Winchester model T38...

[amcorley]

Evening Gentlemen,

I purchased a Winchester in .243 on Saturday for only $199 and was pumped, where you can find Winchesters for that price!



Got home to do some research and spent 45 minutes doing online research to figure out what model it was. Couldn't nail down the model and did a search on "bolt actions with magazine release in trigger" and saw some foreign stuff that gave me a bad feeling. I then decided to pull the sight and front picatinny rail to see if there was a stamp on the receiver…



F**********************************K

So after more research I've determined its a 5th series Nagoya Arsenal T-38. Rebarreled for .243, aftermarket bolt, drilled and tapped for scopes. It shoots fine so the headspace was done correctly but I'm very annoyed I went from a Winchester to a 1930s Japanese rifle.

My question is, about what is it worth? My day or so of research leads me to believe there is little value in a sporterized Arisaka, with a decent, original mil spec model collecting between $200-$300. I don't mind the rifle but if $200 is more than this is worth I'm going back for at least a partial refund. Scope is a POS so no value there...

What do you guys think? Purpose for me is general hunting/plinking rifle so I'm really fine having a jap bolt action, It's more the circumstances from which I received it that **** me off. What do you guys think I should ask for back? $60-$100 or so?

Appreciate your responses.

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[amcorley]

[WarPig1976]

$200 for a deer rifle? Not bad, not bad at all. Shame a T38 with intact mum was destroyed. You didn't over pay IMO just didn't know what you were buying. It's up to you to either return it or keep it but like I said you weren't raped price wise.

[vintage hunter]

I agree with Warpig, there's no collector value but it looks to have been nicely done so if it shoots good and your happy with it then the price wasn't out of line at all for a hunting rifle.
One of my favorite deer rifles is a nicely done 1909 Argentine Mauser.

[amcorley]

Appreciate the responses gentlemen. I decided to keep it and was able to talk the shop into returning $30 and throw I'm a rifle bag. Upgraded the scope with that so I'm not sitting too bad. Thanks!

[jmoore]

It had a receiver sight on it when it was given to me. I added a Griffin & Howe mount with an old Weaver that had a Litchert 8x adaptor added. G&H specifically to preserve the top of the receiver ring!

One of the better shooting .220 Swifts I've run across.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

If you add up the individual prices of the barrel (and fitting), scope, (even a "budget" one), mount and fitting, sling, stock, bolt-handle mod etc, it would somewhat exceed what you paid for it. And then you swung a better deal from the shop! Good work.

If it shoots well, it was a bargain.

There was some interesting stuff "lying around" Hill AFB last time I was there in the 1990s; must dig out the photos.

Cheers from Oz..