[TWalker]

I bought a Type 38 rifle last week in pretty good overall shape. The mum is partially ground and the stock shows lots of wear. It has a cleaning rod. My questions are:
1. What is the stock notch cut on the right side of the stock near the action for? I've seen this on a few 6.5 Japanese rifles.
2. The sling is a rivoted on narrow leather one. It looks like a belt someone might have made a sling out of here in the USA 50 or so years ago. Should I leave it on or cut it off? There are no markings but it does have a buckle. I can't remove it without cutting it or removing a couple rivots. The sling is much too narrow for the swivels.
Thanks for any replies.

 

[Dean]

The notch lets dirt out from the dust cover groove.

Dean (the other one)

 

[Vic]

That's a new one for me- I always thought it was a thumb relief for the stripper clips

 

[Florida Mike]

Lets the dirt out huh. Coool!

 

[arisakadogs]

That's a new one for me- I always thought it was a thumb relief for the stripper clips

Vic, there is that notch in the receiver. He's asking about the one in the stock