Japanese Militaria at Castle-Thunder.com

mauserkid · Joined: Apr 17 2008 Posts: 6

HI guys I have an all matching early issue model 38 with no finish on it. Metal is in coated with black primer, which scratches off easliy. I was thinking to reblue the gun but I don't know how the orginals were done.

1. Is the rifle rust blued? Because the examples I've seen on gun auctions have a white/polished interior.
2. Is the bolt handles blue and the rest polished, or were they all polished in white.
3. Is the safety in white or blued, in some examples I've seen all white, blued, and blue only on the outside circle and the rest in white.
4. Is the dust cover blued on the outside and white on the inside. (Mines looks like that)

I know that the bolt catch spring, guard screws, trigger, rear sight spring, and floor plate release were strawed finished.
I don't own any Japanese rifles to compare to.

Any kind of help would be very appreciated. thanks

gwsiii · Joined: Aug 21 2003 Posts: 2239 Location: Hayden, AL

Mauserkid, welcome to the forum. See the type 38 datasheet and let us know what series and serial number range your rifle is, we'll be able to tell you the original finish configuration after that. If the rifle was rebuilt at some point, it gets trickier. Be sure to fill out a copy of the datasheet and send to Frank Allan for his research. Trey
_________________
Subscribe to BANZAI!
Fill out a Japanese Rifle Datasheet.
I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!

mauserkid · Joined: Apr 17 2008 Posts: 6

I'm going by the data sheet

Type: Long Rifle Model 38
Serial Number: the 1,980,XXX range
No Series
Arsenal: Kosiwhikawa, Tokyo
Small Stamp: 東
Breech top: intact Chrysanthemun (a) no circles or defacing
Barrel Step: circle triangle S proof mark( b)
Bridge Top: circle triangle
Striker Pin: Variation B
Bolt latch: has hump and x'ed grooved (b) latch spring straw underleath of black paint
Trigger: Straw
FS Fasteners 1 screw/protruding
Front Sight: (a) no sight protectors
Rear Sight: (a)
Rear ladder (b)
Buttplate: flat
Safety Knob: large tang
Stock: one-piece
Chromed bolt face: ? (is it supposed to be) but mines is white though
Bolt metal finish: Not Sure (bolt handle is dark and rest white)
Safety Knob Finish: Mot Sure (dark on outside and white inside)
Rifiling: 6-grove
Caliber 6.5x50mm
No import stamp

I hope this helps thanks

mauserkid · Joined: Apr 17 2008 Posts: 6

I mean serial number in the 1,990,xxx range

gwsiii · Joined: Aug 21 2003 Posts: 2239 Location: Hayden, AL

Mauserkid, your rifle is a Tokyo (Koishikawa) rifle from the initial series. Should be blued finish, with straw colored parts, polished bolt body, safety, extractor, and butt plate. The straw colored parts are rear sight base spring and screw, rear sight slide notch and screw, bolt release, trigger, and probably the trigger guard/tang screws. The dust cover would be blued and more of a flat black on the inside. Cleaning rod would have been polished bright. The bolt number should match to assembly number, if it matches to serial number that is indicative of a rebuild and the parts finish could have been different after the rework. If I've missed anything remind me. Frank should be along to correct anything that I've made a mistake on. Trey
_________________
Subscribe to BANZAI!
Fill out a Japanese Rifle Datasheet.
I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!

mauserkid · Joined: Apr 17 2008 Posts: 6

ok so I have to
1. rust blue the outside
2. polish only the bolt body and rust blue the bolt handle
3. safetly in white
4. extactor in white

Straw
1. all screws
2. bolt release spring
3. trigger
4. rear sight spring
5. floor release catch

Also is the rifle rust blued or caustic blued (dropped into blueing tank like k98 mausers)?

the example I have have the cleaning rod in white with some pitting.
All parts matches the assembly number however the bayonet lug has no assembly number.
Stock and hand guard has no numbers or proofs of any kind.

thanks

gwsiii · Joined: Aug 21 2003 Posts: 2239 Location: Hayden, AL

The lack of numbers on the inside of handguard, stock, and front lug indicate it is likely a rework. Depending on the time period it was reworked, and by whom, would determine proper finish. Might ought to wait for Frank to chime in. Trey
_________________
Subscribe to BANZAI!
Fill out a Japanese Rifle Datasheet.
I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!

03man · Joined: Jul 30 2005 Posts: 131 Location: Denver, NC

Reblueing will destroy the collector value, it doesn't sound that bad anyway.

I would leave it alone.
_________________
03man

gwsiii · Joined: Aug 21 2003 Posts: 2239 Location: Hayden, AL

I'm with Don when it comes to refinish or not. Try cleaning it up first, take some pictures and lets have a look at it. Trey
_________________
Subscribe to BANZAI!
Fill out a Japanese Rifle Datasheet.
I didn't pay to much for that old Arisaka, I just bought it a little bit too soon!

mauserkid · Joined: Apr 17 2008 Posts: 6

Well guys all of the rifle parts are matched to the assembly number under barrel and receiver. I have also clean the rifle to my surprise the barrel is in good shape, however the finish bothers me. Someone had polished the metal is a good shine and sprayed it black primer (just imagine a British Sten gun)

arisakadogs · Joined: Oct 05 2003 Posts: 191

I wouldn't refinish any of these rifles - but, that's just me. Are you sure about the 6 groove bore? Your serial number is not that far away from a nice little production run of "Love of Country" rifles. Those are very nice to find!
_________________
"A woman, a dog & and a walnut tree. The more ya beat em, the better they be" (From "The Red Bagde of Courage")

mauserkid · Joined: Apr 17 2008 Posts: 6

I'm very sure of it, the barrel has a six grove twist.