Help Identifying Rifle

[Hyper-W]

I am hoping that you folks could help me out identifying an old rifle.

This was my grandfather's rifle. I am told that he purchased it in Japan after WW2 ended. He would have arrived around August 1945 and stayed until February 1946.

Here is what I know about it:
It's a rifle
It's bolt action with a spring loaded bolt
It has a capacity of three to five rounds of ammo fed by a spring loaded floor (I don't know the real term)
It has a retractable bayonet
It has a removable cap from the muzzle. The cap can also flip open. Maybe an early flash suppressor?

Here are some pics. I tried to increase the contrast to show the details. I have higher res pics.

There is a serial number slightly visible in this picture

Here is the cap opened.

Picture of the rear sight

sling mounts on the side

This marking is just to the rear of the rear sight

This marking is under the rifle's bayonet (seen with bayonet open)

 

[Dave MP]

That is sweet!
No idea what it is, still sweet.

 

[Hyper-W]

It looks like a "Type 44" based on the description of a compartment for a cleaning rod in the butt.

Anyone have any thoughts?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_44_Cavalry_Rifle

 

[Garand1957]

Japanese Type 44 Cavalry Carbine and it looks like a nice one
Seems to have an interesting muzzle protector also.
Can't tell is the Mum scrubbed off the top of the receiver ?
Is it for sale ?

 

[bbrown]

Japanese Type 44 carbine:

http://www.oldrifles.com/japanese.htm

Bryan

 

[MikeTF]

Arisaka Type 44 carbine, with integral folding bayonet and bolt cover installed?

http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl22-e.htm

 

[mightymouse711]

it looks like a prototype 44 rifle carbine
the history channel did a show on these
most of them were not produced in great numbers since japan was losing when production started

 

[fivepointstar]

very nice.....looks like a good save otherwise it would be at the bottom of the Sea of Japan.

 

[ke3gk]

Yep - looks like a Type 44 Cavalry Carbine - in nice condition too.

Can't tell where it was made. Nagoya ? arsenal maybe.

If all the numbers match it's worth a bit of $$$.

 

[RosadoSM]

Nice rifle, Is it for sale?

 

[tdt91]

very nice, with just 91k built that could be worth something to a collector I would think. now you have a great start to a very nice C&R collection.

 

[Hyper-W]

Japanese Type 44 Cavalry Carbine and it looks like a nice one
Seems to have an interesting muzzle protector also.
Can't tell is the Mum scrubbed off the top of the receiver ?
Is it for sale ?

I thought the markings were scraped off of the top at first. After reading you post, I looked closer. It looks like paint on top of the receiver. It chips off with my fingernail. Another pic to come soon...

Not for sale though. I want to have it appraised for insurance reasons. I think this will be a cool family heirloom (along with his GI Transitional M1911).

 

[Garand1957]

Someone may have put paint over the area where the Mum was ground off to protect it from rusting...?
Not uncommon to see them with the Mum ground off or defaced in some way.
It would be more collectable if it was still there.

 

[Mdeng]

Check out this site for more detailed information.
www.japanesecollector.com

 

[Hyper-W]

Here is a super high contrast photo of the markings.

 

[j8064]

There's no doubt in my mind that's a very nice and likely rare T44 Arisaka.
You have a terrific piece there.

There is unfortunately limited info on Arisaka's as those records were lost at the end of WWII. Here's one of few sites that has some detail I found useful in my Arisaka research:
http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/japanese_markings.html

Good luck. That rifle is definitely a keeper!!

 

[Hyper-W]

Confirmed that it is a type 44. The markings on top mean "Type 44".

Thanks for all of your help! This is really neat.

 

[Garand1957]

A better place to post questions and get a good idea of it's value for insurance is here : http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdisplay.php?52-Firearms-Of-The-Rising-Sun
In the last pic the faint remains of the Mum can still be seen.

 

[MikeTF]

Starting bid on gunbroker.com $498.50 - http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=200832381

and another one for $680 -
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=200625985

Reserve not met $406 -
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=186306451

Sold $530 -
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=187108878

Sold $465 -
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=190360039

Sold $463 -
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=195521618

 

[boss66tcode]

A nice find. Keep it as is. Arisaka's are based on the mauser design, and are actually pretty strong actions. I have a family heirloom type 99, but those were much more common than the 44's. Keep it around and pass it to your next generation.