Type 96 Light Machine Gun Accession Number: REL24898

Description

The Type 96 light machine gun is an automatic gas operated weapon. All metal construction apart from the wooden butt, pistol grip and carry handle. The gas system utilises a long stroke piston located below the barrel. A manual gas regulator with five settings is attached to the barrel. The locking system features a tilting bolt locking block located in the receiver below the bolt and operated by an inclined surface on the gas piston rod. The barrel is heavily finned and can easily be removed for replacement or maintenance. A folding wood and metal carrying handle is attached to the barrel for easy barrel change. Feed is from a curved 30 round staggered box magazines inserted from the top of the receiver. The magazine housing is fitted with a top opening dust cover. Firing controls include a single trigger and a manual safety, located on the left side, in front of the trigger guard. Standard furniture includes a folding bipod attached to the gas block, a pistol grip and a wooden butt with a steel butt plate. The Type 96 light machine gun has a bayonet lug fitted to the barrel for fitting a standard Arisaka Type 30 infantry bayonet which can be attached to the gas block below the barrel. Standard sights are of the open type offset to the left to clear the overhead magazine and calibrated up to 1,500 meters. There is provision for a 2.5 x magnification telescopic sight to be, which attached is also offset to the left.

The weapon is complete with a bipod but missing the pistol grip and magazine. Markings - The action is stamped with the Kokura Arsenal mark, the serial number and 17.9 (1942 September).

Contextual Description

The Type 96 light machine gun was one of the standard light machine guns used by the Japanese Army during the Second World War. The gun was based on the French Hotchkiss gas operating system.

Details

Accession Number
REL24898
Manufactured by
Kokura Arsenal
Classification
Technology
Object Type
Firearm
Physical Description
Material: Steel
Material: Wood
Measurement
Overall: 1054 mm
Date Made
1942
Place Made
Whole/Part
Whole
Item Count
1
Copyright
Copyright not applicable

Conflicts

Units

Tags

More like this

Type 96 Light Machine Gun

Technology REL44943 Second World War, 1939-1945

The Type 96 light machine gun is an automatic gas operated weapon. All metal construction apart from the wooden butt, pistol grip and carry handle. The gas system utilises a long stroke piston located

Type 96 Light Machine Gun

Technology REL/19533 Second World War, 1939-1945

The Type 96 light machine gun is an automatic gas operated weapon. All metal construction apart from the wooden butt, pistol grip and carry handle. The gas system utilises a long stroke piston located

Type 96 Light Machine Gun

Technology RELAWM27374 Second World War, 1939-1945

The Type 96 light machine gun is an automatic gas operated weapon. All metal construction apart from the wooden butt, pistol grip and carry handle. The gas system utilises a long stroke piston located

Type 96 Light Machine Gun

Technology RELAWM27366 Second World War, 1939-1945

The Type 96 light machine gun is an automatic gas operated weapon. All metal construction apart from the wooden butt, pistol grip and carry handle. The gas system utilises a long stroke piston located

Type 99 Light Machine Gun

Technology REL/10235 Second World War, 1939-1945

The Type 99 light machine gun is an automatic gas operated weapon. All metal construction apart from the wooden butt, pistol grip and carry handle. The gas system utilises a long stroke piston located

Type 99 Light Machine Gun captured by the 2/28 Battalion, AIF

Technology RELAWM27372 Second World War, 1939-1945

The Type 99 light machine gun is an automatic gas operated weapon. All metal construction apart from the wooden butt, pistol grip and carry handle. The gas system utilises a long stroke piston located

See more similar items →

Record information

Last modified: 4 June 2026 - 11.14 pm