This is an very fine example of a late WWII Japanese Type 99 LMG that is fitted with one of the scarce late war optical sights manufactured by the Kokura Arsenal. This model was developed in 1939 as a replacement for the Type 96 LMG and fired the new, heavier, standard 7.7mm Japanese cartridge. It was a very successful light machine gun that was used throughout the war by the Japanese forces in all of the various homeland islands and occupied territories. They are very similar to the earlier Type 96 in configuration and function, but they have a forward mounted folding bipod, a new finned quick change barrel with a top mounted carrying handle and a fully adjustable mono-pod attached to the underside of the buttstock. These were very well made machine guns that featured all machined parts and hardwood buttstocks and pistol grips. The right side of the receiver has the four intertwined cannon balls of the Kokura Arsenal next to the arsenal inspector's mark and several Kana markings/the series mark/9811over the Showa date of 18.11 (November 1943). This really nice example has a matching bolt that is numbered "9811" with the barrel double stamped by the factory with "9811"/Showa date of 18.12 with a second serial number of "14811", obviously the barrel was reallocated to this machine gun before being issued. It is fitted with an original late war optical sighting device that is mounted on top and to the right side of the receiver. The sight is marked with "2.5 X 13 (degrees)/factory symbol/TOKO/No. 3343", with gun number "2965" stamped in the left upper corner. The sight has a range finding reticle that is graduated 1-14 (100-1400 meters). It is complete with its original bipod, the noted scope and original canvas scope case, and one original 30 round magazine. This weapon hand cycles and dry fires correctly.

Very fine with 85% plus of the original blue finish overall, general light wear and finish loss on the edges and high spots, and some minor browning on the sides of the receiver. The buttstock, pistol grip and carrying handle are all in fine condition with their nice original orangish type color and some minor light chips around the edges of the pistol grip and carrying handle. The buttstock is all in very fine condition with only a few minor handling marks. A really super clean WWII Japanese Type 99 medium machine gun. 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.