Type 38 Safety Issue

[MLMaier01]

Hello. I was making myself familiar with my Mukden type 38 rifle, and after stripping and reassembling the bolt as per the instructions in the Arms and Militaria handbook (Skennerton), I noticed something was off with the safety. Upon engaging the safety, it no longer fully locks up the bolt and I can lift the bolt handle partway. Previously it would lock up completely. This concerns me as when I am finally able to take it to the range, I want it to function flawlessly. Has anyone else encountered this issue? If so, how did you fix it?

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[AGB-1]

Could be the Safety Knob.There are three styles. Is the bolt miss matched?

type 38 arisaka safety???

Japanese Rifles of World War II by Duncan O. McCollum (1996, Paperback) 9781880677117 | eBay

[Aragorn243]

If it worked fine before and isn't now, common sense says something wasn't reassembled correctly. I'd try doing that again before anything else.

[MLMaier01]

Disassembled and reassembled it several times correctly. Safety still does not fully engage.

---------- Post added at 10:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:41 PM ----------

Could be the Safety Knob.There are three styles. Is the bolt miss matched?

type 38 arisaka safety???

Japanese Rifles of World War II by Duncan O. McCollum (1996, Paperback) 9781880677117 | eBay

The bolt is matched. It appears to be a small tang projection.

[Aragorn243]

Bolt issues seem to be common with Arisakas but if you've never had the problem, it's hard to tell someone else how to fix it. It usually comes down to the part not being correct for the rifle or not being assembled exactly right. Sorry I can't be more helpful. Photos might help.

[vintage hunter]

I'm with Aragorn, if it was in working order before you took it apart then either you aren't reassembling correctly or something was broken or otherwise damaged in the process.

[MLMaier01]

If you look at the photos below, I am assembling the bolt correctly, unless there is something I missed? Then there is a picture with the safety off, the safety on, and the bolt handle lifting with the safety on. And yes, I have verified that the safety knob matches the serial number on the receiver.

[AGB-1]

If you have wrong safety knob it won't work. I have been through this before.

Purchase McCollum's Book and you can figure it out.https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=44585&page=1

Read the above link.

[MLMaier01]

If you have wrong safety knob it won't work. I have been through this before.

Purchase McCollum's Book and you can figure it out.https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=44585&page=1

Read the above link.

Hi there. I have verified that the bolt and safety knob are numbers matching with the receiver.

[vintage hunter]

If you have wrong safety knob it won't work. I have been through this before.

Purchase McCollum's Book and you can figure it out.https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=44585&page=1

Read the above link.

It may not be a drop in fit due to mfg tolerances but otherwise with a little fitting the three variations are interchangeable. At least that's been my experience.

ML, its been a couple years since I fooled with an Arisaka but when I get home this evening I'll dig one out and refresh my memory on a couple things. In the mean time try engaging your safety again by hitting the knob smartly with the heel of your hand then turn it in. Sometimes it takes a good whack to get the parts settled in again after disassembly.

ETA: after refreshing my memory on how the Arisaka safety works I'm of the opinion that either your spring is weak, or hanging on something and not letting the safety knob fully engage. First try giving it a good whack with the heel of your hand as advised above. If that doesn't do it pull the bolt and disassemble it. See the small square lug on the bolt body behind the bolt handle? Thats what keeps the bolt from opening with the safety engaged. It fits into the square notch in the safety skirt. Next, do you see the lug on the safety stem that fits in the tracks inside the striker? And finally do you see the pawl at the bottom of the safety knob that rides in the track in the reciever? It serves as a guide and a stop for the knob so it cant be rotated too much. It stops the knob in precisely the right spot to let the lug on the safety stem change tracks inside the striker, if the timing is not spot on the safety wont work properly. Measure the spring, I checked 3 of mine and they are between 3 11/16" and 4 1/16" in length. Make sure they aren't broken or kinked. Next, take the striker and with the spring out insert the safety knob, with the striker oriented so sear catch is at 6 o'clock, like it would be if it were in the rifle, manipulate the safety in its tracks to make sure there are no burrs or debris impeding it operation. When you reassemble it put a dab of grease on the spring, safety knob stem and outside of the strike to lube everything so they move freely against one another. If all that checks out I'm at a loss...