Type 38 Arisaka value?

zbones6 · February 27, 2012, 05:11 PM

Over the summer, my uncle gave me his Type 38 Arisaka. I have no intention of selling it, but I would like to know its value. The Mum was hastily defaced, but still recognizable. Besides the Mum, 99% of original bluing is intact, all serial numbers match, and, as a bring back, has no import markings. The bore is somewhat dark, but has no pitting and almost perfect rifling. The stock has scratches and dings here and there, with one large gauge on the left side by the receiver. The front sight base is present, but the sight post was drifted off the base and lost. Because its been sitting in my uncles attic for 50+ years (he got it from a vet) it is in very good shape.

arisaka number.jpg

arisaka mum.jpg

arisaka.jpg

ps, sorr for the poor quality photos

tater134 · February 27, 2012, 07:38 PM

That's a nice looking rifle. It was made at the Koishikawa arsenal in Tokyo sometime between 1906-1935. You should be able to find a front sight blade for the rifle or you could purchase a barrel cheap to take the front sight off of. As for value I would put it between $190-250 but prices can vary depending on where you are located.

Chris_B · February 27, 2012, 08:04 PM

Cool rifle. Supposedly it's one of the strongest actions used in WWII

zbones6 · February 28, 2012, 10:34 AM

I was wondering about the strength of the action. I know Arisakas have the strongest of WW II, but which series has the strongest, the 38's, or the 99's?

tater134 · February 28, 2012, 10:55 AM

Quote:

I know Arisakas have the strongest of WW II, but which series has the strongest, the 38's, or the 99's?

They should be about the same. The 99 is basically just a scaled up type 38 because it was made to fire the larger 7.7 round.

chiefr · February 28, 2012, 11:43 AM

I agree with Tater as far as what your rifle is worth. Arisakas with the mum intact are worth more.
Your action is in fact very strong. If I owned the rifle, I would have it checked out and shoot it. Type 38s with good bores are known for accuracy.

warbirdlover · February 28, 2012, 12:33 PM

I'm not sure how many of these were made late in the war but those might be weak as the US bombing destroyed their ability to heat treat steel. Example was their late production fighter planes landing gear were failing due to not being heat treated.

tater134 · February 28, 2012, 06:01 PM

Quote:

I'm not sure how many of these were made late in the war but those might be weak as the US bombing destroyed their ability to heat treat steel. Example was their late production fighter planes landing gear were failing due to not being heat treated.

Type 38 production ceased in 1940 before Japan and the US were at war so production was unaffected by material shortages or bombing.

doofus47 · March 1, 2012, 10:20 AM

Nice rifle. It's probably worth a couple hundred. Not as much as the familial historical value imho. A little bit defaced mum is equal to no mum for collectors.
My type 38 carbine was a great shooter. You should have fun with that.

zbones6 · March 1, 2012, 10:32 AM

A little bit defaced mum is like slightly corrosive ammo, or bieng slightly pregnant, eh?

gyvel · March 1, 2012, 10:57 AM

A defaced mum is the difference between a "batlefield pickup" and a "surrendered" gun.

Usually, the guns with defaced mums came out of collection depots, where GIs were allowed to pick one out and take it home with them.

On the other hand, a mum that has not been defaced often denotes that the rifle was picked up after a battle or taken from a Japanese soldier after a battle and kept as a souvenir, hence the relative scarcity.

Sadly, us kids who grew up in the 40s and 50s would often use these as playtoys, as Japanese guns in particular were not held in very high esteem. This accounts for some of the more abused looking guns, as they were often repeatedly dropped when the kid who was playing the "Jap" would be "shot and killed" in ""battle."

TX Hunter · March 3, 2012, 08:25 PM

The Photo is blurry, but that looks like a very nice Arasaka I would like to have one of those myself.

Gunplummer · March 5, 2012, 09:27 AM

In the last year I sold off my Arisaka collection at auction. Some of the 6.5's went a lot higher than I thought they would. The defaced MUM on the 6.5's really mean nothing as far as field pickups. Hundreds of thousands of 6.5's came in to the U.S. through other countries that inherited them after the war. The only 6.5's I had that were defaced were 1 or 2 carbines and a couple of remarked trainers or "Low quality" rifles for reserve use only. The field pick ups really did not bring more. I had some with schrapnel damage that went about average price. One that was burned on one side went pretty high, I guess flame thrower damage but I never was sure.

Gunplummer · March 5, 2012, 09:37 AM

I would go with the 6.5 as being stronger. The extractor cut on the 7.7 goes all the way through the receiver ring and the 6.5 only about half way. The base of the bolt handle is used as a third lug on the 6.5 and the bolt lugs are bigger on the 6.5 Other than that not much difference. I have about 8-9 Arisakas left, but only one in 6.5 All the rest I rebarreled to other calibers for hunting.

publius · March 13, 2012, 08:10 PM

I have a 6.5 with the mum intact, wish the overall rifle was in the shape of yours. I can't tell from the pic but it looks like they did a poor job of defacing the mum, Usually they have a shallow hacksaw mark or similar. Looks like yours was just hit with a little sandpaper. I'd try to clean that area up more with a bronxe brush and some Kroil. Fun rifles, and good cartridge, I've killed several pigs with mine. KEEP YOUR BRASS!

February 27, 2012, 05:11 PM	#1
zbones6 Member Join Date: December 29, 2011 Posts: 91	Type 38 Arisaka value? Over the summer, my uncle gave me his Type 38 Arisaka. I have no intention of selling it, but I would like to know its value. The Mum was hastily defaced, but still recognizable. Besides the Mum, 99% of original bluing is intact, all serial numbers match, and, as a bring back, has no import markings. The bore is somewhat dark, but has no pitting and almost perfect rifling. The stock has scratches and dings here and there, with one large gauge on the left side by the receiver. The front sight base is present, but the sight post was drifted off the base and lost. Because its been sitting in my uncles attic for 50+ years (he got it from a vet) it is in very good shape. arisaka number.jpg arisaka mum.jpg arisaka.jpg ps, sorr for the poor quality photos

March 1, 2012, 10:57 AM	#11
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	A defaced mum is the difference between a "batlefield pickup" and a "surrendered" gun. Usually, the guns with defaced mums came out of collection depots, where GIs were allowed to pick one out and take it home with them. On the other hand, a mum that has not been defaced often denotes that the rifle was picked up after a battle or taken from a Japanese soldier after a battle and kept as a souvenir, hence the relative scarcity. Sadly, us kids who grew up in the 40s and 50s would often use these as playtoys, as Japanese guns in particular were not held in very high esteem. This accounts for some of the more abused looking guns, as they were often repeatedly dropped when the kid who was playing the "Jap" would be "shot and killed" in ""battle." Last edited by gyvel; March 1, 2012 at 11:03 AM.

March 5, 2012, 09:37 AM	#14
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	Zbones6 I would go with the 6.5 as being stronger. The extractor cut on the 7.7 goes all the way through the receiver ring and the 6.5 only about half way. The base of the bolt handle is used as a third lug on the 6.5 and the bolt lugs are bigger on the 6.5 Other than that not much difference. I have about 8-9 Arisakas left, but only one in 6.5 All the rest I rebarreled to other calibers for hunting.

March 13, 2012, 08:10 PM	#15
publius Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2005 Location: Mississippi/Texas Posts: 2,505	I have a 6.5 with the mum intact, wish the overall rifle was in the shape of yours. I can't tell from the pic but it looks like they did a poor job of defacing the mum, Usually they have a shallow hacksaw mark or similar. Looks like yours was just hit with a little sandpaper. I'd try to clean that area up more with a bronxe brush and some Kroil. Fun rifles, and good cartridge, I've killed several pigs with mine. KEEP YOUR BRASS! __________________ "Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress, but I repeat myself." Mark Twain

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February 27, 2012, 07:38 PM	#2
tater134 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2009 Location: NE,PA Posts: 390	That's a nice looking rifle. It was made at the Koishikawa arsenal in Tokyo sometime between 1906-1935. You should be able to find a front sight blade for the rifle or you could purchase a barrel cheap to take the front sight off of. As for value I would put it between $190-250 but prices can vary depending on where you are located.

February 27, 2012, 08:04 PM	#3
Chris_B Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2007 Posts: 3,101	Cool rifle. Supposedly it's one of the strongest actions used in WWII

February 28, 2012, 10:34 AM	#4
zbones6 Member Join Date: December 29, 2011 Posts: 91	I was wondering about the strength of the action. I know Arisakas have the strongest of WW II, but which series has the strongest, the 38's, or the 99's?

February 28, 2012, 11:43 AM	#6
chiefr Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: AR Posts: 1,401	I agree with Tater as far as what your rifle is worth. Arisakas with the mum intact are worth more. Your action is in fact very strong. If I owned the rifle, I would have it checked out and shoot it. Type 38s with good bores are known for accuracy.

February 28, 2012, 12:33 PM	#7
warbirdlover Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2009 Location: central Wisconsin Posts: 2,324	I'm not sure how many of these were made late in the war but those might be weak as the US bombing destroyed their ability to heat treat steel. Example was their late production fighter planes landing gear were failing due to not being heat treated.

March 1, 2012, 10:20 AM	#9
doofus47 Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: live in a in a house when i'm not in a tent Posts: 2,483	Nice rifle. It's probably worth a couple hundred. Not as much as the familial historical value imho. A little bit defaced mum is equal to no mum for collectors. My type 38 carbine was a great shooter. You should have fun with that.

March 1, 2012, 10:32 AM	#10
zbones6 Member Join Date: December 29, 2011 Posts: 91	A little bit defaced mum is like slightly corrosive ammo, or bieng slightly pregnant, eh?

March 3, 2012, 08:25 PM	#12
TX Hunter Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2010 Location: East Texas USA Posts: 1,805	The Photo is blurry, but that looks like a very nice Arasaka I would like to have one of those myself.

March 5, 2012, 09:27 AM	#13
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	In the last year I sold off my Arisaka collection at auction. Some of the 6.5's went a lot higher than I thought they would. The defaced MUM on the 6.5's really mean nothing as far as field pickups. Hundreds of thousands of 6.5's came in to the U.S. through other countries that inherited them after the war. The only 6.5's I had that were defaced were 1 or 2 carbines and a couple of remarked trainers or "Low quality" rifles for reserve use only. The field pick ups really did not bring more. I had some with schrapnel damage that went about average price. One that was burned on one side went pretty high, I guess flame thrower damage but I never was sure.