Type 38 Safety Issue

[vintage hunter]

I was talking with a friend about this issue today and he and I both came to the conclusion that if it worked before, I am following the correct procedure for disassembly and reassembly, and if it is numbers matching, then something is keeping the striker from fully cocking back upon closing the action. When he researched the matter, the information he found stated that the striker must be fully cocked in order for the bolt to lock up when the safety is on. It is, at least, a direction for me to go in.

Dont know where he got the info but arisakas dont have a half cock notch, and I'm reasonable sure that the striker has to be fully cocked before the bolt will even close. Nor can you hold the trigger back while closing the bolt to release spring tension like you can other designs.
Did you do as I suggested and whack the knob good with the heel of your hand ? One of mine has a slight kink in the spring and when I take the bolt apart and reassemble it the safety wont fully engage until I whack the knob to get everything in its proper place. After that it works fine until I take the bolt apart again.