Ed, I know nothing about Japanese pistols, But let me tell you about Japanese rifles. The early Arisaka rifles had the strongest actions ever made. Yes, they are a variation of the Mauser, Just stronger. P.O. Ackley ( a wild cater) and Jack O Conner ( inventor of the .270) found they could blow up a Mauser but never an Arisaka. They had to re-barrel a few, but never destroyed an Arisaka action. In fact, my favorite hunting rifle is a type 38 Arisaka that I had re-barreled to 260 Remington with a custom stock. Yes, the palm safety was a little strange, but Timney makes a very nice trigger for these guns with a side safety. This gun will hold 4 shots in less than an inch at 200 yards. Now, as for the junk. As the war started to go down hill for the Japanese, the manufacturers cut to many corners and did put out some really bad guns. They can be spotted from a mile away and are known as last ditch rifles. There were lathe marks on the barrels, the safety was just rough welded instead of a machined diamond plate and they probable killed more Japanese solders than the Americans did. I just don't like broad brushed generalizations. In fact, I wouldn't mind finding a Type 99 Arisaka that has been modified (I wouldn't reuin a good military gun) to build a 300 Win Mag.