New to Me Japanese Arisaka, Type 38 6.5

Iron_Colonel · 11-17-2009, 03:18 AM

Well, I happened across an old beat up Arisaka Type 38 in 6.5. It took me a while to finally make the decision, when I saw an absolutely beautiful rifle down the aisle with a mum in tact same caliber. But this one was speaking to me. The character I think says enough. It does appear to have been actually struck by a bullet at some point. Bore is not as good as I had hoped, but not sure if that matters with the ding on the receiver. Shootable?

It was a rust bucket, and I couldn't allow it to be any longer. I have spent nearly 4 hours on the metal parts alone, taking every single piece off of the gun, clearing out any cosmo, and de-rustifying everything. Everything beneath the stock line and under handguard looked great. Bluing was in very good shape with help of cosmo. Top handguard has some splits. Also, recommendations for the stock? I'd like to put something on it that won't do any modifying, but I don't want to devalue it. I was thinking a good mineral spirits bath, and some BLO? Suggestions or thoughts on this. What did the Japanese finish their stocks with originally?

So I will post the video I made on my YT acct. Watch that first to see how bad it actually was. And the pics I will include are the after pics of my hours of work.

Link to Vid:

YouTube - Type 38 Japanese Arisaka Pt. 1

Link to the after Vid:

You Tube

Capt'n Mil Coll · 11-17-2009, 11:41 AM

No offense to ya IC but I dont think you have much to worry about devaluing it. I think you got her cleaned up and looking good and it only increases the value. I personally would not shoot the thing. But the bullet wound sure does make ya think doesnt it? I would not do anything with the bullet wound either.

AOM1Carbine · 11-17-2009, 11:56 AM

Yea It depends on when your rifle was made....as years went on in the war the steel quality went down the tubes so if its pre war it should be fine to shoot, maybe but if its during the war be careful and sand bag it and use a string or something....As for the stock I'm not sure, mine was cosmo'd and stuck in a closet after WWII till when I got in in early '09...It fuctions well and the safety works....it also has the mum

Ps. dont expect to find tons of ammo I have 20 rnds SP that norma makes but thats it. To be honest I havent even fired mine and its a pre war built type 38

But Good luck and be careful

AOM1Carbine · 11-17-2009, 11:56 AM

check my pics if you wanna see mine

Iron_Colonel · 11-17-2009, 07:52 PM

Any suggestions for preserving the stock on it? I was thinking of a few coats of BLO. The barrel channel and inside of the stock isn't bad, the cosmolene helped keep it looking good. But the outside looks like it has seen better days.

The only thing I would do to the bullet wound, that I haven't yet is get that rust out of there. Wasn't going to file it smooth or try to fill it in via welding. Anyone have any ideas on date of production? Thanks for the input guys. Best guess so far for date is a late 1930s production.

Capt'n Mil Coll · 11-18-2009, 12:54 PM

It looks like a series 22 which would put date of mfg between 1933 and 1940.

scroamer65 · 11-18-2009, 01:19 PM

There was a site that provided the date of manufacture and arsenal
by serial number. I don't have that info. handy. Now before I get pounded
I saw a book on Japanese rifles on, wait for it, eBay.com

. I also have seen referances on the internet, Arisaka rifle. The marking on
the receiver are the type and number of the rifle.
The bullet strike on the receiver is interesting, but I would have doubts
as shootability.

scroamer65 · 11-18-2009, 01:23 PM

The link posted by Oxford should provide some very valueable info.

Iron_Colonel · 11-18-2009, 10:01 PM

What happened to the link? Best source I have found so far is here: Markings on Japanese Arisaka Rifles and Bayonets of World War II

But I don't know if there is a way to narrow down the exact production year. Was anything ever published about the Type 38s about year of production? I know it was produced between the years of 1933 and 1940, but can we find a date for sure?

TheJoker · 12-06-2009, 08:08 PM

I was browsing around my local pawn shop last Friday. He has a lot of rifles all of the sudden. He had just put up for sale an Arisaka Type 38.

I gave it a quick look. The whole rifle was rather dark; but the mum was intact and all the pieces were there and looked right. The numbers I could see all matched. I didn't look down the barrel. I've already got a type 99, so at first I wasn't interested.

The more I think about it, I should have offered $150 for it.

11-17-2009, 11:41 AM	#2
Capt'n Mil Coll Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Right behind you. -NRA Member- Posts: 3,884	No offense to ya IC but I dont think you have much to worry about devaluing it. I think you got her cleaned up and looking good and it only increases the value. I personally would not shoot the thing. But the bullet wound sure does make ya think doesnt it? I would not do anything with the bullet wound either. __________________ Its going to take more than a zombie vampire lezibian biker whore to ruin my day. Last edited by Capt'n Mil Coll; 11-17-2009 at 11:45 AM.

11-17-2009, 07:52 PM	#5
Iron_Colonel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington St. Posts: 3,661	Any suggestions for preserving the stock on it? I was thinking of a few coats of BLO. The barrel channel and inside of the stock isn't bad, the cosmolene helped keep it looking good. But the outside looks like it has seen better days. The only thing I would do to the bullet wound, that I haven't yet is get that rust out of there. Wasn't going to file it smooth or try to fill it in via welding. Anyone have any ideas on date of production? Thanks for the input guys. Best guess so far for date is a late 1930s production. __________________ Mosin Nagant evangelist on a mission to convert YOU!

11-18-2009, 12:54 PM	#6
Capt'n Mil Coll Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Right behind you. -NRA Member- Posts: 3,884	It looks like a series 22 which would put date of mfg between 1933 and 1940. __________________ Its going to take more than a zombie vampire lezibian biker whore to ruin my day.

11-18-2009, 10:01 PM	#9
Iron_Colonel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington St. Posts: 3,661	What happened to the link? Best source I have found so far is here: Markings on Japanese Arisaka Rifles and Bayonets of World War II But I don't know if there is a way to narrow down the exact production year. Was anything ever published about the Type 38s about year of production? I know it was produced between the years of 1933 and 1940, but can we find a date for sure? __________________ Mosin Nagant evangelist on a mission to convert YOU!
	1 members found this post helpful.

12-06-2009, 08:08 PM	#10
TheJoker Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,099	I was browsing around my local pawn shop last Friday. He has a lot of rifles all of the sudden. He had just put up for sale an Arisaka Type 38. I gave it a quick look. The whole rifle was rather dark; but the mum was intact and all the pieces were there and looked right. The numbers I could see all matched. I didn't look down the barrel. I've already got a type 99, so at first I wasn't interested. The more I think about it, I should have offered $150 for it. __________________ "Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors... and miss." -- Lazarus Long

11-17-2009, 11:56 AM	#3
AOM1Carbine Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Connecticut Posts: 47	Yea It depends on when your rifle was made....as years went on in the war the steel quality went down the tubes so if its pre war it should be fine to shoot, maybe but if its during the war be careful and sand bag it and use a string or something....As for the stock I'm not sure, mine was cosmo'd and stuck in a closet after WWII till when I got in in early '09...It fuctions well and the safety works....it also has the mum Ps. dont expect to find tons of ammo I have 20 rnds SP that norma makes but thats it. To be honest I havent even fired mine and its a pre war built type 38 But Good luck and be careful

11-18-2009, 01:19 PM	#7
scroamer65 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 104	There was a site that provided the date of manufacture and arsenal by serial number. I don't have that info. handy. Now before I get pounded I saw a book on Japanese rifles on, wait for it, eBay.com . I also have seen referances on the internet, Arisaka rifle. The marking on the receiver are the type and number of the rifle. The bullet strike on the receiver is interesting, but I would have doubts as shootability.

11-18-2009, 01:23 PM	#8
scroamer65 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 104	The link posted by Oxford should provide some very valueable info.