Type 38 rifle question

[gew88]

I'm new to this forum and new to collecting Japanese rifles, but I stumbled on one the other day that I just had to pick up. It is a Type 38 rifle with intact mum and all matching numbers on every part including dustcover. Another interesting thing about it is that it has a fragment of an American grenade lodged in the buttstock. It looks like it has had lead poured in the barrel just ahead of the chamber to about 4 inches from the muzzle. Has anyone ever heard of this being done, and should I leave it as it is or try to get it out?
Thanks

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[jmoore]

Don't see why you ought not try to remove the lead, but it may be much more trouble than it's worth. On the other hand it may just pop right out. If it doesn't drive out easily after a few day soak in penetrating oil, you'll have a lot of messy and possibly toxic work ahead.

[gew88]

Thanks for the reply, I just figured it was a way to deactivate them back in the day. I'll give her a week to soak and then see what happens.

[jmoore]

It's not a legal deactivation, nor safe, IF a round can be chambered! (Even the wrong type of round.)

Don't often see this done, but they do show up every oce in a while. Hopefully, it hasn't ruined the bore/

[jmoore]

Link to another thread that's relavent to yours:

heating barrel 1891 argentine

[riceone]

If it were mine, I would l take the barrel out, make a clamp to go around the receiver end over the chamber area, hang it in a press and with a mandrel just the size of the bore and beveled on the front so it will not gouge the riflings - press it out. You would have to start with a short mandrel and get longer, if you use a long one to begin with it will bow and defeat your purpose. It was pressed in so it will press out. riceone

[vintage hunter]

As i understand it the chamber end was plugged with a wooden dowel and molten lead was poured in from the muzzle. It's been a long time but on the ones i remember seeing the lead went from about midway the chamber all the way upto the muzzle crown. I have my doubts as to whether removing it would be worth the effort. The corrosive properties of the last round fired plus the ingress of moisture over the past 60+ years have most likely fubar'd the bore. Rebarreling it may be the best solution.

[riceone]

Vintage, you are probably right.

[gew88]

Thanks for the suggestions, my old gunsmith buddy and I are going to attempt to clear it out tomorrow, let yall know how it comes out. I have a feeling that the barrel is going to have to be replaced, does that hurt the collector value too bad?

[vintage hunter]

Good luck, hope everything turns out in your favor. I would have to say rebarreling it may lower the collector value some, how much i have'nt the foggiest idea. That would depend on several things i guess, it's rarity,quality of workmanship,how well the finish matches on bbl./reciever ect.... and don't forget location. One thing is for sure and certain though,it will be worth more then than it is now.