The New 7.7x58mm Cartridge and the Type 99 RifleĪ new cartridge was soon under development and ultimately became the 7.7x58mm Arisaka round. As such, a new weapon would have to be devised for the Japanese Army to replace the outclassed Type 38 and put the Emperor's land army on equal footing with her adversaries. The Chinese 7.9mm cartridge proved superior to the 6.5mm and was notably better at range. However, combat actions in the Sino-Japanese War between China and Japan of the late 1930's soon showcased the Japanese Army was, yet again, behind the technological curve. Once Again, Combat Experience Forces Change As such, the Arisaka rifle was selected for purchase and given British-applicable designations upon delivery: Rifle, Magazine, 256-caliber Pattern 1900 Rifle, Magazine, 256-caliber Pattern 1907 Carbine, Magazine, 256-caliber Pattern 1907. 1914 saw the British Army is a desperate search for quantitative service rifles for training to counter its growing wartime enlistment numbers. In fact, the Type 38 even served as the official primary service rifle of the British Army for a time. The Type 38 went on to serve the Empire for thirty years as the army's rifle of choice. Some 3.4 million of the weapon were produced and included both a carbine and a cavalry form. A new cartridge with a pointed tip - the 38th Year Type, 6.5x50mm - was also introduced at the same time as the rifle. The bolt work followed more in line with the original Mauser design and featured a larger, easier-to-grab, bolt handle. The Meiji 38th Year rifle (Type 38) appeared in 1905 and was considered an improvement over the previous offerings of the 18 attempts. Production lasted from 1939 into 1945 before ending with Japan's surrender. The Type 99 was furthered a handful of designs that included the Short Rifle, Long Rifle, an airborne variant and a dedicated sniper model. The type was intended to replace the turn-of-the-century Meiji 38th Year rifle but never materialized as an all-out replacement due to demand. At her start, she proved a reliable and robust weapon but the closing noose of the Pacific Theater soon brought about drastic changes in her production methods, often leading to a subclass weapon system. The Type 99 was one of the standard bolt-action combat rifles to be utilized by the Empire of Japan during the Second World War. 14 Arisaka Type 99 (Rifle) Specification.4 The New 7.7x58mm Cartridge and the Type 99 Rifle.3 Once Again, Combat Experience Forces Change.