Original Item: Only One Available. Japanese machine guns very rarely show up for sale, so we are especially proud to offer this fantastic BATF compliant non-firing original example. It definitely has a "battlefield pickup" look to it, having had surface oxidation on much of the exterior, like it was left on the beach in the south pacific, and then picked up a few months later. This has given it an incredible "been there" look. The original bipod must not have survived, and it was fitted with a home-made replica bipod at some time in the past, which we have left intact. It also did not come with a magazine, so we have included a resin replica example copied from an original.

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, including the barrel bushing, 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 Type 99 Light Machine Gun 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.

This example is marked on the receiver with the arsenal markings for Kokura Arsenal next to 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 serial number 562[5] and date 昭 18.3. This would be read as Showa Era year 18, 3rd month, or March 1943. The markings were partly removed, as the receiver was torch cut right through them, however the same serial and date markings are on the bottom of the barrel, and they are complete and fully legible. There are some other components on the display gun that bear the the same serial number or a shortened version, so this is at least a "Partially Matching" display gun.

The barrel of the display gun has not been deactivated, and can still be removed from the barrel bushing by pulling out the barrel lock. It however has a very worn bore, showing that it saw long use on the front lines during WWII, almost to the point of destruction. This was NOT a case queen.

The gun has been painted over on the entire exterior with our lovely gunmetal gray custom paint to give it a great look, while still maintaining the "battlefield pickup" feel from the oxidized areas. The butt stock and pistol grip are both original in very good condition with their nice original color with light pressure dents and gouges from actual field use. The front carry handle is present, and as usually seen, some of the high ribbed wood grip is cracked off. The rear monopod 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 very nice "battlefield pickup" example of one the primary WWII Japanese light machine guns.