This Japanese Type 38 Arisaka rifle is of circa 1936 production and is chambered in 6.5x50mm Arisaka. The receiver retains an intact chrysanthemum, and the rifle comes with its cleaning rod and original dust cover. The rifle is otherwise matching, with the dust cover numbered to another rifle, though it shows age and patina consistent with the rifle. Approximately 70 percent of the original blue remains. The bore is very bright with strong rifling for a bring back type38. The stock bears faint, period hand-engraved bring-back information attributed to T/Sgt. Arthur H. Lester of Buncombe County, North Carolina, and a later research tag accompanies the rifle. The attribution rests on that engraving and tag rather than on contemporary documentation. An excellent Type 30 bayonet with a sound original scabbard is included.
The Type 38 was adopted in 1906 and produced until 1944, with roughly three million rifles built across four arsenals: Tokyo from 1906 to 1932, Nagoya from 1932 to 1942, Kokura from 1937 to 1941, and Hoten from 1937 to 1944. The bolt dust cover was a response to experience in the Russo-Japanese War, where dust had left rifles inoperable, and the rifle mounted the 40 centimetre Type 30 bayonet. The sixteen petal chrysanthemum stamped on the receiver was the imperial ownership mark, signifying that the rifle was the property of the Emperor. Japanese regulations required the chrysanthemum to be removed from rifles leaving imperial service, and on surviving examples the seal is commonly found ground, filed, chiselled, or stamped over. Rifles with the seal still intact are generally those taken as trophies before the surrender, while defaced examples more often left service through official channels. The intact chrysanthemum on this rifle is therefore consistent with the engraved bring-back account, though on its own it does not establish it.
Specifications
Model: Type 38 Arisaka
Country of origin: Japan
Production: Circa 1936
Action: Bolt action
Caliber: 6.5x50mm Arisaka
Receiver: Intact chrysanthemum
Matching: Otherwise matching, dust cover numbered to another rifle
Finish: Approximately 70 percent original blue, scattered old inactive pitting
Bore: Unusually bright
Rifling: Strong
Stock: Faint period hand-engraved bring-back information
Provenance: Attributed to T/Sgt. Arthur H. Lester, Buncombe County, North Carolina, accompanied by a later research tag, not independently established
Included: Cleaning rod, original dust cover, Type 30 bayonet with original scabbard
