WW1 photo

[Mk VII]

of Russian troops using Arisakas - first that I've noticed. These were passed to Russia via Britain.

http://www.fototime.com/FC928B61882A305/orig.jpg

[Bill Hollinger]

Wow, look at that. Thanks for sharing Mk VII.

[Jim K]

The British purchased quite a few Japanese Type 38 rifles during WWI (I don't have the exact number in front of me) and ammunition was made in England. They later passed most of the rifles and ammo to the Russians. Whether it was directly connected to the use of Japanese rifles or not, Russia's first issue selective fire "assault rifle", the short-recoil Federov Model 1916, was chambered for the Japanese 6.5. The rifle was issued in very limited quantities, but plans for more general issue were frustrated by production difficulties.

Jim

[RCS]

I have the following numbers, 130,000 Japanese service rifles and carbines were purchased by the British Govt following the outbreak of war in 1914.

listed as follows:

Rifle, Magazine, .256" Pattern 1900

Rifle, Magazine, .256" Pattern 1907

Carbine, Magazine, .256" Pattern 1907

In 1916, 60,000 of these Japanese weapons were sent to Russia to assist the Russian war effort. Much later in the early 1920's large numbers were captured by Finland.