[Bigdibbs88]

Guys-

i could use some help....ive had a few 99's am unfamiliar with 38's. Heres my best explanation. The bolt and safety numbers match the receiver, extractor numbers are so small i cant tell (think it might be mismatched), and the firing pin appears unnumbered. The mum is untouched and so is the wood....still some small cartouches on it. I would say bluing is 85-90%. A little discoloration on the "in the white" bolt. Cleaning rod but no dust cover or sling. Bore is about an 6-7/10....hard to tell as it looks dirty inside.

Here are my concerns...should the firing pin be numbered? also, on 99's the bayo lug is numbered, on this 38 it is not....is this normal? I see no numbers anywhere besides the bolt parts and the receiver. Help? Lastly, i read somewhere that 38s all had peep sites...i cant totally remember but this one looks like it has the v notch but it looks like its been on the rifle forever...

I know theres many variables as i dont know the maker or series....but can you give me an idea of value? Price tag was $200.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

-BD

 

[Bigdibbs88]

nobody?

 

[Vicasoto]

Hi Bigdibbs88 :

You present a number of questions without pictures or the data necessary to make an objective evaluation. Some fellows have been taken to task and ridiculed for being too cheap or too generous in their pricing something like this.
I saw your question yesterday and hoped someone else would pipe in with an answer and opinion. Looks like no one wants to tackle it today, so I will give you my opinion and that is all it is, that and a buck still won't get you a cup of coffee at Denny's .
Lesson # 1 , the majority of the Type 38 actions had an open V-rear sight leaf, it is only on the later 1930s Nagoya and some very late 1943 production Mukden 38
that had peep rear sights.
Lesson # 2 , the majority of the Type 38 actions were numbered by two systems : a) by the assembly number under the receiver on all interior and exterior parts, and b) by a combination of both the last one to three digits of the rifle serial number on some external parts and the rest by the assembly under the receiver.
In most cases the front barrel band was numbered to the assembly number or the last digits of the rifle serial number. Some 38 actions like the 97 Kokura had unnumbered bayonet lugs on the front band.
There are many cases where firing pins were replaced and one manufacturer is famous for using unnumbered but correctly proofed firing pins. As long as the pin tip has the proper protrusion there should not be any reason for concern.
As far as the price tag it could be from too cheap to too expensive, without more details this is the best that can be said. Good luck !
Vicasoto

 

[Bigdibbs88]

vicasoto- thank you you are helpful as always and that helps immensely. im trying to get the rifle for $175....i think it would be hard to lose at that price. Ill be going back monday hopefully to grab it and will post pics.

 

[Bigdibbs88]

went back today and snapped a few pics. appears to be a kokura series 25? i believe kokura is far and away the most common maker of the t38, but how about the series? can anyone give me an idea of rairty/ value and date of manufacture? the rifle is pretty dirty i think it would clean up better. i also confirmed that the bayonet lug is unnumbered. thanks!

 

[Detroit-1]

If the bore is good for 175.00 or 200.00 by it. 25's are not uncommon. In Frank Allan and Harold W. macy's book '' The Type 38 Arisaka'' They were made May through December 1940.

 

[arisakadogs]

What about the floor plate? It should be numbered on the inside lip

 

[jac72t]

Bigdibbs
This is all from memory so I hope I have it right.

For a 25th series Kokura T38, neither the front nor the rear band will be numbered. The front band should bear the Kokura inspector's mark that looks like this: tz

The striker is not numbered and neither is the follower but both should have the "tz" symbol. The follower should be a bright fire blue. The bolt and the safety should be numbered to the rifle's SN.

Pull open the bolt release and you'll see the rifle's assembly number that is generally a symbol followed by a 3 digit number that differs from the last 3 of the rifle's SN. The assembly number also appears on the extractor. This explains your observation that the extractor is "mismatched." It probably isn't. The floorplate is numbered to the rifle's SN and the last 3 digits are on the inside edge of the floorplate. You must pop off the floorplate to see the number.

The cleaning rod should be bright finish. The keel of the stock should be marked with the Kokura "Ko" symbol that looks like a chicken foot and farther back, with the "tz" mark.

When you break down the rifle, the assembly number is marked on the bottom of the receiver and on the triggerguard, upper and lower tangs, and the mag well. I recall that it's also on the sear or trigger -- can't recall at the moment without recourse to my notes.

The inside of the barrel channel and the inside of the handguard are also numbered. I seem to recall that the numbers match the assembly number, but maybe it's the rifle's SN. I"ll check my notes tonight and let you know for sure.

 

[Bigdibbs88]

@Detroit- thank you for the value insight and production estimate.
@arisakadogs- i didnt have the knowledge go pop the floorplate....will go back soon and have a look!

Jac- thats extremely helpful thank you! that sounds pretty close to what i saw.

 

[jac72t]

@Detroit- thank you for the value insight and production estimate.
@arisakadogs- i didnt have the knowledge go pop the floorplate....will go back soon and have a look!

Jac- thats extremely helpful thank you! that sounds pretty close to what i saw.

Bigdibbs
I couldn't find my notes on my 26th series so I checked Frank Allan's excellent book "The Type 38 Arisaka." Mr. Allan's book confirms that the assembly number (not the rifle's SN) will be found in both the barrel channel for the stock and the handguard.

Also, the assembly number should be on the trigger, and not the sear.

I suggest that you download the Type 38 datasheet found here:
http://www.castle-thunder.com/datasheets/38ds.pdf

The data sheet is very useful in identifying the numerous variations in parts that are found on these rifles. Also, Mr. Allan's book is the most authoritative source of information for the Type 38. Mr. Allan is a regular contributor on this board and besides being an excellent writer and author, is a very fine gentleman who is always willing to help a fellow collector.

The rifle looks like it will clean up very well. I'd be willing to wager that it is matching.
Good luck
John