This Japanese Type 38 Arisaka rifle is an “Izawa Type” training rifle built for training purposes only. It was not intended to fire standard 6.5x50mmSR Arisaka rounds but rather less powerful blanks. The barrel is smooth bore. Blanks and sometimes wooden bullets would be used for training only.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD FULL POWER 6.5x50mmSR Arisaka (6.5 Jap) AMMUNITION BE USED IN THIS RIFLE.

This rifle is in good condition. The wood of the stock and hand guard has minor dings and scratches common to surplus of this era. There is no splitting or cracking evident. The finish shows minor wear with some spots of abrasion loss. Right side butt stock has a paint mark.

The metal has extensive finish loss that has mostly given over to patina. There is no active rust on any of the metal but there is some rust staining on the bolt. The bolt has a clean bolt face and receiver chamber is clean with minor wear. The smooth bore shows only minor wear.

This rifle includes the dust cover. This rifle does not include the cleaning rod.

DISCLAIMER ON FIRING

This Arisaka Type 38 is a training rifle.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FIRE WITH EITHER SURPLUS, CONTEMPORARY OR HAND LOAD AMMUNITION! USE OF SUCH AMMUNITION COULD RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FIREARM AS WELL AS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE SHOOTER.

This rifle was built to use under powered blank cartridges. Before attempting to use blank rounds a consultation with a reputable gunsmith should be had to determine the integrity of the rifle as well as the power of the blank.

After WWII Arisaka Type 38 rifles earned a reputation in the United States for exploding. This was not due to the rifle’s quality. Many G.I.s brought back Type 38s but because of the visual similarity could not tell the difference between a military issue versus training rifle. Many training rifles over the years have been destroyed as a result of this confusion.

The Type 38 rifle was a Japanese bolt-action rifle developed in 1906 by Major Kijiro Nambu to address issues with the earlier Type 30 rifle, which had reliability problems during the Russo-Japanese War. The Type 38 featured a simplified bolt with fewer parts and often included a dust cover. It was named for being introduced in the 38th year of the Meiji period and was chambered in 6.5x50mmSR Arisaka.

Used extensively during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, the Type 38 was later supplemented but not entirely replaced by the Type 99 chambered in 7.7mm. Variants included a short rifle, carbine, cavalry carbine, and sniper version. Other nations copied or adapted the rifle, including China and Mexico—the latter ordering 50,000 rifles in 7x57mm Mauser, which were ultimately sold to Russia due to the Mexican Revolution.

After WWII, some captured Type 38 rifles in Southeast Asia were converted to 7.62x39mm and used alongside SKS and Type 56 rifles.

The rifle saw much use around the world. It is believed 2,999,200 units were produced along with 579,300 carbines and 403,000 other units.

Japanese characters – left side butt stock

Japanese characters (Izawa) – top front receiver

48 – front right stock