New Guy with a Type 38

[Patrick Chadwick]

OK, it's an Arisaka Type 38. But you knew that. As new, it would have had a sliding sleeve that acted as a protective cover over the bolt and action. However, these were apparently an unloved accessory that in fact acted as a dirt and mud trap, so many Japanese soldiers simply disposed of them in wartime. Or it simply got lost later. The surface of receiver body behind the two vent holes is in very good condition, but in front, around the "mum" (the imperial chrysanthemum symbol) it is sharply pitted. Either it rusted in this area while the bolt cover was still in place, or the mum was deliberately defaced with a pointed object. The daefacement of the mum when the rifles were surrenederd ws so common that it is the usual condition, undamaged mums adding to collector value (but, of ourse, being totally irrelevant for shooting).

It would be useful if you could take some trouble to get a clear photo of the markings on the left hand receiver wall. At present, I can just make out a 6-digit number without any preceding symbol. Such a symbol would indicate the production series of the arsenal where it was made. The symbol for following the number would indicate the arsenal.

However, in this case the negative evidence is helpful. The first 2 million Type 38s were made at Koishikawa Arsenal (Tokyo) from 1906 to 1935, and did not have a series symbol.
So number 173362 (if that is correct, and there is not in fact a weakly stamped 7th digit) would put the date of manufacture right back to 1906-8. A rather early Type 38.

Source books, if you would like to know more:
Honeycutt "Military Rifles of Japan"
McCollum "Japanese Rifles of World War II"

Patrick