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I have a type 38 that seems alittle strange. It has an arsenal mark for Mukden but also has a small series mark for #5. All the charts I have seen says no series for this serial # range , 50285xx. Some one on another forum also thinks the stock does not seem quite right either!They called it uncommon. Not all numbers math on this rifle so am I looking a a referb possibly from Nagoya? Sorry but I had problems uploading any pictures.
It will be easier for us to help if you can provide some pictures of the rifle. My reference material shows no 5th series either.
I'm not sure you can see the series mark very clear (I had to use a magnifying glass) but here are some pictures.
I believe that is considered a "no series" Mudkin Arsenal rifle. The series mark should be on the left side of the serial number. The symbol in the circle does look like the series mark for five but becaise it's on the right side of the arsenal mark it may stand for something else. Can you take a picture of top of the reciever area?
Here you go. Hope this is what you wanted.
It looks like your rifle has a wooden buttplate, that would be a feature found later in the war so it may not be correct as I see no other late war or "last ditch" features. It is definitley a Type 38 produced at the Mudkin Arsenal.
No it has a metal buttplate but the stock only has a small dove tail splice at the very bottom,not your normal (half stock) splice. Also there are no markings stamped on it at all. I'm not sure if it original or someone built it to replace the original. If it is home made they did a pretty good job! Some of the cut outs seem alittle over sized but all in all a descent reproduction if that is what it is. I just was not sure if this was a rush job refurbish or a bubba attempt at keeping the rifle as close to original as possible.