This is a very scarce and certainly unique early Japanese Type 11 light machine gun as adopted in 1922. This weapon was actually a modified French Hotchkiss design that fired the standard 6.5 Japanese rifle round. One of the interesting aspects of this MG is that it is feed by a hopper mechanism located on the left side of the action that was designed to use the standard 5-round rifle stripper clips with a special reduced charged cartridge. The clips were laid flat in the hopper so that they feed the cartridges into the side of the mechanism. It can be easily distinguished by the very unique radically curved buttstock that provided an easy way to carry or hold the gun. These are all fitted with a finned barrel with no flash hider and a long folding bipod. The top of the gun shows a long section of Kanji markings with the serial number "28678" on the end. The right side is marked with the Nagoya Arsenal symbol followed by the Showa date of 14.12 (Dec 1939). This specific weapon has a documented history in that on the right side of the buttstock is a GI type dog tag that has been stamped with "Captured By/7th Cav RCN Troop/BEGEJ IS Kwajalein/Marshall Islands/5 February 1944." Begej is one of the islands in Kwajalein Atoll and the actual battle took place from approximately 31 Jan- 3 Feb 1944. The dog-tag is held on by two old wood screws and they appear to be original to both the tag and the buttstock. The cartridge feed hopper has been severely damaged on the side and it appears that at one time another barrel was tack-welded to the front edge of the receiver, which was removed with this barrel installed.

Very good condition with 50% of the blue finish still intact with the balance a gray/brown patina finish. The buttstock shows numerous handling marks and heavy gouges from battlefield use. The action hand cycles, however, we are not certain its fully functional. Certainly a very interesting early pre-WWII Japanese light machine gun with documented WWII capture history. NOTE: This item is restricted as a National Firearms Act (NFA), fully transferable Class 3, which is registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (BATFE) that is classified as a "Curios or Relic" as defined in 27 CFR, 478.11. These weapons are still subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 and 27 CFR part 478.