front end. The front bipod is in very good shape and fully functional, showing just a few dents to the legs. The rear monopod on the butt stock is still present and fully functional, a real rarity.

The Type 99 was probably the most successful Japanese Army machine gun of the Second World War. It looks like and was used like the famous British Bren gun, including the top-mounted magazine, a folding bipod, and a quick-change barrel. Unlike the Bren gun, however, the Type 99 was equipped with a mount for the standard Japanese rifle bayonet.

This is a very rare and desirable machine gun as not many were brought back by returning GIs as it is a heavy bulky weapon. A fantastic example of one the primary WWII Japanese light machine guns, ready to display!