Need Help Type 38?

[frankderrico]

I know very little about the Japanese rifles. I went to an auction and got this cheap. It is coated in cosmoline on the inside, the outside must have worn off and has some surface rust that I think will clean up. The stock is soaked, but should clean up. Any help is welcomed.

Regards.....Frank

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[Salt Flat]

Frank, Awesome Type 38! Do the dust cover and bolt numbers match the receiver? Very rarely do they have an intact Mum, dust cover and cleaning rod. They seldom have all of these. Salt Flat

[frankderrico]

Thanks Salt Flat, no the bolt and receiver do not match. Altho all of the bolt parts including the cover do and all of the other rifle parts match except the floor plate. Any idea of what the sideways S on the barrell means? It's cleaning up nice, can't wait to shjooot it. Do you have any idea when it was made? Thanks again.

Regards.....Frank

[Salt Flat]

Frank, Here is a great website on Arisaka markings. I think it has something about the S stamp and years of manufacture. Salt Flat

http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/japanese_markings.html

[jmoore]

Whilst it's apart, it's easy to check to see if the bolt number matches the assembly number on the underside of the action. Some type 38s are matched this way, and others use the serial number. Depends on the vintage and the arsenal that built it. Weird, but there it is.

(The only Type That I can remember for sur that uses the assembly number method is the Long Type 99. But it's common on type 38s as well.)

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Look forward to photos her cleaned up. Take care cleaning the stock as the finish is near impossiable to replicate. How is the bore?

[Salt Flat]

Look forward to photos her cleaned up. Take care cleaning the stock as the finish is near impossiable to replicate. How is the bore?

Yes, I agree. The stock patina, color and finish look great so only minimal cleaning to remove the cosmoline should be attempted. Maybe just some mild detergent and warm water on the stock. The metal parts could be washed down with solvent and then oiled. Take the bolt apart and scrape or brush the crud away. Look on the restoration forum for more on this.