Arisaka rifle question

jkwidener · July 18, 2010, 06:50 PM

I have had this rifle in the rack for a while now. I believe it is a type 38 and is also a school "training" rifle. can anyone else help me with the markings? I believe the three circles inside the mum and the 000 before the serial number make it a training rifle, doesnt it? Here are some pictures.

Slamfire · July 18, 2010, 06:57 PM

Looks like a sporterized service rifle.

It does not look like my training rifle. Mine has a cast iron receiver and the barrel is sleeved into the receiver and does not have rifling.

One shot in a true training rifle and you would be picking iron fragments out of your head.

tater134 · July 18, 2010, 06:58 PM

Not one of the purpose built trainers but a type 38 carbine that was removed from service and used for training at schools.Unlike the trainers that are around that should not be fired most school rifles are safe to shoot as long as there are no major issues.Just keep in mind that these were removed from service for a reason and may have poor bore or other issues.Since yours has been sporterized I wouldnt be too worried about it having any problems.

Slamfire · July 18, 2010, 06:59 PM

More pictures.

See the wear from the Cadets hand on the barrel?

jkwidener · July 18, 2010, 07:05 PM

Here is a picture of the bolt from mine.

jkwidener · July 18, 2010, 07:24 PM

what are these guns worth now days? Mine does have nice rifleing...

James K · July 19, 2010, 01:01 PM

Tater 134 is correct, it is not a so-called "training rifle." That rifle is a standard Type 38 that was transferred to school use. The "cannon balls" overstamp on the "mum" indicates it was processed out of service at Kokura Arsenal. The added zeros are just to make the serial number invalid in military records. The top symbol, between the "mum" and the "3 8 type" indicates the rifle was diverted to school use.

Those rifles could be and were fired and were used for military training at the college level. The so-called "training rifles" that were made to fire only blanks were intended for programs in the equivalent of high school.

Barring any problems, it should be safe to shoot.

FWIW, while I am no expert on the values of Japanese rifles today, those school rifles should bring a good price. Not only are they different from the ordinary "bringback", they are usually in excellent condition, having been transferred to the school long before the war and having remained there through the war years, being well maintained.

Jim

jkwidener · July 19, 2010, 04:30 PM

Thank You everyone for the help, it is greatly appreciated. Does anyone have a magizine box with mag spring and floor plate for this rifle?

ISC · July 20, 2010, 09:31 AM

Unfortunately, the fact that it was sporterized radically reduces it's value.

James K · July 20, 2010, 07:55 PM

For those parts, try www.gunpartscorp.com but note that the magazine spring is common to the Type 38 and Type 99.

Jim

SigP6Carry · July 21, 2010, 10:37 PM

beautiful gun, still. I love seeing arisakas with the mum intact! Mind if I ask how you came about that beauty?

jkwidener · July 22, 2010, 04:07 AM

I found it at an auction.

July 18, 2010, 06:50 PM	#1
jkwidener Member Join Date: July 5, 2010 Posts: 18	Arisaka rifle question I have had this rifle in the rack for a while now. I believe it is a type 38 and is also a school "training" rifle. can anyone else help me with the markings? I believe the three circles inside the mum and the 000 before the serial number make it a training rifle, doesnt it? Here are some pictures.

July 18, 2010, 06:57 PM	#2
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	Looks like a sporterized service rifle. It does not look like my training rifle. Mine has a cast iron receiver and the barrel is sleeved into the receiver and does not have rifling. One shot in a true training rifle and you would be picking iron fragments out of your head. __________________ If I'm not shooting, I'm reloading.

July 18, 2010, 06:59 PM	#4
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	More pictures. See the wear from the Cadets hand on the barrel? __________________ If I'm not shooting, I'm reloading.

July 19, 2010, 01:01 PM	#7
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Tater 134 is correct, it is not a so-called "training rifle." That rifle is a standard Type 38 that was transferred to school use. The "cannon balls" overstamp on the "mum" indicates it was processed out of service at Kokura Arsenal. The added zeros are just to make the serial number invalid in military records. The top symbol, between the "mum" and the "3 8 type" indicates the rifle was diverted to school use. Those rifles could be and were fired and were used for military training at the college level. The so-called "training rifles" that were made to fire only blanks were intended for programs in the equivalent of high school. Barring any problems, it should be safe to shoot. FWIW, while I am no expert on the values of Japanese rifles today, those school rifles should bring a good price. Not only are they different from the ordinary "bringback", they are usually in excellent condition, having been transferred to the school long before the war and having remained there through the war years, being well maintained. Jim Last edited by James K; July 19, 2010 at 01:06 PM.

July 21, 2010, 10:37 PM	#11
SigP6Carry Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2009 Posts: 1,086	beautiful gun, still. I love seeing arisakas with the mum intact! Mind if I ask how you came about that beauty? __________________ -liberal gun nut = exception to the rule- -1.24274238 miles, because Russians don't need scopes- -Gun control was the Klan's favorite law, how can you advocate a set of laws designed to allow the denigration of a people?-

July 18, 2010, 06:58 PM	#3
tater134 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2009 Location: NE,PA Posts: 390	Not one of the purpose built trainers but a type 38 carbine that was removed from service and used for training at schools.Unlike the trainers that are around that should not be fired most school rifles are safe to shoot as long as there are no major issues.Just keep in mind that these were removed from service for a reason and may have poor bore or other issues.Since yours has been sporterized I wouldnt be too worried about it having any problems.

July 18, 2010, 07:05 PM	#5
jkwidener Member Join Date: July 5, 2010 Posts: 18	Here is a picture of the bolt from mine.

July 18, 2010, 07:24 PM	#6
jkwidener Member Join Date: July 5, 2010 Posts: 18	what are these guns worth now days? Mine does have nice rifleing...

July 19, 2010, 04:30 PM	#8
jkwidener Member Join Date: July 5, 2010 Posts: 18	Thank You everyone for the help, it is greatly appreciated. Does anyone have a magizine box with mag spring and floor plate for this rifle?

July 20, 2010, 09:31 AM	#9
ISC Junior member Join Date: August 5, 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,982	Unfortunately, the fact that it was sporterized radically reduces it's value.

July 20, 2010, 07:55 PM	#10
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	For those parts, try www.gunpartscorp.com but note that the magazine spring is common to the Type 38 and Type 99. Jim

July 22, 2010, 04:07 AM	#12
jkwidener Member Join Date: July 5, 2010 Posts: 18	I found it at an auction.