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Saw a pretty decent Type 38 carbine at the gun show today, mum was ground, but....this carbine had an import mark on the underside of the barrel near the muzzle. I cannot ever remember seeing any WW2 Arisaka with an import mark. Has anyone ever seen one? Pretty decent little carbine, thinking of going back for it tomorrow.
Might be from China. Used by the Chinese after the war and more recently imported. Check the condition closely.
Thought of that, I'll bet I looked at it 50 times while I was there. Didn't see any markings that would have signified Chinese use, although the mum was ground off in a way that didn't seem like what you usually see with these firearms. It was like it was ground, then really smoothed out. Like someone really took their time with it. It's possible I suppose that if it went into Chinese service that they would really want that symbol gone. Interesting.
Some pics of Japanese Type 38 carbine with import marks.
Oh, and this interesting cut out repair.......
Who is the importer? Thanks...
Medicmport stamp reads 'MEREX ALEX VA'. By the way, this appears to be a Kokura arsenal series 2 carbine.
Here's a shot of some markings on the rear sight..there's also a couple of these on the receiver and barrel. Japanese? Chinese? Thai?https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...IMG_3014-1.jpg
Tai... no egg roll with column B....
The marks are Japanese. I have a Kokura made type 99 and it is covered with that same mark that resembles a 4. I am assuming, and I know that is dangerous, that it is the symbol Kokura used to stamp their small parts. Either that or they were subbed out to another contractor. Usually there is only one per piece of metal but I have a rear sight sitting here by the computer that has 3 "W"s on it so may be a common thing to stamp the sight multiple times.
Kinda had the feeling they were Japanese, didnt really figure a next in line owner would put markings where they couldnt easily be seen. One more thing about this carbine, the serial number is 76***, yet the bottom of the receiver, trigger, bolt latch, and both plates that hold the receiver into the grip are marked 903. Trigger looks as though it was scrubbed and then this number applied. Did the Chinese do this possibly?