The Arisaka Rifle

by Bill Harriman, Peter Dennis (Illustrator), Alan Gilliland (Illustrator)

Overview

Featuring specially commissioned color artwork and drawing upon a range of sources, this engaging study casts new light on origins, combat record, and reputation of the Arisaka bolt-action rifles used by Japanese troops during the world wars.

Featuring full-color artwork as well as archive and close-up photographs, this is the absorbing story of the rifles arming Imperial Japan's forces, from the trenches of Mudken in 1905 to the beaches of Okinawa 40 years later.

Entering service in 1897, the Arisaka family of bolt-action rifles armed Japanese troops and others through two world wars and many other conflicts, including the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–05.

Issued in long and short versions – the latter for cavalry and specialists – the Type 30 was the first main Arisaka model, arming Imperial Japan's forces during the Russo-Japanese War, though after the war it was refined into the Type 38, which would still be in use in 1945. The main Arisaka rifle of World War II though was the Type 99. Lighter and more rugged than the US M1903 Springfield rifle it would face in the initial battles in the Pacific, it was produced in four main variants, including a sniping model and a take-down parachutist's rifle.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472816122
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	08/20/2019
Series:	Weapon , #70
Pages:	80
Sales rank:	772,792
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Bill Harriman is Director of Firearms at the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, and appears regularly on British television as part of the team of experts on the BBC's Antiques Roadshow program. A former Territorial Army officer with 18 years' service, he is also a forensic scientist dealing with cases involving firearms, ammunition and other weapons.

Peter Dennis was born in 1950. Inspired by contemporary magazines such as Look and Learn he studied illustration at Liverpool Art College. Peter has since contributed to hundreds of books, predominantly on historical subjects, including many Osprey titles. A keen wargamer and modelmaker, he is based in Nottinghamshire, UK.

Born in Malaya in 1949, Alan Gilliland spent 18 years as the graphics editor of the Daily Telegraph, winning 19 awards in that time. He now writes, illustrates and publishes fiction (www.ravensquill.com), as well as illustrating for a variety of publishers (alangillilandillustration.blogspot.com). He lives in Lincolnshire, UK.

Table of Contents

Introduction 4

Development: A modern Japanese firearm 9

Use: The Arisaka goes to war 31

Impact: The verdict of history 72

Conclusion 77

Select Bibliography 78

Index 80

Editorial Reviews

As with the other Osprey Publishing titles I was impressed with this book. This is a very nice reference book that contains a well written informative text, many subject specific photographs and illustrations, well detailed captions and more, all detailing the history of the various types of Japanese Arisaka rifles as well as their accessories, ammunition, failures and successes and other pertinent information. As with the other Osprey Publishing titles, I would have no hesitation to recommend this book to others as it will be a welcome addition to one's personal reference library.

·” —Armorama

“3/5 As with the other Osprey Publishing titles I was impressed with this book. This is a very nice reference book that contains a well written informative text, many subject specific photographs and illustrations, well detailed captions and more, all detailing the history of the various types of Japanese Arisaka rifles as well as their accessories, ammunition, failures and successes and other pertinent information. As with the other Osprey Publishing titles, I would have no hesitation to recommend this book to others as it will be a welcome addition to one's personal reference library.” —KitMaker Network

From the Publisher