Jap 99 - The Firearms Forum

transplanted texan · 12-07-2008, 06:22 PM

I have a jap 99 and it looks as if the person responsable for grinding the mum was in a hurry as it looks as though it was a bump and gone to the next. Is there any diffrence in value for a fully gone mum to just a small grind with most of the mum untouched?

SW44Mag · 12-30-2008, 09:57 AM

I have one with the mum completely ground off. I don't think it matters whether the mum is partially or completly gone. The soldier who owned it, scratched it off because he was goinging to be captured thereby preventing dishonor from having the symbol fall into surrender. The mum meant it was property of the Emperor. The prices of those rifles ranges from about $250 - $400. I personally haven't seen any for sale for more than that price, even with the mum intact. I would imagine that if the rifle were in excellent condition, it might be worth more.

Here is a site that will tell you the meaning of the other markings on your rifle.

http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/japanese_markings.html

oscarmayer · 12-30-2008, 11:35 AM

i doubt the mum was ground off by a soldier i would rather guess it was ground off after the war because it was a requirement. a soldier grinding it off would be a disgraceful act even from a beaten people, 400 dollars would be for one in excellent condition and it would have to have the anti-aircraft mono-pod still intact.and have a mum intact. top sollar arounf here would be 250 to 300

eka · 12-31-2008, 05:02 PM

Oscarmayer's dead on. The mums were ordered ground by Gen. MacArthur as a concession to the Japanese government. It was designed to allow the Emperior to save face. Some mums are deeply ground and some are merely struck through with a line or two. I have not observed prices varying based on the severity or lack there of regarding the defacing of the mum. From what I have seen the rifle is priced on the mum being intact or not. As far as my personal preference, I personally would prefer a mum with a scratch or two through it as apposed to deeply ground. By far and away, most will have the mum completely ground.

Keith

12-07-2008, 06:22 PM	#1
transplanted texan Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 4	Jap 99 I have a jap 99 and it looks as if the person responsable for grinding the mum was in a hurry as it looks as though it was a bump and gone to the next. Is there any diffrence in value for a fully gone mum to just a small grind with most of the mum untouched? -->

12-30-2008, 09:57 AM	#2
SW44Mag Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 12	Re: Jap 99 I have one with the mum completely ground off. I don't think it matters whether the mum is partially or completly gone. The soldier who owned it, scratched it off because he was goinging to be captured thereby preventing dishonor from having the symbol fall into surrender. The mum meant it was property of the Emperor. The prices of those rifles ranges from about $250 - $400. I personally haven't seen any for sale for more than that price, even with the mum intact. I would imagine that if the rifle were in excellent condition, it might be worth more. Here is a site that will tell you the meaning of the other markings on your rifle. http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/japanese_markings.html

12-30-2008, 11:35 AM	#3
oscarmayer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Contributor Posts: 2,387	Re: Jap 99 i doubt the mum was ground off by a soldier i would rather guess it was ground off after the war because it was a requirement. a soldier grinding it off would be a disgraceful act even from a beaten people, 400 dollars would be for one in excellent condition and it would have to have the anti-aircraft mono-pod still intact.and have a mum intact. top sollar arounf here would be 250 to 300

12-31-2008, 05:02 PM	#4
eka V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 57	Re: Jap 99 Oscarmayer's dead on. The mums were ordered ground by Gen. MacArthur as a concession to the Japanese government. It was designed to allow the Emperior to save face. Some mums are deeply ground and some are merely struck through with a line or two. I have not observed prices varying based on the severity or lack there of regarding the defacing of the mum. From what I have seen the rifle is priced on the mum being intact or not. As far as my personal preference, I personally would prefer a mum with a scratch or two through it as apposed to deeply ground. By far and away, most will have the mum completely ground. Keith