Arisaka Type 97
Kokura Arsenal · Sniper Rifle · Out Of Production · 1937
Also known as: Type 97 Sniper Rifle, Kyuhana-shiki sogeki-ju, Type 38 Sniper
Overview
The Arisaka Type 97 sniper rifle was the primary sniper weapon of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II, based on the Type 38 infantry rifle fitted with a 2.5x telescopic sight offset to the left of the receiver. Chambered in the mild-recoiling 6.5x50mm Arisaka cartridge, the Type 97 was accurate but lacked the range and terminal ballistics of its Western counterparts. Japanese snipers used the Type 97 extensively in the Pacific Theater, where their concealment skills and patience made them formidable opponents despite the rifle's technical limitations.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4000 g (141.1 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4300 g (151.7 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1275 mm (50.20") |
| Barrel Length | 797 mm (31.38") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 25 N (5.6 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 765 m/s (2510 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2634 J (1943 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 600 m (656 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1800 m (1968 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 200 mm (7.87") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 6.5x50mm Arisaka · primary — also known as 6.5x50mm SR, 6.5mm Japanese, 6.5x50mm Meiji 30
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Internal Box Magazine, Stripper Clip
- Safety mechanisms: Bolt Safety
- Features: Type 97 2-5x Scope, Side Mounted Scope, Monopod, Wire Crosshair Reticle, Bent Bolt Handle
Variants
- Type 99 Sniper — Recalibered Successor
Service history
Operators
- Imperial Japanese Army · adopted 1937 · as Type 97 Sniper Rifle
- Imperial Japanese Navy
Conflicts
- Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)
- World War II (Pacific Theater) (1941-1945)
- Battles of Khalkhin Gol (1939)
Production
Estimated total produced: 22,000 · Production years: 1937-1945
Approximately 22,000 Type 97 sniper rifles produced. Production was split between Kokura Arsenal, Nagoya Arsenal, and other facilities. Many were destroyed during the Allied occupation or lost in the Pacific island campaigns.
Origin
Country of origin: Japan
Designer: Nariakira Arisaka
Discontinued: 1945
Notes
The Type 97 scope was mounted on the left side of the receiver, allowing the rifle to be loaded using standard stripper clips. The 2.5x magnification scope had a simple wire crosshair reticle and was not considered high quality by Western standards, with poor light transmission and narrow field of view. A small monopod attached to the stock was used for steadying the rifle in prone positions. The 6.5mm cartridge's mild recoil made it easier to spot shots, but its limited range and stopping power led to the development of the Type 99 sniper rifle in 7.7x58mm. Japanese sniper doctrine emphasized concealment, patience, and harassment rather than the precision marksmanship emphasized by Western armies.
Background
Japanese snipers armed with Type 97 rifles terrorized Allied troops across the Pacific, tying themselves into treetops and concealing positions with extraordinary skill. On Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, individual Japanese snipers delayed entire companies for hours. Allied forces developed the practice of systematically clearing every tree and spider hole, a costly and time-consuming process driven by the deadly effectiveness of Japanese sniper harassment tactics.