Sharing a Type 38

Since things have been pretty slow here, I thought I would share my recently acquired Type 38 rifle. A couple of questions I had were is it a Koishikawa or a Kokura arsenal rifle? I know they are one in the same but under which company name was this rifle built? It also has 3 interesting "notches"on the butt stock. I guess the question is who put them there and why? Of the 16 listed serial number locations, 14 of them match (non matching parts are the cocking piece and and magazine floor plate). The rifle shoots great with a very smooth action. Thanks!

Attachment 110660Attachment 110661Attachment 110662Attachment 110663Attachment 110664Attachment 110665Attachment 110666

That is a nice Type 38. Most of them seem to be pretty rough with dark bores. Yours has lots of bluing present and a decent stock. I would bet that it has a shiny bore based on the outside condition. The notches always make me scratch my head. Would a Japanese soldier take a time out from combat to "keep score" like this? I really don't know. I know deer hunters sometimes do this---- Salt Flat.

The bore is pretty nice, excellent rifling and maybe a little bit of frosting. I've only cleaned the bore a couple of times and I'm finding it takes a multitude of cleanings to remove all the years of neglect in these milsurps.

It is a Koishikawa .

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bob q

It is a Koishikawa .

---

Thanks! Would you know the approximate year of manufacture?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Singer B

Thanks! Would you know the approximate year of manufacture?

---

1st this helped me out http://www.castle-thunder.com/model.htm and https://oldmilitarymarkings.com/japanese_markings.html 2nd nice find... internet old guns I can research til I am forced by nature AND those around me to get some sleep. Any import marks?? I research them also

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Steyr Man 146

1st this helped me out http://www.castle-thunder.com/model.htm and https://oldmilitarymarkings.com/japanese_markings.html 2nd nice find... internet old guns I can research til I am forced by nature AND those around me to get some sleep. Any import marks?? I research them also

---

Their are no import marks. The mum is completely grounded off. Their is no "series" marking which would have made the dating easy. The serial number is 1855xxx. All of the assembly numbers match except the magazine floor plate and the cocking handle. The wood is kind of rough but the bluing isn't too bad. The receiver has the circle with triangle inside proofmark. So does the barrel on the left side of the chamber. There is also a "s" proof mark laying on its side next to the circle with triangle proof mark. While rough in appearance, she is very smooth and shoots great. It has an original cleaning rod also. Pretty happy with it!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Singer B

Thanks! Would you know the approximate year of manufacture?

---

Approx. 1921

Wow, nice find.
Pity for the mum, but otherwise...
I'll have to have one sooner or later...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jangle

Approx. 1921

---

Thank you sir! That is earlier than I thought!

That caused my wow!
Normally we find them all from WWII here, earliest I’ve seen must’ve been 1938...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ovidio

That caused my wow!
Normally we find them all from WWII here, earliest I’ve seen must’ve been 1938...

---

Sold off most of my milsurps a couple years ago but I still have a few T38 Arisakas around, a carbine made around 1910 and a rifle from 1917.
The rifle came with 50 rounds of Kynoch ammo and IIRC the headstamps are all '17.

Let me see the cost of importing one to Italy...:D

I love my Type 38, it's proven very accurate and affordable with handloads....

I recently picked up a Type 38 not much older than yours but I gotta say, yours is in nicer condition!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by J-ROD

I recently picked up a Type 38 not much older than yours but I gotta say, yours is in nicer condition!!

---

Thanks! It needed a little love when I got it home but you are correct, it is in pretty good shape.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Singer B

View Post

---

Been caught up in black powder research I am so glad jangle hit on it for you 1921