This is a very rare example of an early Japanese Type 100 Naval issue Paratrooper rifle. The serial number on this rifle (32060) does not fall into the normal Type 100 Japanese Army serial number ranges as it is a Navy issue rifle. These were all converted at the Nagoya Arsenal using a standard Type 99 rifle based on the specific requested from the Imperial Japanese Navy. This model predates the Type 2, and it has a totally different type of attaching mechanism. The mechanism consists of an octagonal front section that is pressed onto/over the front of the receiver ring that has a simple, spring loaded plunger on the front with a locking latch on the underside. The breech end of the barrel has a corresponding attaching mechanism that includes an interrupted thread on the breech end of the barrel. The barrel is basically inserted and turned down ward to engage the threads with the small plunger to hold the two sections in alignment. This designed proved to be very weak; during Army test after WWII, this mechanism came loose after firing approximately two thousand rounds and rendered the rifle unserviceable, hence this design was not adopted or produced in any significant numbers. The top of the octagonal section of the receiver is stamped with a small Japanese Navy Anchor acceptance proof, and the side of the receiver is marked with a series 9 stamp followed by the serial number and the Nagoya Arsenal factory stamp. The left side of the receiver attaching mechanism, stock plate and locking latch on the underside are all stamped with assembly number (24). It is also fitted with a interesting short, removable bolt handle. The bolt root is correctly cast on to the bolt body with the round section of the handle made separately. This bolt stub is actually threaded on the inside and actually screws onto the stub of the bolt. Obviously this was intended to provide and most compact takedown design possible; however, if this bolt handle was lost during use, the rifle would have been rendered unusable. It is correctly numbered matching (060) on all the various parts to include the complete bolt assembly (handle, extractor, firing pin and safety knob) the take down latch and the front barrel band. It is fitted with the inverted "v" front sight with protective wings and the rear sight is a late model with the folding antiaircraft wings with the rear sight slide marked "3-15" (300-1500 meters). The middle barrel band is fitted with its original monopod. It has the standard two piece buttstock with the cupped buttplate with the side mounted sling swivels.

Extremely fine with 90% of the original blue/black exterior finish overall with light wear on the edges and high spots with blue loss on the bolt body. The buttstock, forend and handguard are all in very fine condition with their nice original WWII finish showing handling marks chips/divots visible around trigger guard and light pressure dents overall. Mechanically fine. A very nice looking all original WWII Imperial Japanese Navy Type 100 Paratrooper rifle.