I heard from an old Aussie soldier that the reason some Arisakas and T99's had the "mum" ground from the reciever and some didn't depended on when the rifles were "acquired". During the war people had more important things to do than worrying about making cosmetic changes to captured enemy equipment. After the war ended it was decided that any rifles being returned as trophies had to have the "mum" removed. This probably explains the captured during the war signified by an unground "mum" story.
I have three myself, two Arisakas one rifle and one carbine, the rifle in intact, the carbine ground. I also have a T99, unground, which came from the estate of an old soldier spent a far bit of WW2 behind Japanese lines. I have been told that the T99's were often carried by Japanese marines, who were mostly used as shock troops. I have also been told that the infantry always carried the rifle, the carbine mostly being used by garrison troops. I would have thought the carbine a better piece of kit for jungle work, but I suppose the rifle makes a better handle for a bayonet!
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