Chrysanthemums in the Snow: Finnish Arisaka Rifles

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When Finland took its independence, the most common type of firearms in the country was the Mosin Nagant - and the second most common was the Arisaka. An assortment of Type 30, Type 35, and Type 38 Arisaka rifles and carbines were left to the Finns by former Russian occupying soldiers. Where did they come from? Well, a few were captured by Russian during the Russo-Japanese War. But most of them were rifles purchased by the British from Japan early in World War One to free up scarce SMLE rifles for front line infantry. Once British production caught up with demand, the now-unnecessary Arisakas were sent to Russia as war aid.
The Russians tended to give Arisakas to second-line troops like the British had, using standard Mosin Nagants for the fighting infantry wherever possible. One of the duties that required armed troops but didn't involve much actual shooting was maintaining the Russian military presence in Finland to guard against possible German attack (Finland being a Russian province at that time). When the newly independent Finland disarmed Russian garrisons, many of the rifles they got were Arisakas.
The Finnish military standardized on the Mosin fairly quickly, but the Finnish Civil Guard used Arisakas into the mid 1920s. Not all of the Arisakas originally captured were actually turned over to the Civil Guard; many were kept by individuals. Those that did enter Civil Guard inventory will typically have Civil Guard district numbers (with "S" prefixes) on the stock or barrel. The Guard did perforce regular maintenance of Arisakas, and a batch of 500 new barrels was purchased from SIG in the 1920s to replace worn-out barrels - these are marked with SIG's name on the side of the chamber, and are very scarce to find today.
The only typical mechanical modification found on Finnish Arisakas are Russian in origin - changes to prevent the magazine release from being accidentally pushed by a heavy glove. Some examples have the magazine release button ground down, and some have a small sheet metal clamp fitted to prevent accidental pressing of the release. These rifles will also have a Tokyo Arsenal insignia overstepped on the chrysanthemum, done when the rifles were originally sold to the British.
Contact:
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[@kn2549]

Also, Akashi Motojiro, one of Japan’s greatest spies took part in arming secessionists in Finland and Poland, Russian anarchists, and Muslims in Turkestan just to cause chaos within Russia during the Russo-Japanese war. Alot of these weapons were Arisaka rifles.

[@peabase]

In Finland's case, these were not Arisakas, but Swiss Vetterlis, or as the Finns called them, Graftons, after SS John Grafton, the ship that brought them in. Some of my then-living relatives were involved in unloading and/or transporting the rifles. They probably 'borrowed' a few for moose hunting, judging from old pictures.

[@overboss9599]

weren't the japanese and russians on the same side during WWI? or was this after the soviet bloodbath began?

[@soonerfrac4611]

The rifle and the caliber never get enough attention. I love my two carbines. Light recoil, accurate, doesn’t damage meat. Good stuff.

[@thearsdfa]

Akashi69

[@myfaceismyshield5963]

@@peabase in this period of Imperial Russian and autonomous Finnish history, there were many different sources for weapons smuggling. When tensions spilled over during WW1 and the Russian Empire fell, the Finns had a ton of guns to fight a civil war with. So there really were many different guns around, not just one shipment or one source of weapons.

[@no-legjohnny3691]

Finland and Japan are probably the biggest example of the two most unlikely nations to have a significant connection. Whether it be these Arisakas in Finland, people in Japan commenting how surprisingly easy it is to sing Finnish songs, or the notable crossovers between the two in modern media, they seem to cross paths with each other far more often than one would initially imagine.

[@oskarrasmussen7137]

Remnants of the old empire which shattered during the Finno-Korean Hyper War.

[@AshleyPomeroy]

I remember reading that Argentina has a substantial community of Welsh-Argentine people, enough that Patagonia has its own dialect of Welsh. A lot of Welsh people emigrated there in the 1800s because Argentina's economy was doing great at the time. That's another odd international connection.

[@unclegee8434]

@@AshleyPomeroy yeah I mean Argentina has a lot of that just to know Joseph Mengele lived there until the 60's lets a lot to imagination

[@Tekdruid]

[Säkkijärven Polkka intensifies]

[@Ethnarches]

That's certainly true, there's multiple cultural / temperemental similarities with us and the Japanese as well. None of it is actually the same, but similar enough that there's a connection there. I guess it's also that both nations are quite unique in those aspects, so similarities with others become more significant than maybe some others. I think the perfect example of the similarities is the language, there's no connection there at all as in we can't understand a single word of each other's language and there's no etymological connection either, but certain intonations in both languages are very similar.

[@polhokustaa4989]

Ian has never left that wonderful room and still keeps making videos from there! I like it!

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Alas, this was my last video from there...

[@polhokustaa4989]

@@ForgottenWeapons For now...

[@lanfrancoadreani9212]

They had to drag him away kicking and screaming!

[@JohnDoe-pv2iu]

@@lanfrancoadreani9212 Hello, That's about what it would take to get me out of there!🤣🤣🤣 Great Video! Ya'll Take Care and be safe, John

[@tombickers]

They are keeping him hostage.

[@BrahmaDBA]

A friend of mine has a Finnish Mother and a Japanese Father. He would be happy to see this video.

[@GazalAlShaqab]

Two fierce Nations of Men!! 👍👍

[@sootysoor]

Pure east asian genes wow

[@Calvin_Coolage]

@@sootysoor HA

[@Mr.Ambrose_Dyer_Armitage_Esq.]

Still the hybrid offspring of two race traitors.

[@jamesramirez85]

Your friend is literally one of those rifles

[@plehis123]

I'm from Estonia and never knew we also had Arisaka Rifles. You learn something every day.

[@lordDenis16]

They were mostly used by the Kaitseliit after the Indpendence war and are knoe on the net as the KL.303 😁

[@454FatJack]

Tänu Stalin❤

[@lordDenis16]

@@454FatJack Pole probleemi ❤

[@kkarhiiv95]

Kas sääl sõjamuuseumis neid klaasi taga polnud?

[@murdmart]

I also didn't know that we had a Civil War.

[@fratercontenduntocculta8161]

I love how seemingly random guns just find their way into service. I myself own a Veteran Rifle of the Russo-Finnish Winter War, an SA capture marked 1927 produced M91 Dragoon Mosin with a Finnish made replacement stock. That's what got me heavy into the quality craftsmanship of Finnish Rifles!

[@reliantncc1864]

Wow, that's a treasure! I'm over here trying to get ahold of Finnish hats and other random uniform items. An actual rifle would be an amazing find.

[@5anjuro]

My great grandfather had one in northeastern Siberia in the 1920s. They were quite popular among the native hunters, being short, handy and accurate. In the 1930s most of them were confiscated. Grandpa kept his in a tree trunk outside the village and only used it occasionally. Eventually somebody ratted him out and the rifle was taken away.

[@wes11bravo]

Ugh, that sucks Yuri. People are backstabbing jerks, especially when they're encouraged to be that way by the NKVD, etc. I hope your grandfather didn't get into any trouble beyond having his rifle taken.

[@GeorgeSemel]

Yeah one of the things we hold very dear here in the US is the Bill of Rights to the Constitution of the United States. Our founders when hammered out how the new country was to govern itself. They put it down on paper, then they had to pass it in and get the states to ratify it. Things not addressed that were considered important were amendments. The first 10 is known as the Bill of Rights. And well guns are addressed and it's direct and to the point. We Americans are well armed, unlike Russia were their citizens are not, and well they had thugs like the NKVD running around murdering citizens in wild abandon. Some here commented that well I hope he didn't get into anymore trouble other than having a hunting rifle taken. It boggles my mind with that sort of notion, your grandfather, lost his abilty to go shoot meat for the table, that's a big deal. Along with any notion of being a citizen but a subject to the wims of the murdering thugs in the Kremlin. No doubt he managed to live or you would not be here. That is a good thing, its criminal that he had to go thru that sort of thing, never knowing that it could all just end over a joke or an old rifle and some ammo to shoot the local deer with. I guess I am just a to far gone American, I look at guns in a very strange light- just like a screw driver wrench or a car jack a useful tool to have. And yeah you can hurt yourself or others with one. But there is something called being personally resposible for what you do or don't do. Not going around hurting others is well something you should always do regardless. Unless some thug decides what yours is his then well you do what you have to do then. I would bet you Grandfather was the kind of guy that would be fun and very eductational to hang around with. I place a high value on the skills such men bring to the table.

[@kn2549]

@@GeorgeSemel Its ironic you say that considering how the US pretty much took away firearms from Japanese civilians and forcibly imposed strict firearm laws against Japanese civilians after the war. My great grandfather’s hunting rifles were taken away when the allied soldiers went house to house to collect them.

[@wlewisiii]

@@kn2549 Gotta remember the only reason the Grand Old Fascist party promotes the 2nd amendment is it helps them con their voters into thinking they'd be anything other than dead if they tried to stand against the government. Real threats - the Japanese were seen as such even though they weren't - are disarmed. Look at how the Republicans put gun control in Cali as soon as black men started open carrying. Otherwise, the GOF uses the constitution as toilet paper.

[@williamromine5715]

@@kn2549 That was terrible act of the Government. But, you don't condemn a country for the mistakes it makes during really scary times. The Constitution won out in the long run. We still have the Bill of Rights, which define what rights people have by merely being citizens. These are not given to us by Government. The big fight right now is whether or not we will retain our basic human rights.

[@Kumimono]

Just noting, the "Oy" after Transbaltic wasn't just a random shout to get everyone's attention, but the Finnish abbreviation of joint-stock company, "osakeyhtiö". :) Alternate title for the video, Chrysantemoomins. (Japanese are rather fond of Moomins, tbf.)

[@patterisepi]

The "OI!" in a gun jesus video is always a funny moment for a native.

[@bunba_77_15]

Some time ago during renovations of Kourla Mansion in Vihti, Finland . Tree rifles in very good condition were found buried in the insulation in the attic. They were wrapped in news papers from 1918. Three rifles were a Mannlicher from 1888, Arisaka from 1904 and a Winchester from 1916.

[@brlbrlbrlbrl]

Just a pronunciation note which you've probably heard before, but none the less, the OY at the end of Finnish company names is not a word, but an initialism meaning Osakeyhtiö or Joint-stock company, so you'd pronounce the individual letters rather than say it as a word.

[@cutekrizu8214]

there's a *excellent* book about Finnish arms smuggling and hiding from 1899-1918, called (translated) "stashed rifles, and bloody bayonets" unfortunately, it's only in Finnish, however there's some interesting tidbits there about a few rifles firstly, *many* of the Arisakas in Finland, saw fighting in our civil war, especially in the hands of the reds, and especially handled by the female fighters of the red guard. The running thought seems to have been, that a shorter, lighter rifle was easier to handle by a shorter, lighter woman. Possibly supply concerns might have been another reason, as the FSWR was very reluctant in sending women's companies to the front, before things got truly desperate,. However given how it's the early 1900s we're talking about, I have a flying suspicion that the type of rifles and ammo that the women were issued weren't the prime reason why they were kept in guard duty at first. another interesting rifle mentioned in the book, is the by-then outdated Vetterli M1869, bought to the Finland especially by the SS John Grafton in 1905, to the Finnish activists (nationalists who were planning an anti-Russian insurrection to proclaim an independent finland). These, alongside with Berdans saw little use in the actual civil war, however while the single shot berdans were almost exclusively used in training, some "graftons" (the name that civil guards gave to the vertteli) were used during the early part of the war, to my knowledge especially in the more poorly equipped parts of the front

[@ForgottenWeapons]

I do have a video on a Grafton Vetterli that has not published yet...

[@cutekrizu8214]

@@ForgottenWeapons amazing, I can't wait! It is one of my favourite rifles from the 19th century, based on absolutely nothing but how cool it looks to me

[@peabase]

My great-grandfather left home with a 'krauhtoni' to fight in the Civil War and returned with a 'ryssänvinsu', a Winchester Model 1895. We still have the latter in the family.

[@cutekrizu8214]

@@peabase that's interesting! On my mother's side the whole family was red to the bone and to the bitter end, though for obvious reasons no one liked to talk of it. On my father's side, they fought with the white army, and my great grandfather on that side took an Arisaka (alledgedly from the hands of dead red guard fighter) which he later destroyed with an unfinished manuscript for his memoirs and almost all his letters in the 70s, during one of his many PTSD attacks One of the last things he ever said was "punikit tulee!" (The reds are coming!) While screaming and trying to get out of a hospital bed

[@peabase]

@@cutekrizu8214 It's no different for my father's side of the family. They were labour movement activists, with some fighting with the Reds in the Civil War. It didn't work out well for them, as the last surviving one got shot by the Bolsheviks when trying to flee back from the Workers' Paradise. I think it inoculated them against communism once and for all. My grandfather, a staunch Social Democrat, always said communism was for ants and bees. He died a wealthy businessman, and a decorated war veteran.

[@csabaweisz8791]

This is the reverse rifle equivalent of Hatsune Miku covering Ievan Polkka

[@rcevey2]

We usually get functional video titles, occasionally get silly video titles, but now we get a poetic video title. That alone makes it worth watching.

[@Thing.of.nought]

My hometown museum had a big exhibition about the civilwar in 2017 and what was the significance of said town in the civilwar. At that point I had been watching forgotten weapons for years and years, but still it took my by surprise when I saw that the museum had several arisaka rifles on display in the exhibition. I read up about how the ended up here across the world but sadly saw no reports on how they preformed. At that times I wondered how interesting it would be if Ian took a look at them and maybe spoke how they preformed up here in the far north.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

As far as I can tell, they performed just fine. They were dropped for logistical reasons, because Mosins were more prevalent.

[@LasOrveloz]

I read somewhere (I have read a lot of books about the civil war, but can't pinpoint the exact book in my mind right now) that the arisakas were well liked by their users during the civil war, but as Ian stated, logistics were a big issue so arisakas were usually equipped to rear troops during the civil war. Finland had a huge smorgisbord of rifles used during the civil war, including Lebels, mausers(both swedish and german), russian Winchesters and Italian "Terni" rifles, vetterlis, you name it.

[@JanoTuotanto]

Type 38 carbine was the preferred "PDW" of the Red Guard staff.

[@Karpaneen]

@@LasOrveloz I disagree. Arisakas were the second most common rifle type right after Mosin Nagants in Finland during the civil war and due to critical shortage of arms in both factions I see no reason why Arisakas wouldn't have been issued to frontline troops. There simply wasn't enough Mosins to equip all combatants. Both Whites and Reds even used old Berdan II rifles that were single shot black powder rifles.

[@Karpaneen]

@@LasOrveloz Also I've never heard that Lebels nor Ternis ever ended up in Finland during 1918. Also it's very unlikely that German G98-rifles ever ended up in Finnish hands in any significant numbers. Germans may have equipped some individual underground Finnish White soldiers in Helsinki with them but I find it unlikely.

[@cerealata9035]

This is a piece of history I've never heard of, very interesting.

[@marks_sparks1]

Same here. Ian nevers fails to disappoint in revealing new history

[@howlerofthegrey9368]

We all need this knowledge about the Arisaka.. And man.. now we learn something new.

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

@@marks_sparks1 "Ian nevers fails to disappoint......" Ummmmm.....😁

[@paleoph6168]

Japan and Finland share good relations culturally, politically, and militarily. Thank you Ian for covering these Arisaka rifles, they are a unique part of history.

[@alexyoon-sungcucina7895]

Apparently the two countries like to joke about some vague linguistic similarities they share.

[@454FatJack]

😂😂😂❤😂😂 = 🧟‍♂️🇷🇺

[@georgegordonbrown9522]

@@alexyoon-sungcucina7895 Nokia?

[@ethanarnold4441]

They probably also shared an animosity towards the Soviets.

[@paleoph6168]

​@@ethanarnold4441probably? Nah, the two most definitely viewed the Soviets with hostility.

[@LOVEMUFFIN_official]

Chrysanthemums in the Snow sounds like a lovely Haiku…

[@robertrobert7924]

Ian, you never cease to amaze me with your videos about obscure weapons that end up far from their original home in the service of another country. This video made my day.

[@acomingextinction]

shout-out to the closed captions writer for use of parentheses. that is a level of professionalism that is noticed and appreciated.

[@TangoMike88]

This really sheds some light on why the Federov Avtomat was chambered in 6.5 Arisaka. It makes alot more sense now.

[@paleoph6168]

Gotta use that Japanese ammo... ... and the fact that 6.5 was better suited to fully automatic fire in a rifle than the rimmed 7.62 Russian.

[@bulukacarlos4751]

"Chrysanthemums in the Snow" If that phrase is not the perfect title for a poem, I don't know what is. Greetings from Argentine Patagonia.

[@Eugene13579]

3:53 minor error about the meaning of markings '三十年式' that's not 3-10-type. it's 3-10-year-type (rifle) That designation system was changed slightly after Type 30, that's why the Type 38 has '三八式'(and Ian mentioned it correctly, 3-8-type) Although I'm not Japanese or Chineses(Yup, I'm Korean), I've learned fairly amount of Chinese character(traditional type). So, I can understand written Chinese/Japanese sometime.

[@nelsondoan8271]

P.O. Ackley relates some blow up tests he did on the Arisaka in his books. He was very impressed…

[@paleoph6168]

Yeah, it has a very strong action.

[@ArchieKeen1]

Coolest arisaka imo is the Mexican contract ones that were in 7mm Mauser

[@paleoph6168]

To add to that, most of the Mexican contract Arisaka rifles didn't make it to Mexico due to the Mexican Revolution. They were then later bought by Russia during WW1.

[@zombieranger3410]

@@paleoph6168 A Japanese rifle that shoots Spanish ammunition meant for Mexico but was instead given to the Russians where they possibly ended up in Finland only to be sold to Albania, then possibly sold as surplus to the U.S., only to be chopped up for a hunting rifle and given at a gun buyback program where it would be shredded.

[@Chaosrain112]

@@zombieranger3410 that is a sentence written by a manga writer on a bender yet it is completely true

[@paleoph6168]

@@zombieranger3410 the unfortunate possibility :'(

[@blacklegion2531]

Mexican? Arisaka?

[@rodgerjohnson3375]

What a great backdrop for a firearms video.

[@jameswillett1607]

Sir David Attenborough voice "Here we see the Ian in his natural habitat....."

[@MKnife]

I collect old bayonets and other knives. A few years ago I was lucky to find an old Arisaka bayonet at a flea market here in southern Finland, it was in worn and bad shape, but cheap. I did not attempt a restoration, but cleaned it up a bit and found some unclear stamp markings I suspect are of finnish origin (I might be very wrong). The thing is really long, almost like a short sword.

[@peabase]

Not too log ago, a pawn shop in Oulu was selling an Arisaka bayonet for 50€. It caught my eye, because I have one as well, a family heirloom. The hilt shows some wear, but the (very long indeed) blade is in perfect condition. It's sacrilege to clean off the patina. It will take another hundred years to reappear.

[@jacknelson8601]

Ahhhh yes, the Arisaka! Absolutely one of the most UNDER RATED military rifles in history. I've played with Enfields, Mosins and Mausers and love them all.......but if I had an adequate supply of 6.5X50.5 S.R. or 7.7x58 Japanese ammo I would not feel poorly armed carrying an Arisaka. Granted, the late war guns are pretty rough ......but so were the German Mausers. I DO LIKE THEM Nipponese SHOOTIN IRONS!

[@FailedPoet444]

My grandfather fought in the continuation war and he did leave behind both a Mosin-Nagant Model 1891 with bayonet... but also another bayonet that didn't fit the Mosin at all. As a kid I didn't pay much attention to it, but later I realised it's actually a type 30 Arisaka bayonet.

[@nathandc]

120k rifles is a nice chunk of military aid!

[@McDuggets]

problem was that in Finland the bullets were hard to get because of shortages, my great grandfather told me that he had to use that rifle as a bat multiple times😂

[@bennyboogenheimer4553]

Love the Glockenspiel on your left.

[@ttusaatana]

Nice info... My Finn Arisaka has the 4-circle cannonball thingy on the side of the rifle, whilst the chrysantem looks pristine. There were 5 or 6 Arisakas where mine came from.

[@Valientus1992]

I just started learning Blender(3D program), and all these forgotten weapons videos show the fun little mechanics in them, that could be modeled from simple shapes. Once i get to a certain point, Ian's videos will help me a lot with modeling my 3D arsenal of forgotten weapons. Would be a great stepping stone.

[@P45K141N3N]

I think I should have known about the civil guard having Arisakas because I used to posses an Arisaka bayonet at one point. Left by my grand mom's older brother who got it from their father who was in the civil guard.

[@flyingninja1234]

Interesting. Never thought I'd hear Arisaka & Finland in the same sentence.

[@peterpayne2720]

This was a very interesting video. I never would have thought Arisakas would end up in Finland of all places, but it makes sense. Thanks for showing us these fine rifles.

[@Anino_Makata]

Interesting history, finding Imperial steel serving in the Nordic winter. And I was fairly surprised to hear that several Arisakas actually circulated Europe. Kinda makes me wonder how well the pattern of rifle would fare in the cold of the North.

[@PataPannu]

Lots of Arisakas ended up being used in the Finnish Civil war as well by both sides. Not many special remarks of the function, other than the issue with the caliber. The action was liked however, and many Arisaka rifles ended up to civilian markets as hunting rifles after wars. Many of them unfortunately got Sporterized in that, mainly rebarreled by Tikka to more convinient calibers.

[@me.ne.frego.]

The good thing about the 6,5mm Arisakas was the same as the 6,5mm Carcano carbines, you can get a very handy and short gun that's less unpleasant to shoot.

[@MrJanneilmari]

Here in finnland we did use these arisakas chambered and reborred/re barreled calibers wild cat 7 7.62 8,2 9,3 x 53R and also swedish mauser 6.55x55 Arisaka have so strong action that in case of extreme pressure spit barrel.. lock holds.

[@lalli8152]

I wonder if this is reason i see lot of arisakas in used gun market in finland. Most of them are sadly sporterized to be hunting rifles sadly that i have seen

[@smnstv3373]

I never expected to read "Finnish Arisaka" in my life. The events that lead to the creation of this gun were quite peculiar

[@eugenespicer3272]

My Father brought home an Arisaka from the war. It has an intact chrysanthemum on it.

[@troystallard6895]

I own one with an intact chrysanthemum, bayonet and original sling (although the sling is in two pieces); it's missing its dust cover. I bought it years ago from a friend who bought it from a friend, and unfortunately that's all I know of its history.

[@ColonelRimfire]

Well all I can say is Perkele, Chikushô, I never knew we had Arisaka's!

[@amack1996]

This channel is second to none! I don’t think Ian ever sleeps! Thanks for another great video, brother!

[@mikecook317]

"Transnational Rifle Story" needs to be the name of something. A book, movie, game, something needs this name.

[@kurtbergh]

I've been wondering why there's so many Arisakas in Finnish gun stores. Makes a bit more sense now.

[@osku4420]

As a finnish, I never knew we had arisaka rifles. Only new legendaries Pystykorva rifle family.

[@jeshowls]

The background is super cool

[@zedsdeadbaby]

That's a really cosy as fuck room, nice vibes

[@oliverschurr46]

Ian sitting in front of that gorgeous background, and doesn't mention a word about it.😄

[@joshuathiel243]

Cant wait for these to skyrocket in value on gunbroker.....

[@ForgottenWeapons]

A Finn-marked Type 35 went for more than six grand a week or two ago. I just watched sadly. :(

[@joshuathiel243]

@@ForgottenWeapons 😢

[@bigchimptactical]

Can't wait to see what other strange rifles he digs up! Great video!

[@MarkKopp]

I have a Type 30 with Finnish markings. And the sheet metal banding on the trigger guard. still shoots good to this day. But I was unaware of the other Types in Finish use. Just goes to show your never to old to learn something new. Thanks Ian, great video.

[@kevinoliver3083]

Although many Arisakas were exchanged with the RN, they were also used to train Kitchener's New Army. By 1916 production of the SMLE and P14 was sufficient. The now surplus Arisakas were used to arm the Arab Revolt as well as being sent to Russia.

[@brushwolf]

Just toooo awesome of a video! Just when I think ive heard it all, Ian gives me more to research and learn.

[@JohSpringersErben]

Excellent video with loads of interesting background info! We might get our hands on quite a number of these wonderful rifles soon and will try to use the opportunity to show them off in response to your clip :)

[@harrycarter1722]

I have a chysanthemum bayonet. Funny how things turn up where they do. Absolutely amazed when someone can actually trace a logic that sent it there. Kudos.

[@KulfonCzarnyNos]

Are there any memories of the Finns evaluating this rifle compared to the Mosin? How did this dirt protection system work?

[@454FatJack]

Odd ammo - vs and huge stockpiles of Mosin and Maxim’s too,7,62x54

[@93FORDMUSTANG]

Is that your collection behind you? Incredible!

[@MythicFrost]

While ago they found in finland 3 guns hidden in wall wrapped on newspaper dated 27.2.-2.3.1918 Arisaka, Winchester and Mannlicher all of 3 guns according picures looked to be in rather good condition.

[@Soravia]

Now I need to add them to my collection of Arisaka

[@GazalAlShaqab]

WHAT a superb title to this video!! 🤩

[@grimmreaper3241]

I read somewhere long time ago that in sport shooting the Arisakas were considered to be a bit less accurate than Mosins which lead to compensation points given to the shooter for using said riffles.

[@DeimosPC]

Now I need an Arisaka with British markings. The hunt begins.

[@tgraham1961]

I’m surprised none of those wound up in the Elbonian arsenal

[@JohnDoe-pv2iu]

I'm sure there are but in limited numbers and probably used little for the very same logistical reason why everyone else quit using them! Ya'll Take Care and be safe, John

[@fabiogalletti8616]

Indeed Elbonia seems the perfect customer for a grinded-by-russian, donated-by-Finland, Rechambered-by-Estonian .303 Arisakas

[@troystallard6895]

😂

[@Oxtocoatl13]

These guns also have a dark history as one of the primary rifles in the Finnish Civil War. Because they were smaller and lighter than the dominant Mosin-Nagants, they were distributed to female Red Guards and child soldiers on both sides. In the famous portrait of Onni Kokko, a boy who was killed fighting for the Whites aged just 14, Kokko has an Arisaka by his side.

[@johnschofield9496]

Thanks, Ian. Great history, as always !!

[@tarmopalm3646]

Gooda day Ian, estonian here. You mention somewhere in 7:25-7:35 some of Ariaskas given to Estonia for civil war. There has not been any civil wars in Estonia, only fighting either russians or germans (or latvian communists in some stage of the war of Independence) You probably mean the war of Independence. Just some historiy nitpicking :) Anyway, thanks for all the great content! Maybe we should set up Estonian Brutality competition to lure you here to meet you in person?

[@rastenborg]

I can still smell those cold flowers coming from the drivers seat.

[@piotrstrzelczyk5248]

It was used also in the interwar period by the Polish Army. There were several sources of origin. After the Bolshevik revolution in Russia (1917), the 5th Polish Rifle Division was formed in Siberia, composed of Poles and formally subordinated to the Polish Army in France. They were equipped with Japanese Arisaka rifles. Soldiers of this formation, after many vicissitudes, reached through Mongolia to Manchuria and then by sea to Gdańsk. During the First World War, the Russian army purchased from 640 to 800 thousand. of this rifle. A number were captured by Poles during the Polish-Bolshevik War (1919-1920). About 19,000 Arisaka rifles were donated to Poland by United Kingdom. Due to the unusual caliber of 6.5 mm, the Arisaka was withdrawn from the army, handing over this model to the Customs Service, to National Defense Battalions. A party of the Arisakas were or exchanged for Mauser carabines from Greece.

[@chaprandom8362]

Ian covering more of Finnish stuff? Heck yes!

[@barryparker4066]

Ian what's all neat stuff behind you!

[@ForgottenWeapons]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmGyf3yQebmrgrs

[@dspserpico]

Those cancellation marks were essentially “how to deface the Emperor’s symbol without being disrespectful to the Emperor.”

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Yup. Akin to the various flag code criteria for how to dispose of worn-out flags properly.

[@dspserpico]

@@ForgottenWeapons I seriously would not have noticed the cancellation/overstamping unless you pointed it out.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian . 🐺

[@robertshoemaker6204]

Awesome as alway...so enjoy your attention to detail and knowledge of firearm history....thank you from another gun enthusiast...Shoe in Oregon.

[@Koruvax]

So many confused Arasaka chooms right here right now.

[@greyklopstock7155]

I read the title as finish Arkansas and I was like, "huh, I didn't know they were building an Arkansas in Finland"

[@afriendofafriend5766]

Next thing you know Ian will be reviewing Militech and Kang Tao weapons.

[@smackarel7]

It's amazing how all things Russian ends up in Finland.

[@reliantncc1864]

Considering the number of times Russia has invaded Finland, it's not really that surprising. I think at this point the majority of foot traffic in Finland has been Russian.

[@george2113]

I haven't heard any rumors of the Amber room in Finland

[@trikyy7238]

Ah, the fabled Temple of Guns.

[@psynque]

When I was younger and hunted more I used to wonder why there was a surprising amount of Arisakas in the finnish second hand market. Always thought it was due to some obscure WW2 deal but glad to hear the whole story.

[@Hanmieson]

I did enjey the video, thank you Ian.

[@Matt-xc6sp]

That’s a heck of a garage

[@itsconnorstime]

The most out of place Japanese weapon I can think of was the Type 92s exported to Chile, which you did a video on many years ago!

[@dillonshirey8076]

Here's a game: take a shot of liquor every time Ian says arisaka

[@jtukko]

On sitä ollu yllättävän paljon eri maiden rautaa suomellakin käytössä.

[@454FatJack]

Mistä vaan saatu että ystävälliset pensas Neuvostoliittolaiset ovat pysyneet omalla puutarhapalstallaan

[@fl_3682]

Seriously, that title is a work of art.

[@G0dMusic]

I actually had a Type 99 with an intact Mum, not good condition but it was definitely fun to shoot

[@jasonz7788]

Awesome thanks Ian great work

[@johnstacy7902]

I have a box of Kynoch ammo in 6.5. I'm guessing the brits needed to make there ammo at some point and time

[@johnfisk811]

They had well over a hundred thousand in service not to mention keeping the Russians in ammunition for their own far more direct purchases so they made many, many millions of Arisaka rounds.

[@福正之]

WW1後 38式が旧ロシア帝国全域に売却されたこと自体は日本でも有名です しかし現物が残存していることは全く知られていません。 フィンランドで改造されていたことはなおさらです。 貴重な映像のシェアありがとうございます。

[@puppetguy8726]

I imagine during the winter war they regretted having sold the Arisakas off.

[@Ba_Yegu]

Fortunately Soviet Union supplied them with shitloads of Mosin-Nagants, and then some.

[@puppetguy8726]

@@Ba_Yegu Also Sweden supplied Finland with 77000 mauser rifles which were used by rear and coastal defence units to free up mosin-nagants for the front units

[@theblackbear211]

Another fine video.

[@asphaltmemories4597]

The arisaka in Finnish service is definitely one of the oddest examples of firearms telephone in military history.

[@lando8913]

Lots of good info, you seem pretty knowledgeable about firearms. Ever consider writing a book (or several)? Or perhaps starting a youtube channel maybe??

[@Leander_]

It's really striking how much the rifles of major military powers can travel around the world under the monniker of 'military aid' - from Japan to Great Britain to Russia to Finland to Estonia..

[@kevinsullivan3448]

OK, now I want the history behind that glockenspiel in the background.

[@anttieskelinen1]

During the start of Barbarosa Luftwaffe use Utti airbase for refueling bombers after bombing Kronstad and mining Neva river in Leningrad. 22.6.1941 at night between 03-04 o'clock about 60 aircraft landed on Utti airbase. Glockenspiel is from these Luftwaffe ground units which were there to supply bombers. Some german soldiers give it to little kid which give it to current owner for free almost 80 years later. You can find similar ones in some auctions price around 20 000 euros.

[@Coltbreath]

Thanks Ian Happy Monday

[@milsurprifleguy7091]

The Type 30 rifle I have has the magazine release ground down , so good possibility it saw service in Russia , no SA markings .

[@widgren87]

The things you learn from this channel :-)

[@ciatangallaghe2485]

There's is nothing more appealing than a old bolt action rifle