Type 38 Rifle Questions [Pictures Included]

[masterdiver330]

I previously posted about this said rifle but wasn't able to obtain pictures at that time and I still have the opportunity to buy it. I've taken pictures this time around. I'm looking for more information and details about it's origin, authenticity, etc.

I'm fairly confident it was manufactured at the Tokyo Arsenal but I do not know what Series it is or the year it was made. I'm also curious what the big "17" is for on the right side of the butt stock and why there is what looks like an arsenal marking on the Mum.

Help and answers would be greatly appreciated.

Information

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[vintage hunter]

If I'm reading the #'s right your rifle was made at the Tokyo arsenal around 1920. These don't have a series. The serial # range is 0- 2,029,000.The marking on the mum is the Kokura arsenal symbol that indicate the rifle no longer belonged to the imperial Japanese Army and were usually school marked but I don't see any such markings on it so this one was likely sold to another country and this explanes the ''17'' on the butt, a rack # probably. The ''s'' on the knox form is a proof mark, they were changed from a ''B'' to an ''S'' in the late 800,000 serial # range. Looks like it has a Type 99 cleaning rod. How's the bore? Is it 4 groove or 6 groove?

[Patrick Chadwick]

A touch of clarification - but not the end of the puzzle!

The arsenal was Koishikawa Arsenal (Tokyo) from 1870 to 1935 - so the rifle was made at Koishikawa. From 1935-45 it was Kokura arsenal.

There is no school marking, but the chrysanthemum has been overstamped by the Koishikawa/Kokura stamp. This indicates that the rifle was sold officially to another country. The S is supposed to be the Japanese proof mark, but rather wierdly, the dot-over-S looks exactly like the marks applied to German Gew88 rifles when they were upgraded to take the "spitzer" bullet. And I have not yet found the triangle-in-circle mark explained - could someone enlighten me? This leads us into the realms of speculation - are those really Japanese marks, or marks applied by the new owners?

The bolt number does not match the system, and the rifle is in very poor external condition. What does it look like inside?

Patrick

[masterdiver330]

I did not have a flashlight on me at the time but I held the rifle up to the sun and looked down the barrel and everything looks nice in the bore. Obviously it's seen action but the chamber and everything else is in good condition. The receiver and barrel look very good, but overall the rifle could use a slight bit of cleaning.

[jeep]

Theres a nice t38 with mum in alot better shape over at the Japanese collecter page.