I need a little advise

[Geokop]

That is a really nice rifle. Does the floor plate match?
I also own a T38 Series Five Carbine. It has a ground mum, but has its original cleaning rod, and is complete, correct and matching including the floor plate and dust cover.....Paid $400 for it. It's a FUN rifle to shoot.

[Claven2]

I expect it's been fired, quite a bit. The Japanese weren't likely to let a rifle sit around unused. Early versions of these have chrome bores so they generally all look pretty good. As for exterior condition, not bad but fairly typical. The mum is defaced/ground, doesn't really matter that you can still see the outline. Matching numbers are a plus.

There is no way I would offer $400 for a rifle in that condition with a ground mum. That's a $200-$300 rifle where I live and one very similar is sitting on the rack at a local gun shop unsold for $299. I have seen similar condition rifles with mums for $300-$400 and rifles with dust covers and monopods for $400-$450.

Just to be clear, you know it's a type 38 carbine right? Not a regular 38 or 99?

I would say $350-425 based on gunbroker realized sales.

[HILLBILLY-06]

No rifle with a ground mum meets the excellent standard. Good condition is $175 assuming again, matching numbers and intact mum. A rifle can meet very good standards with a ground mum but must be near perfect in all other areas.

That Being said, why would anyone attempt to grind one? Or more important who would grind just that one place on a rifle? The other stamps just below it seem to be unground, so is there any reason to attempt this proceedure? I guess what I am asking is why would anyone ever do that?

[Patrick Chadwick]

That Being said, why would anyone attempt to grind one? Or more important who would grind just that one place on a rifle?

Apparently the Japanese did it themselves before surrendering weapons. The chrysanthemum symbol indicated that the weapon was the property of the emperor. If the weapon was to be handed over, then it had to be "de-emperored" to avoid foreigners handling the emperor's property. Or something like that. But since I have not been able to ask a Japanese soldier myself, I just accept what the books tell me!

[NRA]

The Mum is the symbol of the Emperor , the rifle with a MUM is regarded as the property of the Emperor .
The aggreement upon surrender was that the Mums be defaced which would make the surrendered weapon nothing but a rifle , this would 'keep face' for the Japanese troops .
This was McCarther's idea in order to make the transition peacefull as possible , same goes for letting the Emperor Hiro Hito to live and not be inprisoned , also he had to make public apperances to show the Japanese that he was not a messanger from God and just a real person

[Aragorn243]

Just to be clear, you know it's a type 38 carbine right? Not a regular 38 or 99?

I would say $350-425 based on gunbroker realized sales.

A regular type 38 rifle in that condition here is a $125-$175 rifle so yes, I am aware of that. They do not sell well with ground mums here. I paid in that ball park for one with a mum but the condition was not as nice. I watched a parts rifle with very little rifling in the bore and no bolt bring $125 because of a mum and rifles in good shooting condition with no mum sell for $65.

[bearrowland]

I'd jump on that rifle. It looks really good from here!

[riceone]

Thats not a bad price this day and time for a rifle that looks to be that good. Price is determined by how bad one wantes to sell and how bad one wants it. They are not like Ford truck, if you don't take this one there is another down the block. If I needed a carbine I would pay that for it. Course its just me, but I value finish of wood, metal and matchine number over a mum. After all defacing of the mum is part of the history.

[Detroit-1]

Thats not a bad price this day and time for a rifle that looks to be that good. Price is determined by how bad one wantes to sell and how bad one wants it. They are not like Ford truck, if you don't take this one there is another down the block. If I needed a carbine I would pay that for it. Course its just me, but I value finish of wood, metal and matchine number over a mum. After all defacing of the mum is part of the history.

I agree. I would much rather have a matching but ground mum than a non matching with mum. That said I have found when trying to sell a rifle at a gun show most people, who don't know Japanese guns at all, all they care about is the mum.