This is my second Type 99 rifle. It’s a Nagoya late series 5, which puts it late 43 to late 44. The rifle is a bolt and receiver serial match but the stock is a mismatch, although correct for the series. This rifle was produced when the Japanese had started to simplify the design, resulting in the elimination of the monopod and anti-aircraft sights. The rear band still has the mount holes for the monopod although one has never been fitted. The main reason I bought this rifle was because it has the late type canvas sling, which is terrifically hard to get hold of.
There’s a couple of reasons why the FG-42 is a particularly difficult rifle to get hold of. Firstly they only made about 7,000 of them. And because they were only issued to Fallschirmjäger unless the Allied soldier was in a section of front where they fought the paratroopers, they were never captured and returned. The next problem is that they are tainted with being an “elite” item. This means, like Waffen-SS shyte, that wankers on the internet will pay stupid prices for their kit. Just witness the price of a Jerry paratrooper pot. Anyway, due to this, I will never likely own a real one so I have the next best substitute. This is a Shoei made non-functional replica, moves like the real thing, just will never accept a round. Meh.
