Japanese Type 3 MG

[privatefjordy]

I'm using a modified 7.7mm Type 92 feedtray for display in my 6.5mm Type 3 MG. Does anyone know where I can get the correct feedtray from?

Thanks.

George.

[privatefjordy]

Old post that got no response, but I'd still like to find a correct feedtray for my Type 3.

[privatefjordy]

A shameless bump, as I'm still looking for the correct feedtray for my Type 3. Someone must know of one somewhere.

Thanks.

[missingsomething]

No Type 3 parts but I am looking for some Type 92 parts for our museum gun.... would like to get it up and running as well.

[privatefjordy]

Would like to see some photos of your Type 92.

Also, pm me your list of missing parts. Whilst it's unlikely that I'll come across anyone with parts here in the UK, I might hear of someone elsewhere that I could put you in touch with. A second pair of eyes and ears might help in the search.

[missingsomething]

Ask and you shall receive ;D








George, I will keep my eyes open over here for your parts as well.

Cheers,
Craig

[privatefjordy]

Craig,

That looks nice. I will keep my ears and eyes open for the bits you need.

Do you have the carrying handles for the tripod? If not I can photograph and measure mine so that you can get a repro set made.

George.

[privatefjordy]

Folks it has just dawned on me that my description of 'feedtray' might be misunderstood, although I think it is the correct terminology.
I'm after the strip that the rounds are loaded into, and not an actual component part of the gun.

[missingsomething]

Ok, that should be easier to find

I dont have the handles, If you wouldn't mind doing up some measurements, that would be fantastic..... will add that to the projects list....

Thanks,
Craig

[privatefjordy]

After much searching I have finally found a Type 3 feedtray.

Spot the difference, it is the bottom one in the picture. It looks the same as the Type 92 7.7mm variant which is very common, but the curves of the retaining tabs are different in order to hold the 6.5mm cases.

This photo shows the trays with rounds in place. Now I need to find a quantity of inert wartime Japanese 6.5 ammunition to fill the lower tray.

This tray was found on ebay, and identified by the label on the trays carton, which states 3 year type, not the commonly found 92 type.
Sorry this picture is rather poor but it shows labels on feedtray cartons.

If anyone finds anymore Type 3 trays, or knows of a UK source of inert 6.5 Japanese wartime ammunition, I'd be pleased to hear from you.

[Kev]

Keep it going you two this is interesting ! nice pics too

Not something you see every day !

[privatefjordy]

Before anyone emails me about the Type 3 for sale on Milweb, let me say I know about it. It was the reason I sold my Vickers 'K', (to raise the funds), but I have since decided not to purchase it.



The gun is actually a Chilean Modelo 1920, (S/No. 12) which as far as I can determine was a Type 3 made for Chile in 7mm Mauser caliber.

There was one listed in a Swiss arms auction in 2004, (S/No. 77) but there seems to be little information about these guns or the Chilean contract/s.

If anyone can add any info about the Modelo 1920 I'd be pleased to hear it. I suspect they are much rarer than a normal Type 3.

[reme245]

Does anyone know if the Chinese are likely to still have any WW2 Japanese guns in storage.

Presumably with the cost of scrap they may have already found their way into the melting pot.

[privatefjordy]

I would say that there are almost certainly Japanese weapons remaining in quantity in China.

Seeing the photos of the vast quantities of weapons captured by the Red Army in Manchuria leads me to believe that there are probably hundreds if not thousands of Japanese MGs and rifles still in Russian or Chinese arsenals.

There have been Japanese grenades, mines and shells coming out of China in recent months, along with miscellaneous bits of militaria, mostly of a metal nature, and these have been selling on eBay, gunbroker, etc.

The common grenades such as Type 97, have for the most part been stripped apart fully and sold as individual components such as an empty body, a fuse cover, etc.
Other items have been very scarce, and could possibly be the first time they have been offered for sale, such as grenade variations made in Manchuria, where the Japanese had increasingly difficult supply problems.

Some of the miscellaneous items have been firearm related, for example Type 96 LMG magazines in rather rusty condition, Arisaka stripper clips, and screwdrivers.

The vendors of these items realise that they are worth more than scrap value, and have been selling to collectors in the USA, UK, Europe and Japan.

Going back at least a decade or more, there were certainly Japanese weapons around that had come out of China, notably the quantity of Type 26 revolvers that had come out of Shanghai, a small quantity of Type 11 LMGs sold deactivated on the UK market, Arisaka bayonets, and quantities of Arisaka rifles that a dealer once told me had been tied up in bundles of ten using wire to secure them.

It needs an enterprising dealer with Chinese contacts to uncover what is still out there.