The three bayonets that I received with the rifles also show very little use. Officers and others, like my Uncle, selected souvenirs from to take home.nnA scenario such as that would explain the fine condition that the rifles are in as opposed to those showing wear from battle use. While there is no way of knowing, with them being among the first Type 38s produced at the Tokyo Arsenal, I can’t help but wonder if the first rifles were issued to something like the “Palace Guard” or similar and possibly they remained there until the end of World War II at which time they were surrendered and tossed into a pile of rifles that U.S.
TYPE 99 ARISAKA WITH MUM SERIAL NUMBERS
These markings and serial numbers would put these two Type 38 Arisaka Rifles as being among the first produced at the Koishikawa Arsenal (Tokyo) – very likely late in 1905 or early 1906 – among the very first produced at that Arsenal among the total of over two million Type 38s produced there prior to around 1935.
TYPE 99 ARISAKA WITH MUM SERIAL NUMBER
One of the rifles is marked with the serial number of “67” and the other rifle bears the serial number “210”. The two Type 38 rifles that I have are clearly stamped with the marking for the Koishikawa Arsenal (Tokyo).
(A "series" contained rifles serial numbered from 1 to 99,999/100,000 and then a new "Series" was started with the same serial numbers of from 1 to 99,999) Around 1935, when other Arsenals started producing the Type 38 rifles, the “Series” classification smd method of serial numbering was adopted. The Type 38 (at the above Arsenal) started with Serial Number 1 and it is believed that a total of 2,209,000 were produced from the adoption of the model until around 1935. The rifles produced in this Arsenal were “consective serial numbered”. From the adoption of the Type 38 in 1905, until about 1935. Originally, the Type 38 was first produced in the Koishikawa Arsenal (Tokyo). Now for the surprise that awaited me as I researched markings.
cleaned off of them and being able to shoot both with plinking rounds. (which I sold years ago) What struck me with these two Type 38 rifles is how well made they are and I look forward to getting the years of dust, etc. I have owned “Mil-surp” rifles – at one time I had five different varieties of Type 99 Arisaka Rifles as well as a number of British 303 Enfields, etc. It is obvious that once my Uncle picked up the rifles, they were well greased as far as the magazine followers, bolts, etc. One rifle has the original heavy webbing/leather sling and each has the original “dust covers”. Both rifles show the typical Type 38 markings on the top of the receiver and both retain the Japanese Imperial “Mum”. The exterior of both rifles retain their original metal finish. Once I got the dust and cobwebs out of the bores, both rifles have excellent bores with bright and heavy rifling. but are in far better than the average rifles that saw heavy service.
In researching them, I came up with the following.īoth rifles are in very good condition. I was wrong.īoth rifles are Type 38 Arisaka rifles. It had been years since I had looked at them and I was under the belief that both were Type 99 rifles. For well over 65 years, the two rifles hung over my Uncle’s fireplace. They say that the memory is the first thing to go, and I guess that probably applies here. At some point, he and the other officers went ashore and it is believed it was at that time that he picked up the two rifles and three Type 39 bayonets from the piles of surrendered military items. He was a Naval officer on a tanker and they were anchored in Tokyo Bay during the time of the surrender. Earlier this year, I had a call from a cousin who wanted to give me two Japanese Arisaka rifles that his Dad, my Uncle, had brought back from WWII.
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