INCREDIBLEY SCARCE AND FABULOUS CONDITION ORIGINAL

Very exciting offering of two near mint condition original Japanese Type 96 machine gun magazines. 15 original brass 6.5 Japanese rifle stripper clips, and an exceptionally rare original Japanese Type 96 machine gun magazine loading tool serial number 112. These items came from a consignor whose Father was a World War II Veteran and acquired these items off of a Japanese troop ship during World War II. He bagged the gun that went with them too, but unfortunately, that item went to the bottom of a lake many years ago. Fortunately, these items were retained so they are now offered here. The loader is a later model, without oiler for applying oil to cartridges. Original textile marker number remnants indicate is was issued with a Kokura manufactured Type 96 gun in the 47 thousand serial number range perhaps “47275” as a guess. This serial number would place the gun has having been manufactured in the April-May of 1941 timeframe. The loader operates by unfolding the handle, snapping a magazine into place and then taking a standard loaded 6.5 rifle stripper clip and placing it into the channel; then actuating the handle. Efficient. The Spring clip which held the handle in place while folded is broken off, but the forward-thinking consignor retained the broken piece, and it is included. The two original 30 round magazines are unmarked and unnumbered. CONDITION: Loading tool very good original finish with scattered areas of brown patina thinning to grey at high edge contact points. Wood of handle near excellent. Magazines near excellent original lustrous black finish under original preservative grease coating, just as found, with a few spots of light brown on one magazine. Should clean up well. Stripper clips are as found, with some green/brown tarnishing, yet very serviceable. If you have read this far you already know what a sensational offering this is. When have you ever seen the like of it!? JWK 2020-11-054