[blackdouglas]

I recently inherited an Arisaka Type 38. Past that, that is all I know. It never had the mum, which I found odd. It is very old, from what I can tell. The serial is worn, but I think it's 6386. The Arsenal mark is something I've not been able to find either. It looks like a box missing the right wall with either a circle or a half-moon with the horns facing up. Everything appears to match, but it's seen better days. Anybody got any ideas?

[303tom]

Here maybe this will help...............

http://www.old-smithy.info/bayonets/Arisaka_ricasso_mark.htm

[Trez]

Hmmm.... Do you know if its ever been shot? It could be a trainer, meant to fire blanks. Is there any rifling in the bore?

very strange that there is no mum or school marking....

[c3shooter]

As said- possibly a trainer. Rifles of the Japanese military bore the Mum, except for the Type "I" made in Italy, and the trainers- since they were not truly an arm.

Some info for you on markings- http://user.pa.net/~the.macs/JAPANESE.html

http://www.cruffler.com/trivia-September00.html

[blackdouglas]

No, it's a Jinsen type 38, made somewhere between '39 and '40. Turns out there's a very, very faded star on it. If you look in the second picture next to the 6, it's barely, BARELY visible.

[-06]

5 or 7 mm? Probably a "Jap 25". My old hunting bud has one that is still very accurate. His dad brought it back from the Pacific (WWII).

[blackdouglas]

It's a 6.5x50R

[c3shooter]

You, sir, are hereby nominated for the Eagle Eye Award! That star was hard to pick up, even with magnification cranked up. Good job!

[blackdouglas]

LOL! I wish I could take the credit, but a friend of mine spotted it first. Took us looking at the picture though. The lighting made it easier to spot.