+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13

Thread: Type 38 info

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Legacy Member chun12's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last On
    02-03-2024 @ 01:50 PM
    Location
    Norman, OK
    Posts
    15
    Real Name
    Douglas Chun
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    02:43 PM

    Type 38 info

    I am trying to decipher some of the markings on my rifle, any help is most appreciated. I do not have the dust cover unfortunately.
    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.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    Legacy Member Eaglelord17's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Last On
    Today @ 08:26 AM
    Location
    Sault Ste. Marie, ON
    Posts
    1,257
    Real Name
    A.N.
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    02:43 PM
    They all had dust covers fitted originally, any without it is because at some point someone removed it.

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    Contributing Member Singer B's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 04:14 PM
    Location
    Desert Hot Springs, California
    Posts
    1,053
    Real Name
    Walt Meyer
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    01:43 PM
    The dust covers are a pain in the you-know-what. Beautiful gun. Looks like the metal and wood have been refinished. Based upon the clarity of the buttstock markings, it doesn't look like it has been sanded. I have not seen many Type 38s so my question to the experts is do you see many where the wood is all uniform in type and color as on this rifle?

  6. #4
    Legacy Member chun12's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last On
    02-03-2024 @ 01:50 PM
    Location
    Norman, OK
    Posts
    15
    Real Name
    Douglas Chun
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    02:43 PM
    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by Singer B View Post
    The dust covers are a pain in the you-know-what. Beautiful gun. Looks like the metal and wood have been refinished. Based upon the clarity of the buttstock markings, it doesn't look like it has been sanded. I have not seen many Type 38s so my question to the experts is do you see many where the wood is all uniform in type and color as on this rifle?
    I don’t recall if it was refinished, I haven’t touched it and bought it as is a long time ago. Unfortunately I didn’t save the listing off of guns America. But it does look really good and nice. I have out 3 rounds through it total to make sure it fires and then cleaned it. I also cannot get the Ammo.

  7. #5
    Legacy Member jangle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Last On
    03-25-2024 @ 09:49 AM
    Location
    O-hi-O
    Posts
    86
    Real Name
    James
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    02:43 PM
    Ok, I'll try to make this as brief as possible without trying to get confusing.
    Your rifle was originally manufactured by the Koishikawa Army Arsenal in approximately the 1922 time frame, then was re-arsenaled at the Kokura Army Arsenal, 2nd Manufacturing Plant sometime after November of 1933.

    When originally made in 1922 time frame, all of the small parts on your rifle were matched to the sub-assembly number located on the bottom of the receiver (549 on your rifle). When going through the re-arsenal process, they normally issued a new bolt numbered to the last 3 digits of serial and reused or replaced any other worn small parts without regard to numbering to rifle. Your stock is also an original finish replacement done at this time. The original rifle was in good enough condition to refurbish instead of turning it into a school marked rifle.
    Your rifle is in original refinished condition and is a very nice representative of the re-arsenal process.

  8. Thank You to jangle For This Useful Post:


  9. #6
    Legacy Member chun12's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last On
    02-03-2024 @ 01:50 PM
    Location
    Norman, OK
    Posts
    15
    Real Name
    Douglas Chun
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    02:43 PM
    Thread Starter
    Jangle, that’s so cool! Really neat stuff, I’m going to have to read up some more! I thought it looked really nice compared to the other examples at the time of being bought. Thank you so much for the info! I did get your email.

  10. #7
    Legacy Member Salt Flat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 03:57 PM
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    760
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    11:43 AM
    Yes, that is a nice original finish rifle. With the mum and matching parts its as good as it gets. Most of the 38s You encounter are in very worn condition, have beat up dark oil soaked stocks or have a ground mum or not matching numbers. I have one with the mum in nice condition but the numbers don't match. IMHO I really don't care about the dust covers (unless they came with the rifle and are matching). There is a reason the dust covers are hard to find-- many were probably tossed by the troops. Salt Flat

  11. #8
    Legacy Member bob q's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Last On
    03-20-2024 @ 10:15 PM
    Location
    north texas
    Posts
    444
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    01:43 PM
    All type-38's came with dust covers . There were no parts being excluded from T-38 rifles during production . That only applies to Type-99 rifles .

  12. #9
    Legacy Member chun12's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Last On
    02-03-2024 @ 01:50 PM
    Location
    Norman, OK
    Posts
    15
    Real Name
    Douglas Chun
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    02:43 PM
    Thread Starter
    @Salt Flat, thanks! I guess I got lucky, the only thing I recall when I was searching is I wanted one with the “mum” and this one was the nicest, if I recall correctly I paid about 400 USD for a 2014ish.

  13. #10
    Contributing Member Singer B's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 04:14 PM
    Location
    Desert Hot Springs, California
    Posts
    1,053
    Real Name
    Walt Meyer
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    01:43 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by jangle View Post
    Ok, I'll try to make this as brief as possible without trying to get confusing.
    Your rifle was originally manufactured by the Koishikawa Army Arsenal in approximately the 1922 time frame, then was re-arsenaled at the Kokura Army Arsenal, 2nd Manufacturing Plant sometime after November of 1933.

    When originally made in 1922 time frame, all of the small parts on your rifle were matched to the sub-assembly number located on the bottom of the receiver (549 on your rifle). When going through the re-arsenal process, they normally issued a new bolt numbered to the last 3 digits of serial and reused or replaced any other worn small parts without regard to numbering to rifle. Your stock is also an original finish replacement done at this time. The original rifle was in good enough condition to refurbish instead of turning it into a school marked rifle.
    Your rifle is in original refinished condition and is a very nice representative of the re-arsenal process.
    A couple of months ago, you helped identify my Type 38 as being manufactured in 1921. Only two parts (the safety knob and the magazine floorplate) have non-matching numbers with the rest of the rifle. Could this have occurred during an arsenal refurbishment as you described in this thread? Thank you for your help and I enjoy learning new things from your posts.

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Type 99 Seeking More Info
    By stoyle in forum Japanese Rifles
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 06-01-2020, 09:11 AM
  2. New Memeber Type 99 Rifle Info
    By jheckert1974 in forum Milsurps General Discussion Forum
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 12-13-2017, 07:27 AM
  3. Info on a couple of Type 38s.
    By Anzac15 in forum Japanese Rifles
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 06-03-2013, 08:45 PM
  4. Info on my Type 99 Arisaka please :)
    By rcgoodall93 in forum Japanese Rifles
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 01-09-2012, 01:02 PM
  5. Type 97 Sniper Info.?
    By stryker in forum Japanese Rifles
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 03-27-2009, 04:59 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks