Product Description

This book proves a sweeping view of the rifles and carbines that made up Japan's arsenal during the Second World War. Chapters include Arisaka development and Japanese rifle markings; the Type 38 rifle, carbine and cavalry rifle; the Type 44 carbine; the Type I rifle; the Type 99 rifle and long rifle; the Type 2 paratroop rifle; and the Concentric Circle rifles. Additional chapters deal with sniper rifles, the Naval Special Type 99 rifle, the Type 02/45 rifle, the North China Type 19 carbine, training rifles, bayonets, and slings.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #379631 in Books
• Published on: 1996-01
• Binding: Paperback
• 64 pages

Customer Reviews

Well Done!
Clint Eastwood, as Police Inspector Harry Callahan, popularized Smith and Wesson's Model 29 revolver in .44 Magnum as "the most powerful gun in the world!" Sales skyrocketed as collectors and shooters scrambled to get one.

As a director, Eastwood's two films about the World War II battle for Iwo Jima seem to have sparked collector interest in Japanese rifles. This is long overdue, in my opinion.

The Arisaka rifle which served Imperial Japan during World War II is an interesting, historical artifact of the war which shaped the world we know. And, some Arisakas are capable of excellent shooting if they are in good condition.

The author was born on Saipan and has had a life long interest in Japanese militaria, especially rifles. His writing is easy to read and accurate insofar as I can determine.

The book is well illustrated by black and white photographs and line drawings and enhanced by sections on bayonets, slings and an excellent bibliographic essay. The book is well laid out and easy to read. Its value as a quick reference would be improved by the addition of a good index, but I guess you can't have eggs in your beer all the time.

McCollum credits the older MILITARY RIFLES OF JAPAN by Fred L. Honeycutt, Jr., and F. Patt Anthony for much of his material. He's focused his own JAPANESE RIFLES OF WORLD WAR II on Arisakas, the Type I rifle as well as improving the somewhat cumbersome format of the older book. And, he's added new material.

For most collectors who want to go beyond the occasional article in a gun magazine, or the chapter on Japanese small arms in Smith and Smith's SMALL ARMS OF THE WORLD, McCollum's book will be perfect. Although you're not going to find anything about the origins of firearms production in Japan, or such 19th century rifles as the Muratas, you will find good, reliable information about the rifles you're likely to see in Clint Eastwood's films about Iwo Jima, the Arisakas.

If you want more depth and more history, try to find a copy of Honeycutt and Anthony's MILITARY RIFLES OF JAPAN. For most of us, however, McCollum's JAPANESE RIFLES OF WORLD WAR II is perfect.

I like this book and gave it five stars.

Gotta have this one.
I didn't know anything about Japanese Military rifles from WWII. The internet quickly lead me to this book as the most practical guide. It is. You can quickly get your knowledge base up to speed. I use it as a reference now. It's decently laid out with most of the information you need.

I used a Japanese Type 44 Carbine and Hornady Ammo to shoot a doe last week. I think Japanese Rifles, available now at gunshows for 200.00 or less, are going to increase rapidly in value. I was surprised at how well they shot. Nice to have this book as a guide.

Japanese Rifles of World War II
This is a short book but packs more useful information about WW-II Japanese Rifles into every page an books of much larger bulk. Reasonably priced and a very good value. If you collect or are interested in Japanese rifles this is a must have book