Japanese Type 38 rifle

[mvmhm]

Yesterday I received a Type 38 Arisaka rifle (6.5mm) - what makes it special for us is that it was a war trophy of Chaplain Robert I. Brown, who served as one of the Protestant Chaplains here at the VA campus. In World War II, he served in the Navy as a Pharmacist Mate, and at the end of the war took this rifle from a pile of surrendered weapons.....it also had a bayonet which has been misplaced.

A little history of Chaplain Brown's ship: YMS-309 (Minesweeper) -Participated in the invasion of Okinawa. Swept mines on both the western and eastern side of Okinawa. After the war was ordered to Sasebo,Japan,Nov.1945,to sweep for new type acoustic mines. Late Nov. ordered to Inland Sea where she swept mines at Hiroshima channels and the naval harbor of Kure. Returned to Pearl Harbor in late Dec. 1945.

Mark sends

 

[mvmhm]

Markings on the receiver...

[mvmhm]

and on the stock..the larger characters are "57".

 

[mvmhm]

The serial number is in the 513,XXX range, so I believe this is a Series 0 produced at Koishikawa /Tokyo (and it has that maker mark) prior to 1935. I need to replace the hanguard...and when it came in the receiver was taped to the stock (someone took the screws out of the trigger guard and put them in reversed so I just swapped them and it's good to go...they also jammed the safety knob after taking it apart....managed to get the bolt apart and reassembled correctly. I looked down the bore and it's blocked by something...but not in the receiver or near the end of the barrel, so maybe it's just some hardened cosmoline or something....

[mvmhm]

...some pics of the Padre from WWII and as a Chaplain....

 

 

Mark sends

[sundance]

Do the numbers on the stock mean it's a school rifle? Nice prize and it's great to see 3 people really excited about it. We're seeing a lot of Pacific theater stuff lately which I'm happy to see.

[mvmhm]

...and it came with a plaque the family made..it's about 4X4 inches, but the nomenclature is incorrect.....

 

 

Mark sends

 

[mvmhm]

Do the numbers on the stock mean it's a school rifle? Nice prize and it's great to see 3 people really excited about it. We're seeing a lot of Pacific theater stuff lately which I'm happy to see.

 

 

I have no idea...there's a "3" painted on the other side.......and the family didn't know exactly where he got it....just that they were told to take one rifle from the pile....you can faintly see the edges of the mum...

 

 

Mark sends

[Blu1989]

Do the numbers on the stock mean it's a school rifle? Nice prize and it's great to see 3 people really excited about it. We're seeing a lot of Pacific theater stuff lately which I'm happy to see.

 

You hit the nail on the head sundance. The double zeros in front of the serial number are a dead giveaway to a removed from service rifle. I suspect that had the mum been present it would have been cancelled out as well. It should have rifling in the barrel unlike a training rifle which would be a smooth bore so it should be ok to shoot rounds in it as long as the headspace is ok. That is a very great find and glad to know it comes from someone so special .

[ScottG]

Nice find Mark, you should check with the family as the plaque says type 44 and you have a type 38. The two are vastly different unlike the 38 and 99. Maybe they have the 44 as well? Type 44s are pretty cool with the folding bayonets and all. Still, a great piece and from a great source as well! Scott

[mvmhm]

Right, I noted in the picture I posted that the nomenclature is incorrect....I'll probably have this remade so that the rates are correct as well....this is the only thing they have, unless they can find the bayonet that was with it....

 

Mark sends