Nearly unissued Type 44 (1st variation bayonet and muzzle cover)

[lthilsdorf]

Placed an absentee bid on a Type 44 and won it for what I think was a decent priceof $475 plus the fee to transfer it. It was listed as an "Old German Army Rifle (Possibly Japanese or SKS)" and noted that it wouldn't fire. I've always wanted one but didn't care to pay the huge prices I see them listed for. Originally I only had one photo to go by, so I asked for a few more. Luckily these photos confirmed to me why the rifle was "unfireable". Seems someone lost the firing pin spring at some point.

It's in pristine condition and seems to not have been refinished. Several cartouches are visible on the stock. I was able to free the bolt, but found the trigger sear was broken (or I broke it somehow....). The trigger is even the same assembly number. The muzzle cover does indeed appear to be the Variation 1 cover, which is very exciting!

I ordered a new trigger sear set and a firing pin spring from Liberty Tree, so hopefully that will help. Is there a way to replace the new trigger I'll be receiving with the original one I have? It seems the trigger is held in the sear with a rivet that isn't able to be removed. Any help with this would be much appreciated!

It's covered in cosmoline and grease, especially in the action and under the woodline. The bore is absolutely pristine and the stop has only minor scuff marks on it. The bolt appears to be a mismatch as the parts are marked "430" while the assembly number under the wood is "413". All the other small parts are marked "413" (Bayonet, trigger, bolt stop, etc).

The auctioneer told me it was actually one of his relatives (his uncle?) who brought it back. The uncle gave it to the auctioneer's brother at some point. This brother decided to move to Florida recently and placed this gun in the auction. While I didn't get a name, the auctioneer said the vet was in both World War 2 and Korea. I was able to find a gentleman with the same last name and the same area of PA who was in the 1st Cavalry Division during Korea and was wounded in Sept 1950, which matches what the auctioneer told me about the relative who owned it. I can't find any information on his World War 2 service though. I see the 1st Cavalry did fight in the Pacific, so I'm guessing he served in the division during that war as well. I'm going to continue to try and find out.

Anyway, this is one of the more exciting finds I've had in the last year or so. Here are a few photos!

Information

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[browningautorifle]

First, you didn't break that so don't worry. When you get the parts you'll see they go together just the way that one came apart. By the way, that's a Japanese Type 44 Cavalry Carbine...just a bit hard to find. One just sold on Icollector for $1900USD... Japanese Type 44 Cavalry Carbine with Sling and Bayonet


The guys will be here shortly to talk about it...

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Oh my! It would be hard to beat that one. Lovley finish.

[PRWM1]

"One of the most exciting finds in a year or so"?? Are you accustomed to these kind of finds regularly?

That is an awesome find!! Just finding a T38 in that good of shape would be awesome.

The closest I've been to a T44 find is a barreled action minus bolt. Congratulations!

[Aragorn243]

Museum piece, nice.

[browningautorifle]

In 2009 on Gunboards, a muzzle cap alone sold for $375... Here's the link, look. WTS Type 44 Muzzle Protector

[lthilsdorf]

Thanks guys! I consider this one a really lucky find. I guess only one other guy was bidding on it at the auction and he didn't actually know what it was. Just goes to show! That muzzle cover alone seems worth most of the price I paid. And the condition of the rifle minus the 2 missing/broken parts is amazing! Certainly guessing this was an arsenal find. If the vet was part of the 1st Cavalry Division as I suspect, he did 5 years of occupation duty in Japan. This rifle is almost too nice to have come from a battlefield.

I'm hoping there is a way I can at the very least install the old, properly marked trigger into the new sear I receive. It looks like a little rivet holds it in place, so I'd have to find someone who had knowledge of working with the kind of thing. I just consider myself lucky the only other missing part is the firing pin spring.

I also hope I can find out more about the GI who brought it back. While I'm pretty sure he is passed, the auctioneer said the relative the vet gave the gun to has moved to Florida. I might try and see if the auctioneer will get me his contact info so I can find out a bit about where he served.

[browningautorifle]

Re-installing the trigger won't be hard and should go as you think. The firing pin spring should be able to be gleaned from other Arisaka rifles...someone here will know for sure. That's where I'd start though, then it will be about correct. Yes, it's a fine catch.

[lthilsdorf]

I wasn't too worried about reinstalling the sear with the trigger in it, but the trigger itself. It seems the trigger was held into the sear by a rivet which can't just be pulled out. If I want to have the old, matching trigger installed into the sear I'm guess it won't me as easy to do.

[browningautorifle]

So, just use a different pin to hold it in place.