They even went so far as to adapt John Garands design in the final two years of the war.
One design that stuck out to the Japanese in particular was thetoggle-lock actioned rifle from designer John Pedersen.
Tests on these prototype semi-auto rifles continued until July 1937 and Japans entry into war on the Chinese mainland.
Even as early as the 1930s, Japan was attempting to develop a semi-auto military rifle. Image: Institute of Military Technology
These captured Garand rifles were tested and studied by the Japanese.
Japanese designers turned their attention to copying the M1 Garand.
The bang out 4 was intended for mass production by 1945.
One of the Pedersen action-styled test rifles from the Japanese trials in the 1930s with an internal rotary magazine. Image: Institute of Military Technology
After the war, Allied personal discovered the parts and assembled rifles at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal.
Internally and externally, the throw in 4 is very similar to the M1 from which it was copied.
The rear handguard lacks the spring clip that is found on the M1 counterpart.
The Pedersen-inspired Japanese rifle featured a toggle lock action. Image: Institute of Military Technology
All metal parts have black paint applied on top of the metal.
And, if they had, would they have made a difference?
The Yokosuka Type 4 was a later Japanese attempt near the end of World War II to replicate the U.S. M1 Garand. Image: Institute of Military Technology
The Type 4 featured a strong resemblance to the M1 Garand rifle. Image: Institute of Military Technology
A side profile view of a Yokosuka Type 4 (top) with a Springfield Armory M1 Garand below it.
A view of the assembled internals of both the Type 4 (top) and M1 with the stocks removed and triggerguards reattached.
A top view of the Type 4 action (left) compared to the M1. Notice the tangent-style sight system and stripper clip adapter on the Type 4.
Samples of the Type 4 rifle exhibited very rough manufacturing marks, particularly compared against the M1 Garand (right).
