Japanese soldier in winter uniform..

[A. F Medic]

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[69 Stang]

Looking at the sling swivels that rifle looks like a type 38.

[Calif-Steve]

Photo taken in China? Just a guess.

[Dave]

Thats a type 38? gee, no kidding?

[gunner]

When i see this pic there came a thought that it were much easier to fight against the Japanese in WW2 in winter. He looks like that the only way to move for him is to roll like a ball.

Gunner

[rayg]

Thats a type 38? gee, no kidding?

Yes it's a type 38 but from the distance it looks like it could be either a Type 38 or a type 99 Long rifle. Both look the same from that distance. Basically the only thing that gives it away as a T- 38 is the upper band that's visible. Ray

[69 Stang]

Thanks Ray... Thats the kind of info needed for the newer guys to look for and learn from.

[Dave]

Actually the upper bands on the 38 qnd 99 long are pretty much the same, the 99's is flat on sides while the 38 is more round. However the lower bands are quit different, the 99 being wider and with the split top section, just like the 99 short rifle.

[rayg]

Actually they are much different. The one on the bottom is the 99 Long. But you are right in that the middle band on the 99 Long was different. It was made for a monopad like the regular 99 short rifles. Oboviously the monopod was not on the rifle the soldier was holding, but it could be that the mono pad had been removed, and the photo was not big enough to tell what the band was. ray

[rayg]

In any case, the chance of this soldier's rifle being a Type 99 Long was very remote. As Dave mentioned the middle band on the 99 Long is different and when you look at the photo more closely you can see that the middle band of the rifle the soldier is holding does not have a screw in the side like a Type 99 Long rifle would have.
Both rifles do look pretty similar from a distance though. Ray