Original Japanese Captured Dutch Pre-WWI Geweer M. 95 Mannlicher KNIL Rifle by Steyr Fitted with Arisaka Bayonet – Dated 1897
Item Description
Original Item: Only one Available. This is it! The Japanese service rifle for the collector who already has everything! This is an incredible example of a Japanese Captured Dutch Geweer M.95 Mannlicher Infantry Service rifle, which was the standard Dutch long rifle from 1895 and through WWI. It was still in service in some areas until at least 1955, especially by the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger or KNIL). It was from this group that it was captured by Japanese forces, and then pressed into service during WWII. We have found a picture on the internet showing an IJA soldier using a Dutch Mannlicher with the handguard removed.
The rifles were converted to 7.7×58mm Arisaka and had a bayonet lug attached to the front to take the standard Type 30 Arisaka bayonet. We measured the bore, and it is definitely 7.7, converted from the original 6.5mm Dutch Mannlicher. This rifle ;was originally manufactured by the Steyr Mannlicher firearms division of Österreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft (ŒWG, Austrian Arms-Manufacturing Company) in Austria. The right side of the receiver is simply marked STEYR 1897, with no other markings present on the receiver. There do look to have been some painted on Japanese markings on the butt stock, however they are now unclear, except for the Japanese
Army 5 pointed star on the right side.
Rifle is in good used condition, with a solid stock and metalwork. The metalwork overall has a worn gray patina with light peppering, from decades of service and storage. The stock does show some cracking in areas, particularly the fore stock near the nose cap, and the rear of the handguard. There is also some rusting under the handguard. The bore shows clear lands and grooves, with fouling and oxidation consistent with long service in the tropical regions.
The included Arisaka Type 30 bayonet was manufactured by Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, and is of the last pattern they used in the war, with a straight rectangular crossguard, rectangular pommel, and unfullered blued blade. It comes complete with the correct steel scabbard, and is marked with serial number 31377 under the series designation. It is in very good condition, and fits the rifle well, though it does require a rubber mallet to get it to fully lock on.
An incredible Dutch service rifle that saw long service in the Dutch Colonies before being captured and refitted for an Arisaka Bayonet by the Japanese during WWII. An incredible historic item full of research potential! Fully cleaned and ready to display!
History of the Dutch Mannlicher
The Geweer M. 95, also known to collectors as the Dutch Mannlicher, was the service rifle of the Armed forces of the Netherlands between 1895 and 1940 which replaced the obsolete Beaumont-Vitali M1871/88. At first it was produced by Steyr for the Dutch, but after 1904, production took place under license at Hembrug Zaandam in the Netherlands. Although often regarded as being based on the earlier Mannlicher 1893 Model, the rifle is in fact a modification of the Mannlicher rifle by August Schriever and the Dutch rifle commission[2]. The Dutch issued about 470,000 M.95s.
Both Dutch and Romanian rifles fired the same rimmed cartridge often referred to as “Romanian” 6.5×53.5mmR or “Dutch 6.5” 6.5×53 mmR. In military service, Dutch M.95 rifles (6.5×53 mmR) cartridges are loaded primarily through the use of an en-bloc clip, similar in concept to the clip used later by the US Army’s M1 Garand. With the Ferdinand Mannlicher designed trigger guard / magazine housing assembly, when the bolt is open and fully retracted to the rear the full en-bloc clip is loaded into the magazine from the top through the open receiver. The empty clip will fall out through a hole in the base of the magazine housing when out of cartridges. This enabled quick reloading of the rifles during combat. When the bolt is in the fully open and retracted position, full clips can be vigorously ejected upwards from the magazine housing by means of a spring loaded latch at the rear of the magazine. This is operated by a recessed button in the front of the trigger guard portion of the assembly. The clips were essentially disposable as ammunition would be issued already loaded into clips from the factory.
Specifications (Rifle) –
Year of Manufacture: 1897
Caliber: 7.7×58mm Arisaka
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 31 Inches
Overall Length: 51 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: 5 round internal magazine with En-Bloc clip
Specifications (Bayonet) –
Blade Length: 15 3/4″
Blade Style: Single Edge Bayonet
Overall length: 20 1/8“
Crossguard: 3 3/4”
Scabbard Length: 16 1/4″
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