Japanese Type 38 training rifle questions

[AZPhil]

Hello Gent's
I have a co worker who's grandfather was in the occupational forces after WW2 in Japan. He brought in this type 38 but it's not your normal 38. The bolt catch/release looks like this
Attachment 79996

The only marking on the rifle is a 4 digit serial number. So my thought are its a trainer/school rifle.
Anybody else ever see this type of bolt catch/release like this?

Semper Fi
Phil

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Aragorn243]

I have seen it but I can't remember where. It is definitely a training rifle if not a young cadet school rifle.

Still never ceases to amaze me that they put so much effort into non-functioning rifles.

[karl schmidt]

Is it rifled or smooth bore? The trainers were usually smooth bore since they were for shooting blanks, why waste the effort to rifle them.

[AZPhil]

Its a smooth bore and the bolt configuration is not like your normal type 38 bolt. This is defiantly a blank shooter.

I posted this stock stamping on another site and found that it translates to the "Hirakawa Youth School" Which had students from age 12 to 19.

Attachment 80186

Thanks for taking a look
Semper Fi
Phil

[jangle]

Collectors refer to this as a 7/8th scale smooth bore child's trainer. It's smaller than a T-38 rifle.

[AZPhil]

I would have to double check that. I handled the rifle and also have a type 38 sitting in my safe. This rifle was the normal type 38 length.

Semper Fi
Phil