This is a very rare WWII Japanese Type 92 heavy machine gun. This was probably one of the most notable and easily identified WWII Japanese machine guns. They saw considerable use during WWII, then again by the Chinese after WWII with a considerable number used by the North Korean/Chinese forces during the Korean War. It was originally designed by Kijiru Nambu one of the leading Japanese Ordnance engineers. It was based on the original Hotchkiss M1914 machine gun only adapted for both the rimless and semi-rimmed 7.7x58mm Shiki round and the standard 7.7 mm Japanese round. It was an air cooled weapon that used factory loaded metal strips that were feed in from the side. The gun has an internal oil pump system which is mechanically activated by the bolt. The oil pump actually dispensed a small amount of oil onto a brush, which then lubricates each cartridge as it is fed into the gun to help with extraction. It had a very low cyclic rate of fire, approximately 450 rds/min and was nicknamed "the woodpecker" by Allied soldiers due to the distinctive sound it made during firing. The standard fixed sights were off-set to the right which then allowed a top mounted periscopic, optical sight. Several different types of optical sights were produced for the weapon, specifically the Type 93, Type 94 periscopic sights as well as the Type 96 telescopic sight. It is easily identified by the large heavy "finned" rear section of the barrel along with the considerably smaller front finned section. Under the barrel there is a distinctive Hotchkiss designed gas regulator. It is a very heavy weapon weighting in at approximately 60 lbs with out the tripod/mount and the total weapon system weights approximately 125 lbs. It was intended to be fired from a tripod by a team of three men. The unusual tripod was designed to be used with removable carry poles, so that the weapon could be transported fully assembled for quicker deployment. The top of the receiver is marked with the Kana markings for Type 92 and the left side of the receiver is stamped with the serial number "28498" over the Showa date of 17.6 (June 1942) followed by the small intertwined symbol of the Kokura factory. The rear of the gun is fitted with a set of folding spade grips and a thumb trigger with integral manual safety. As noted this desirable WWII HMG includes a very rare original Japanese 4X type 93 periscopic sight. The sight mounts directly on top of the receiver and has elaborate windage and elevation knob adjustments. It is marked on top with serial number "23784/4 X 10/TOKYO/No.33304". It also comes with an original WWII Japanese tripod with the mounting cradle, and windage and elevation mechanisms intact. It also comes with the noted two front poles to enable easy carrying. A very interesting and iconic WWII Japanese heavy machine gun.