Japanese Type 38

[Indiana Jones]

Dug this old friend out of the closet. My great uncle brought it back from the Pacific. I cleaned it up a bit, and would LOVE to shoot it. But i dont know how to judge if something is 'shootable'. Is this also referred to as an "Arisaka"? Ive heard then called Arisaka Type 38 and Jap Type 38. Years ago i took it to a gun store but they told me 3 different options as to what caliber it could be and i left confused. I figured id post pics, and ask the experts! Youll see the rifle, and the bayonet that came back with it. What is that paint, and stamp type thing on reverse sides of the stock? Also, under that is a bayonet i was given by a relative also in the pacific, but im unsure what it is. Springfield 03 maybe?

***this bayonet, is NOT the one pictured in the scabbard, im not sure what it is. the bayonet with the rifle came with the rifle, this second one was a gift from a different guy in the pacific. im guessing just another jap rifle bayonet.

 

[DarthZed]

That is TOO cool. I don't know the first thing about WWII Jap guns (or any kind of Jap gun for that matter), so I can't help at all. But that gun is just awesome.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[GNLaFrance]

The bayonet is Japanese. Try fitting it onto the rifle. As to the rifle itself, I can't say; I'm much better at identifying model variations of WW2 Japanese tanks and fighter planes than rifles. I'll guess the painted characters are a rack number.

GunCollectorsForum.com - Curios & Relics - Japanese Weapons

Gunboards.com - Japanese Collector's Boards

 

[yellowsled]

put this in the C&R forum. There are some in there that just love old japanese rifles!

 

[PresentArms]

I'm surprized the Mum (Chrysanthemum) is ground away for a bring back. Nice rifle lots of history. Thanks for posting

 

[boule]

Years ago i took it to a gun store but they told me 3 different options as to what caliber it could be and i left confused. I figured id post pics, and ask the experts!

Should be 6.5x50 Jap. - unless someone Bubba'd it.
Since ammo was not readily available after WW2, some were rechambered to .257 Roberts (right after WW2) or 260 Rem.

There are two ways how to figure out if it has been rechambered. The correct one would be to make a cast of the chamber with either wax or cerrosafe. The other is to take a 6.5x50 round, fire it and measure what the case looks like afterwards. Since the arisaka action is one of the strongest you shouldn't damage it with that try (did read ackley,been there, done that).

 

[ohen cepel]

Type 38 with an early bayonet and then a late war bayonet. Should be 6.5Jap chamber unless it was redone somewhere along the way (unlikely but possible).

No reason not to shoot it so long as it's sound and the bore is clear.

Nice pieces of history!

 

[Indiana Jones]

My dad said when his uncle brought it back, they were making all the soldiers file off alot of Jap markings. Even swords and knives. Can you imagine how many amazing treasures were screwed up? Basically this thing came off the boat, my family never shot it, it got covered in some sort of cosmoline and stuck in a sack in a closet until the 1970s when it was stuck in a new closet haha. I talked to his son and he said that his dad def brought it back and just tossed it away into the closet so it hasn't been tampered with/ converted. I hope to shoot it.


Thanks guys I'm gonna stick this in C&R and see what the spendthrift gun junkies have to say! (I'm one)

 

[j8064]

HomicidalNun,
You know you have two threads going on exactly the same rifle. Why don't you ask the mods to them merged so all the responses are in the same thread and everyone can see them together! http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=70536&highlight=arisaka

 

[Indiana Jones]

HomicidalNun,
You know you have two threads going on exactly the same rifle. Why don't you ask the mods to them merged so all the responses are in the same thread and everyone can see them together! http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=70536&highlight=arisaka

I know thanks. forgot to ask them to be merged. i hate multiple threads. mods could you please work your magical merge powers?

thanks for the responses, i figured the ammo would be pricey damn.

 

[BradMacc82]

I'm surprized the Mum (Chrysanthemum) is ground away for a bring back. Nice rifle lots of history. Thanks for posting

The 'Mum' had to be ground off per US regs for bring-back, although most Japs would disfigure/remove it if they felt it would be captured, a sign of respect to the emperor since it was considered HIS property.

I couldn't say if it was safe to fire, but that's a great piece of history in it's own right.

6.5 Jap is still available, I believe MilitaryShooters.com stocks it, also possibly Ammunitiontogo.com.

 

[Indiana Jones]

What do you guys think it's worth?

 

[beaglefan]

The bayo in the last picture was made by National Denkic(National Electric).The Rifle was either Koishikawa Arsenal(Tokyo)or Kokura.I think the first one most likely.