Type 38 "parts rifle"

[Aragorn243]

I was at a flea market today and came across a guy with some old beat up rifles. One was a near complete type 38 which was missing the bolt and a few other small parts. Stock is in bad shape, looks nearly black in color and has some nasty cracks in the butt area. He called it a parts rifle. It has it's mum although it is thin. Not scrubbed I don't think, simply worn down.

No school markings on the metal that I could see and the bore looked to be in surprisingly good shape.

The butt stock has an oval about two inches by one inch burned into it with three characters. I don't know if they are Japanese or Chinese but this mark resembles some I've seen on Chinese Mausers.

Price on this was such that I almost brought it home without thinking about it, $40. But then I decided it might be more trouble than it's worth.

I know without photos it's just speculation but what are opinions on what this might be.

My obvious thoughts are worn out Army rifle turned over to a school or a Chinese capture. I'm thinking I may go back tomorrow and get it if it's still there just as a curiosity piece.

The cracks in the stock are what kept me from buying it. I don't believe they would allow it to be shot even if I find a bolt for it. And I have no need for wallhangers.

I answered my own question. A few posts down is a thread about a training rifle and this rifle has "for training purposes only" stamp which would appear to match what I found today. May still take another look at it tomorrow. A training rifle I do not have.

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