[arisakadogs]

Thanks y'all for the nice compliments !
Sure feels great when there are still amazing stuff that comes out of the woodwork.

Dawgs, come to the Phoenix show next month and bring your TAA, and I'll bring mine
if you do. We can do a photo shoot of the two together. It"d be cool !

Won’t be able to make this show but it would be cool to photograph these two together. Does the dust cover match on yours?

 

[Francis C. Allan]

At true beauty for sure. Best I've ever seen.

When you have time can you take a set of photos with the usual angles I need? Full right side and middle left. NO HURRY.

Frank

 

[JWMWITZ]

Beautiful rifle.

Interesting sling. Not quite sure what that is; doesn't look like the usual five by three hole Arisaka sling. What is it?

John in Northern Michigan

 

[BIG ED]

Tak,
That beats mine. I just got my first and only MATCHING T38 assembly number gun. In the 1.7 million range. But of course, it looks nothing like that. I'm just glad to finally find one.

 

[arisakadogs]

Beautiful rifle.

Interesting sling. Not quite sure what that is; doesn't look like the usual five by three hole Arisaka sling. What is it?

John in Northern Michigan

Maybe a LMG sling?

 

[JWMWITZ]

Tak,
That beats mine. I just got my first and only MATCHING T38 assembly number gun. In the 1.7 million range. But of course, it looks nothing like that. I'm just glad to finally find one.

My early Type 38 in the 1.6 million range was my first Arisaka. It as given to me by my Dad 50 years ago who took it along with two bayonets and a flag, from the Tachibana Maru. It was a Japanese Hospital Ship that was transporting IJA troops. The destroyer my Dad was a sonar man on (USS Charette), "captured" the ship in 1945 (you can find the story on YouTube). The rifle is completely matched to the dust cover. Probably my greatest treasure.

John in Northern Michigan

 

[cartoonist]

Regarding the sling, did the Japanese ever attempt to copy the US Model 1907 sling? There are some strong similarities in the configuration, but this one appears to lack the metal hooks and double hole pattern.

 

[Edokko]

Beautiful rifle.

Interesting sling. Not quite sure what that is; doesn't look like the usual five by three hole Arisaka sling. What is it?

John in Northern Michigan

That sling is a head scratcher. It's actually two standard Showa 13 stamped slings that are attached together on each square end with brass studs going through the end holes. Dont know who did it but looks pretty neat so I guess I will leave it as it is.

The buckle is not a standard rifle sling buckle but looks more like a T-14 holster strap buckle but obviously more larger to fit the wider rifle sling belt. Do LMG slings use these kind of buckles?

 

[fredh]

That sling is a head scratcher. It's actually two standard Showa 13 stamped slings that are attached together on each square end with brass studs going through the end holes. Dont know who did it but looks pretty neat so I guess I will leave it as it is.

The buckle is not a standard rifle sling buckle but looks more like a T-14 holster strap buckle but obviously more larger to fit the wider rifle sling belt. Do LMG slings use these kind of buckles?

Funny, didn't even notice the sling on first pass thru. Reckon I was blinded by the rifle. I think I still have a sling similar to the sling on your rifle, and it's also on a T38. Rightly or wrongly, I had always thought it was a put together as an equipment sling that was used again later as a rifle sling. jus sayin; certainly don't know for sure. But if it detracts from the beauty of the rifle, or is maybe too heavy, Tak, you can send it my way.

 

[arisakadogs]

Yes, LMG slings do use a buckle like that.

 

[Edokko]

I tape measured both sides of the connected two piece sling and each side seems to be 4 to 5 inches shorter than a standard rifle sling. Might have been cut down on the ends for some reason and then the two attached together to form a longer than standard sling and using a LMG buckle. Anyways, the sling is dated Showa 13 and some years later than when the rifle itself was produced (probably around Showa 2 to 4ish) so thinking it might have been put together by someone who brought it back from occupation who preferred a longer sling than a standard Japanese rifle sling.

 

[fredh]

That sling is a head scratcher. It's actually two standard Showa 13 stamped slings that are attached together on each square end with brass studs going through the end holes. Dont know who did it but looks pretty neat so I guess I will leave it as it is.

The buckle is not a standard rifle sling buckle but looks more like a T-14 holster strap buckle but obviously more larger to fit the wider rifle sling belt. Do LMG slings use these kind of buckles?

Ok, the sling I referred to in the earlier post is shown as sling number 6 in the photo of slings on page 193 in MROJ. That doesn't show all the length of the sling as seen from the side, but the sling end is at the bottom which gives an indication of length.

 

[wornrifle]

Here's eye candy for a late Sunday afternoon. A stone mint, almost out-of-the-arsenal condition Tokyo Type 38 infantry rifle. A very much rarity in this condition, as minty TAA T-44s and T-38 carbines are encountered every once in a while, but almost never a minty T-38 infantry rifle, for some reason. Likely that the rifles were almost all issued and used.
This example is all matching, the parts in the white sparkles, bluing is immaculate, strawing is bright and the screw slot edges are so sharp it looks like they have never been turned after leaving TAA.
Every once in a blue moon this dog finds his bone, and will be one of my treasures for sure.

That is a beauty!!!

 

[OnlyMil]

Thanks y'all for the nice compliments !
Sure feels great when there are still amazing stuff that comes out of the woodwork.

Dawgs, come to the Phoenix show next month and bring your TAA, and I'll bring mine
if you do. We can do a photo shoot of the two together. It"d be cool !

Can I come too?? 😜 I have a similarly conditioned (but not QUITE as MINT as yours) Kokura (TAA) Type 38 24th series (Oct 1939- May 1940 production I believe). Has the concave safety as opposed to the convex one. Full mum, gorgeous bluing and wood with excellent bore. All matching serial/assembly numbers on the corresponding parts too. Definitely my proudest Arisaka rifle. Even has an original plastic muzzle cover.

 

[wilkop]

Here's eye candy for a late Sunday afternoon. A stone mint, almost out-of-the-arsenal condition Tokyo Type 38 infantry rifle. A very much rarity in this condition, as minty TAA T-44s and T-38 carbines are encountered every once in a while, but almost never a minty T-38 infantry rifle, for some reason. Likely that the rifles were almost all issued and used.
This example is all matching, the parts in the white sparkles, bluing is immaculate, strawing is bright and the screw slot edges are so sharp it looks like they have never been turned after leaving TAA.
Every once in a blue moon this dog finds his bone, and will be one of my treasures for sure.

Ah, if you like that kind of thing.....

 

[jangle]

Tak,

Just seeing this thread.
What a beautiful rifle. Happy for you!

 

[TGE]

Won’t be able to make this show but it would be cool to photograph these two together. Does the dust cover match on yours?

Tak, simply the best T38 rifle I have ever seen. Nice score! For some reason I thought you got a T38 carbine.

I will be making the Phoenix Show this year. I was hoping A-Dogs would be there. If Rob is willing to let his T38 go for a couple of days, Bob Long could bring it to the show and you can photograph the two together. Just a thought.

- tge

 

[Edokko]

Thanks again to y'all who posted your kind compliments ! And trust you gents had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families.

I am just filled to the brim with turkey since last night. Just finished turkey and pasta soup simmered in "dashi" from leftover bones for lunch.