Any Arisaka experts out there?

yblockhead

August 12, 2013 20:08

Is there a way to date my type 38 Arisaka rifle? I picked one up with the double circle markings instead of mum (not ground). I Know that it was turned over as a school rifle from what I found on the internet. Looking at it, I would assume that it was an earlier production by the finish. I am working on pictures to post so please be patient. Thanks!

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  45er

  August 12, 2013 21:44

  Howdy yblock,
  
  This may help, if have not seen?...
  
  http://www.cruffler.com/trivia-September00.html
  
  According to Duncan McCollum's book, production started in Koshikawa arsenal 1906-ca, with Nagoya arsenal starting up in 1923-ca. Both ending T-38 production in 1940 as the T-99 became standard.
  (This does not include the two China or Korea occupied arsenals who also made T-38's, as I do not believe pretains to School Rifles?)
  
  If you can find the Arsenal & Series, this will help narrow production time somewhat. There are also a bunch of minor variences as production continued that help narrow, too.
  
  But even with all that, highly doubt if year can be found with any accuracy?
  
  Maybe someone else here better informed will know more?
  
  EDIT Just remembered-- a lack of a series marking, (meaning pre-series), will date to early production.
  45er

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  p3skyking

  August 13, 2013 06:23

  Photos would help a bunch. Is it concentric circles? Does it have two zeros stamped in front of the serno? Type 38's are very hard to pin an actual year on, usually the best that can be done is a range of probable years.
  There are so many nuances that have to be taken into account when dealing with Arisakas that it'a almost impossible to acertain without clear and in focus macro photos unless you are very familiar with them.

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  Fatstrat

  August 17, 2013 12:24

  Let me get this straight. You've got double circles on top of receiver, but no Mum? School gun should have both or none (as in ground). Check the bore to see if it has rifling.

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  yblockhead

  August 18, 2013 05:57

  Lets see if I did this photo thing right..... As from what I found so far it the double circles mean that it was not issued to the Army, but for prisons/guards etc. The "X" looking character meant training, and the rest identify it as a type 38. It looks like all of the markings are original and not ground/restamped. I don't have and photos of the s/n (1852) but the s/n does not have any zeros in front. My Japanese friends tell me that the character on the stock means "to shoot/for shooting" or roughly that. And yes, the barrel is rifled.

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  yblockhead

  August 18, 2013 06:03

  
  
  I should have read the directions better!

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