Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com

[gwsiii]

I saw an Oddly marked Type 38 today at the 'junk' show here in Birmingham:


What's most interesting about it is the Tokyo symbol overstamped on the mum indicating pull from active service, possibly for sale to a foreign country, then the triangular 'captured passed service inspection' mark on the barrel, and the (youth) kanji between the mum and 'type 38' markings. Also of note is the 'punch mark' or 'dot' to the right of the arsenal mark, and 'S' barrel proof mark.
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[Edokko]

Trey, the Tokyo arsenal logo overstamp does not necessarily indicate export of the particular rifle. It could be for any kind of reason where the rifle has been decomissioned from military service and surplused.
With your case, the rifle was surplused to the Youth Training School system and hence the Kanji "青 (Sei)" marked below the mum, as the initial Kanji for the word 青年訓練所 (Sei-nen Kunren-jo） meaning, you guessed it, Youth Training School. The double 0s on the left of the serial number also denotes the fact that the weapon has been taken out of official military use. Initial military documents requires an alphabet "S" on the left of the serial number, but for some reason your rifle has not been given this routine and stamped with the double 0s which is usually rsereved for normal school military training use with the "文" (bun) mark. Possibly to avoid confusion with the "S" code marking on the barrel chamber side.
There are yet to be discovered any documented fact on the meaning of the triangle mark over the chamber or the bridge. Indeed many apparently captured rifles do have the triangle mark but no document proof that triangle = capture. It could mean other things, like refurbish, or sub-par use etc.
The dot is probably just an anomaly.
Hope this helps.

[gwsiii]

Edokko, appreciate the clarification, there are actually 3-circles/o's preceeding the serial number, 3=veteran's associations, 2=school/youth
I noticed the 'punch marks' in the same places on another rework last night. I should probably go back through these things and see what's there. Trey

(edited 3/2 o/circles)
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I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!

[Edokko]

Trey, according to original military documents, the triple 0s are marked for the Vets association (在郷軍人会) surplus guns which will also be marked with the character "M" below the mum. So it seems like there were a quite rampant deviations on the actual markings.
The dot is interesting now that these apparently are not anomalies. I will need to look at my pieces for them too.

[gwsiii]

Things are winding down here, I'll try and go look through everything again tonight for 'punch marks' at barrel 'S' marking and at Arsenal logo. You don't think it was that the punch mark is located after the 'S' marking on 38s and after an 'added S' on the 44 carbine trainers do you? Trey
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I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!

[gwsiii]

I went through my 'keeper' pile, and remembered the other one with punch marks after the 'S' barrel proof and Arsenal mark is a 'beater', its 1434195. It also has the Tokyo overstamped mum, but no circles/zeros preceeding the serial number. It has punch mark to the right of the 'S' and to the right of arsenal mark, however the one to the right of the arsenal mark is in between the two 'small stamps' (2) which are encircled. Odd.
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[DEFUC]

My recent sei stamped tokyo didnt have the S by the serial number either ,it has a couple circles instead serial range is fairly close to that one also,ILL look for details when I get home, Im going gunshow tonight so it will be late .

[DEFUC]

Well I was wrong my sei stamped tokyo isnt anywhere close to that one...Its a 20th series 48610 (without sight guards) and its all matching ,however the safety is missing so its no help on resolving what one is correct..It has the 2 small circles instead of the S stamp by the serial number and after a little cleaning is in very good shape, I bought it cheap so a couple missing parts wasnt an issue,I wanted the receiver stamp,having a matching bolt body and dust cover as well as the correct original cleaning rod was a nice bonus for the $125 or so I paid

[Edokko]

Would LOVE to see pics of that $125 "Sei" T-38 !!

[DEFUC]

Oh my goodness,Edokko,Im sorry, I sent you an email back in febuary after it arrived,didnt realise it got lost in space its the "total beater" I discussed with you and its "sei" stamp before I bought it, I ended up giving $112 for it ,I just looked it up...when it came I sent an email because it had its matching dustcover and cleaning rod, Just missing the safety and pin (its got a mismatched Floor plate ,everything else there matches ,including the wood has the numbers to match the rest,everything is either mated to serial or to assembly number) and it has a decent finish ,lousy pictures on the ad, ILL get some posted here in the next day or so, Dave