Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com

[pasadena tim]

I recently aquired this Type 38. I was really impressed with these rifles. I always thought of the Japanese rifles as being poorly made and not attractive (I like my M-1 and 1903). However, I'm starting to gain more appreciation for these under rated rifles.

[gwsiii]

That's a nice one! They'll grow on you if you're not careful. I started with 1, in 1993. I have a few more than that now. Thanks for posting! Trey
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I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!

[Francis C. Allan]

Your rifle is indeed in very good condition. It is from the 26th Series made at the Kokura Army Arsenal in approximately April 1941. That is long before production quality declined as a result of Japan's declining position in WWII. The Kokura 26th Series is an incomplete series (normally each series has 100,000 units) so yours is a bit hard to find.

Generally, the severe decline in quality of Japanese rifles is restricted to the Type 99 short rifles, but all Japanese weapons tent to get tagged as poorly made as a result. The steady decline in quality of Type 99s is an interesting study in itself, but the Type 38s never really lost their high quality and your rifle is an excellent example of this.

Thanks for sharing the photos with us.

Frank
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Francis C. Allan
20Courtney Place
Palm Coast, FL 32137

(386) 445-4225

[Smokey]

Wait till you start shooting it! They can be real tack drivers. Additionally, the Type 38 is probably the strongest and safest bolt action rifle ever made.