Late Kokura Type 44

Just picked this Type 44 carbine. Not as nice as some, but at least I've got one now. The bayonet lock is a mis-match, but fits and works fine. The rest appears good on that score. The spring for the cleaning rod trap is broken, but it still opens and closes, and stays put in either position. The grinder guy seems to have taken his job seriously, and was not to be contented with a simple X-out. I was encouraged by the strong rifling when I looked it over, and with some initial cleaning, the bore came out nice and shiny. Should be a fine shooter.
(I tried to attach some more pics, but the system rejected them due to file size)

Any Type 44 is a great find and this looks pretty nice. Congrats!

Found another pic small enough to stick.

The latch parts have a separate assembly number, so if your bayonet housing matches the last three digits of serial number you're good to go, and you have a matching bayonet assembly.

It's in really nice shape.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jangle

The latch parts have a separate assembly number,

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Would these latch numbers differ from the assembly numbers on the rest of the internals? I am also going off the evidence of the crosshatching being misaligned in my supposition.
The bayonet mounting sleeve does bear the last three of the serial.

The assembly number of the latch is completely different from the rifle receiver assembly number.
It's not uncommon to see the cross-hatch mis-aligned on this part. For whatever reason, some folks just like to take things apart.

I follow you, but there is an assembly number (476) on such parts as the extractor, bolt stop, trigger, and receiver plates at the tang, and those parts such as the bolt body, safety knob, and bayonet sleeve which carry the last three digits of the serial (738). So, in this case, all the numbered parts have either the last three of the serial, or the three digit assembly number. The bayo catch has a four digit number (3670) that bears no relation to the other two. Sorry, I neglected to fully divulge that situation in my question. I appreciate your assistance.

Correct.
If you have the rifle apart, you will see the main rifles assembly number 476 on the bottom of the receiver. The bayonet latch button is a three digit number (670), probably proceeded by (what is called a katakana numeral, that sometimes looks like a standard number, but is not).

Splendid. Thanks so much for this info. It is reassuring that I don't have replaced parts as I had thought initially.

Makes it scarce then. A nice clean example and all original?

Nice clean example, excellent find. [emoji1303]

Most Type 44 rifles have seen hard use. I have two of the 1st bayonet housing, mismatched, no mums that have probably seen 1/2 of China. Then I have a very nice, mum’d and matching, to include dust cover, no series Nagoya with the 3rd type bayonet. It is my favorite milsurp I have collected to date.

Dust cover and mum, sweet! As I mentioned, the mum on my example was ground to a fare-thee-well. Rod sections and dust cover long gone. Still most happy, especially since J. got me sorted out on the catch.