Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com

gwsiii · Joined: Aug 21 2003 Posts: 2240 Location: Hayden, AL

Here is a SIG marked Type 38. Japan sold thousands of surplus Type 30's, 35's, and 38's to European countries, this one apparently visited Finland (indicative of S marked and numbered stock), and was possibly re-worked, re-numbered, and re-marked by , S.I.G. (Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft which is German for Swiss Industrial Society), in Neuhausen Schweiz. (which is German for Neuhausen Switzerland). The rifle was for sale in the last issue of BANZAI subscription information is here BANZAI subscription information. If you have one so marked, or any other information, please let us know.

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03man · Joined: Jul 30 2005 Posts: 131 Location: Denver, NC

Very interesting, thanks for the great picts.
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Edokko · Joined: Feb 12 2007 Posts: 57

Wow ! this is a truly unique variation !! How did a Finnish import end up in Switzerland ? Are there more of these known ??

03man · Joined: Jul 30 2005 Posts: 131 Location: Denver, NC

I'm wondering if the barrel is Sig made, with those nice marks. No reason to mark the original bbl?

Or perhaps they signify Swiss proof? and whats with the two newly added sets on numbers, one on the barrel and another on the front of the receiver? Proof record number? Barrel number? work order number?
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gwsiii · Joined: Aug 21 2003 Posts: 2240 Location: Hayden, AL

I may try look at the rifle again on Wednesday. If I can remember where I stashed Riceone's hammer Wink

, I'll try and 'break it down' and record the inspection marks on the barrel, if any. Trey
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I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!

ketoujin · Joined: Aug 12 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Oregon

SIG made approximately 8,000 7.62X54R barrels for the Finnish M91/24 Mosin in the mid-twenties. The rifles were amassed by the Finns after their 1917 civil war and war of independence from Russia. I would imagine that after Finnland received the Type 38s they wouldn't have hesitated to have the SIG supply a new barrel if one was needed.
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gwsiii · Joined: Aug 21 2003 Posts: 2240 Location: Hayden, AL

Thanks for the update, were the 7.62x54 barrels marked the same way? We're planning to due a complete disassembly after the oldeone returns from his next series of 'field trips'. I'll update the post when I have more information. I expect there will be a more detailed article in BANZAI as well. Trey
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03man · Joined: Jul 30 2005 Posts: 131 Location: Denver, NC

The obvious question, have you determined the chambering?
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Mike Rockhill · Joined: Jan 09 2006 Posts: 58 Location: SE Pennsylannia

Gunnars info is accurate. The finns got rifles form where ever they could but prefering mosin nagants. They also had barrels contracted from SIG, for many of their different rifles. I think in all cases rifles where left in their original chambering, oddball foreign stuff going to support units and infantry getting mosin nagants, to slightly simplify supply to those that most often needed it.
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