[IMBLITZVT]

I have a CNC shop I work with locally.....
I may still see about AK magazine adapters for the Type 99 magwell, based on the ones Jim Langley used to offer.

Richard

Richard,

I had emachine.com do mine. For 2 made from 4140, the charged me $250 each. Of course this was to my design and I supplied the CAD drawings.

The hardest part on these is conversions is the gas block with a front sight. Its just a lot of work. They are not out there to be found surplus...

 

[Apexgunparts]

Richard,

I had emachine.com do mine. For 2 made from 4140, the charged me $250 each. Of course this was to my design and I supplied the CAD drawings.

The hardest part on these is conversions is the gas block with a front sight. Its just a lot of work. They are not out there to be found surplus...

Thank you for sharing that costing data.
Regarding the 7.62X39 conversion for the Type 99, mine came with the barrel as well as the 7.7 barrels.
I had contacted Jim L (now deceased) and he supplied a modified mag and his (mild) metal model of the adapter.
He didn't make any drawings, just referenced the model when needed.
I need to mention that Jim L was a really nice person, spent a lot of time on the phone answering my questions.
I was really pleased to give him with a part he could not locate so he could complete a project!
I also have one of his adapters that allows the Type 96 or 99 to fit on the MG3 A/A tripod.
Unfortunately my gun is late production so the adapter wont work.
If there is still enough interest I could have those made and sell thru the web site.

Richard

 

[IMBLITZVT]

Thank you for sharing that costing data.
Regarding the 7.62X39 conversion for the Type 99, mine came with the barrel as well as the 7.7 barrels.
I had contacted Jim L (now deceased) and he supplied a modified mag and his (mild) metal model of the adapter.
He didn't make any drawings, just referenced the model when needed.
I need to mention that Jim L was a really nice person, spent a lot of time on the phone answering my questions.
I was really pleased to give him with a part he could not locate so he could complete a project!
I also have one of his adapters that allows the Type 96 or 99 to fit on the MG3 A/A tripod.
Unfortunately my gun is late production so the adapter wont work.
If there is still enough interest I could have those made and sell thru the web site.

Richard

Richard,

I have a type 96 as you can probably tell.

I think I bought a "left" over kit indirectly from Jim' stock that never had been fitted. I have spend a LOT of time getting it working and its getting there.

On the firing pin pricing, I think it got down close to $200 each for 4 being made.

On the adapters... sure it would be great to have some more out there but frankly I think there would be more interest in barrels. I need a spare barrel. However thats a lot more work. I don't know if there is a market for the adapters if the barrels are not available.

I have been working on a Tripod adapter for the ZB26 Tripod. Its small like the original Jap Tripod and at the time they were cheap from Sarco. I have a 3D printed version of my adapter. I have made a simpler version now. However I have been waiting until my 7.62 conversion is 100% before I get the final version made. One day I will get it worked out.

P.S. while I have your attention, you might want to check out this thread on my Hotchkiss. I bought 5 of those hotchkiss barrels from you a few years back and I am now putting them to good use. Buy, reactivating and restoring a Hotchkiss 1914 from...

 

[Apexgunparts]

Richard,

I have a type 96 as you can probably tell.

I think I bought a "left" over kit indirectly from Jim' stock that never had been fitted. I have spend a LOT of time getting it working and its getting there.

On the firing pin pricing, I think it got down close to $200 each for 4 being made.

On the adapters... sure it would be great to have some more out there but frankly I think there would be more interest in barrels. I need a spare barrel. However thats a lot more work. I don't know if there is a market for the adapters if the barrels are not available.

I have been working on a Tripod adapter for the ZB26 Tripod. Its small like the original Jap Tripod and at the time they were cheap from Sarco. I have a 3D printed version of my adapter. I have made a simpler version now. However I have been waiting until my 7.62 conversion is 100% before I get the final version made. One day I will get it worked out.

P.S. while I have your attention, you might want to check out this thread on my Hotchkiss. I bought 5 of those hotchkiss barrels from you a few years back and I am now putting them to good use. Buy, reactivating and restoring a Hotchkiss 1914 from...

View attachment 115615

View attachment 115616

I always thought I would own a Japanese Type 96 and ended up with a Type 99.
The 2 nibs on the front edge of your trigger housing is what my late Type 99 lacks.
So the tripod adapter won't work on my gun.
I like your approach to the front attachment point better than what Jim L did.
I obtained my Spanish ZB tripod from Gun Parts Corp, a very handy mount.
It went with my semi-auto ZB-30 and so the new owner of that gun has it.
I know an outfit that is currently trying to produce ZB-30 barrels, if they can pull that off they might be able to make Japanese barrels.
However, I suspect the start up cost on the barrel and gas blocks will be more than I will want to invest into the project.
The other thing is that I was told that Japanese guns require a level of fitment on individual parts, even when the guns came from the same factory the pieces don't always interchange.
I would hate to make a run of barrels that only fit my gun.
Having no factory prints means I don't have the tolerances and those details really worry me.
It is why APEX does very little with new manufacture barrels, and then only if I have factory prints or we are buying someone else's proven product.

Richard

 

[Mike Duke]

@Apexgunparts
Hey Richard, I’m not sure if the 99 and 96 firing pins are the same, but I would trust you with my factory spare if you get copies.

 

[Mike Duke]

@IMBLITZVT uuuummmmm
Why don’t you just ask me for a barrel?
Obviously I’m going to make 15 of them.

 

[Apexgunparts]

@Apexgunparts
Hey Richard, I’m not sure if the 99 and 96 firing pins are the same, but I would trust you with my factory spare if you get copies.

Mike, thank you, I appreciate the offer.
Let me see what I learn about making the Type 99 firing pin and go from there.

On a related note, if I supplied the AK mag bodies could you modify them?
I don't mind fitting mags to my gun, but welding is a bit of a reach!
My trusted welder lives in Denver and I rarely see him anymore.

Richard

 

[Mike Duke]

@Apexgunparts
Richard, I don’t mind at all, BUT!
I would need a type 99 to match the mag well length and catch.
I have a type 96, and the mag well is a different size.
I have a mag well adapter prototype that relocates the factory mag catch lever. So it catches AK mags. The adapter pins in the old mag release lever hole after it is relocated. Then, we wouldn’t need to weld anything.
I have lots of ideas I’m trying.

 

[Apexgunparts]

@Apexgunparts
Richard, I don’t mind at all, BUT!
I would need a type 99 to match the mag well length and catch.
I have a type 96, and the mag well is a different size.
I have a mag well adapter prototype that relocates the factory mag catch lever. So it catches AK mags. The adapter pins in the old mag release lever hole after it is relocated. Then, we wouldn’t need to weld anything.
I have lots of ideas I’m trying.

Somewhere we ran across a ZB mag catch that the Chinese modified to fit into the same location in the receiver and moved the catch forward and down to engage AK magazines.
It is a "proven" concept on the ZB so I think the same approach could work with the Japanese guns.
Have you looked at other magazines that feed 7.62X39?
I tried the fit of the VZ58 mags, seeking something that doesn't need the sides shaved thinner, but no luck there.
Even the KCI AK mags may be a better fit because they are thinner steel bodies.
Too bad the MG13 magazines cannot be used or adapted for 7.62X39 conversions, APEX has a good quantity of them on hand.
I would be happy to supply you with one for experimenting.

Richard

 

[IMBLITZVT]

I always thought I would own a Japanese Type 96 and ended up with a Type 99.
The 2 nibs on the front edge of your trigger housing is what my late Type 99 lacks.
So the tripod adapter won't work on my gun.
I like your approach to the front attachment point better than what Jim L did.
I obtained my Spanish ZB tripod from Gun Parts Corp, a very handy mount.
It went with my semi-auto ZB-30 and so the new owner of that gun has it.
I know an outfit that is currently trying to produce ZB-30 barrels, if they can pull that off they might be able to make Japanese barrels.
However, I suspect the start up cost on the barrel and gas blocks will be more than I will want to invest into the project.
The other thing is that I was told that Japanese guns require a level of fitment on individual parts, even when the guns came from the same factory the pieces don't always interchange.
I would hate to make a run of barrels that only fit my gun.
Having no factory prints means I don't have the tolerances and those details really worry me.
It is why APEX does very little with new manufacture barrels, and then only if I have factory prints or we are buying someone else's proven product.

Richard

You could always trade out your lower receiver with another with those nibs. I would not be super happy about doing so but it might work just fine.

Yes, I am sorry, it was from Numrich, not Sarco.

I agree, the start up costs on gas blocks probably does not leave much profit left.

My gun/7.62 kit certainly needed lots of fitting. I would be worried about those details too. You could produce a blank and just let people know what they need to do to finish it.

@Apexgunparts
Hey Richard, I’m not sure if the 99 and 96 firing pins are the same, but I would trust you with my factory spare if you get copies.

No the Type 99 and 96 pins are very different. See here my pictures:

I have also made Type 99 firing pins with my changes for a local friend here. He actually is a board member here too. He had 4 made with emachine.com. He might be willing to sell one off if you need one Richard?

@IMBLITZVT uuuummmmm
Why don’t you just ask me for a barrel?
Obviously I’m going to make 15 of them.

You know I want a barrel if you make a few! I was mainly saying for Richard, it does not make sense IMO to make the adapters without a supply of barrels. I was thinking he was doing more than 15 adapters if he was going to sell on the Apex website. However if you are the Apex supplier, there you go!

Somewhere we ran across a ZB mag catch that the Chinese modified to fit into the same location in the receiver and moved the catch forward and down to engage AK magazines.
It is a "proven" concept on the ZB so I think the same approach could work with the Japanese guns.
Have you looked at other magazines that feed 7.62X39?
I tried the fit of the VZ58 mags, seeking something that doesn't need the sides shaved thinner, but no luck there.
Even the KCI AK mags may be a better fit because they are thinner steel bodies.
Too bad the MG13 magazines cannot be used or adapted for 7.62X39 conversions, APEX has a good quantity of them on hand.
I would be happy to supply you with one for experimenting.

Richard

I would like to see some pictures of the original ZB Chinese mods.

I do like shaving down the AK mags and using an adapter. They are still good in an AK and they are cheap and easy.

MG13 mags I think are used in the 308 Type 99 conversion.

 

[haakster]

Here are a few pics of the Chinese ZB26 rear magazine catch. The AK mags need to be shaved, but the front and rear of the magazines are unchanged.

Regards, JH

 

[Mike Duke]

Booooooyyyyyyyy
That sure is a nice rifle