Its time my grandfather's old arisaka got a new scope. The problem is, its all custom work done by my great uncle about 50 years ago.  It had a Redfield Swing-Over rings and mount attached to the receiver with 3 screws. So the question is, what kind of mount should I use?  Picatinny?

Any help is greatly appreciated !

I'd ask the experts on gunboards.com in the Japanese section
Personally i would do nothing to change that bit of history and leave it as as

Is that chrysanthemum intact?  If so yeah I'd do as little as possible, go buy a Ruger American or something and F with that:-)

Nice chrysanthemum.     Japanese soldiers were supposed to scratch it off to not offend or insult the emperor if it got into enemy hands.

Okay so here's the story behind the rifle. My grandfather was on a destroyer in the Pacific in WWII. They blew a Japanese battleship in half in, I want to say, the battle for Midway. The front half of the ship was sealed and still floating, so they towed it into port. My grandfather and a team went aboard to disarm the ship and crew. Of course the small arms were some of the things that they took and he was allowed to keep this rifle. So he brought it home after the war and had his brother-in-law sporterize it.  The barrel is cut down below the bayonet lug, added a good set of iron sights, folded down the bolt, changed it to a Monte Carlo left handed stock, and added the scope. The chrysanthemum has a screw hole tapped in the center of it lol. I don't think these two country boys from Mississippi we're thinking about the value. My Pawpaw just wanted a good deer rifle lol. One day I will find a good left handed bolt action rifle but until then I'll find as much 7.7 as I can and shoot this rifle with a smile on my face.(not too big of a smile at $2 a shot)  Its historical value goes way beyond priceless to me.

The rifle shoots wonderfully.  It'll hit golf balls at 100yds all day, if I do my part. There was nothing really wrong with 4 X 30 Tasco that was on the gun. It's just not ideal for hunting in heavy brush or low light.


I'll post some pics of the whole gun tomorrow.

A screw straight through the center of the mum. Ouch

I don't think these two country boys from Mississippi we're thinking about the value.

All I could think of was "GIT HER DONE!!!" when I read this.

Eh, it is what it is.  The story behind it and the that passes it down to me means more than anything. Here's a shot of the whole rifle.

Looks like your grandfather put a lot of work into that rifle, good luck finding your new optics.

Thanks man!  They did a lot of good work on it for sure. Its a pleasure to shoot as long as you are lefty.