Yes got an Infantry model T38 complete with mum only the cleaning rod is missing. So would a T99 work or due to the 7.7 bore it would be to big for the 6.5 bore. But I really bought it to fill in a gap of my Russian/Soviet collection. So the next question is did the Russians put any of they'er markings on they'er T30-T38 rifles and if so were.

I don't think I did to bad for $300 as the mum is there and it is not a last ditch 44-45 either. Serial # is 256-276XXX I didn't study it to good. And then it has the three triangle circles behind the number. I well post pics when I get it as I know an intact T38 is worth more than the hacked to death sporters I have seen.

Just one more question is there any round out there that I can use to form brass for the 6.5X50 Arasaka. If not no big deal as I can get Norma if all else fails.

A pretty neat rifle through and through. Now I just got to get it out of layaway probably the first of Jan. As money's a little less plentiful.

You do have other options than Norma Brass in 6.5 x 50 Japanese. Graf and Sons sells PRVI Brass for the 6.5 Japanese. It runs about $42.00 for a bag containing 100 unprimed cases. They also sell it already primed as another option.
Hornady also has loaded ammuntion in this caliber which uses PRVI brass I believe.

Just some other options. Enjoy your type 38 rifle.

So I finally got it And still no one can tell me if a T-99 cleaning rod can work or not on this? As all I want is a correct looking Japanies cleaning rod. as thats all that is missing and a sling but I do not care if it is a repo on that or not and can get a repo easily. Yes the stock is not the best but I veiw it as characture and it tells a story to any Milsurp.

Rifling is deep except towards the crown it sort of thin about 5 inches. Is this a common thing for an Arasaka particular for the 6.5X50?

Check this guy out for a repo one, it will be the closest to the real thing you can find. I got one for my T99 from him and it's the best I've seen.

http://members.shaw.ca/tju/donspartslist.htm

Well the reason I ask about the T99 is I can get one full length model for $60 which isn't bad for being 100% authentic

So I would only have $360 tied up in this rifle. And when I seen the mum was intact I know it is sort of rare. As it just seems like 80% have ground off mums and the other 20% do not

original 38 rods are out there and can be found easily enough. t-99 rods will NOT work on a 38 (diffrent lengths).

at $300 for a rifle that is missing the cleaning rod and dustcover, you are already in over your head. replacing original parts on this will add another $125 to that sum for a total of $425 for a mummed rifle with mismatched parts. do you know if the bolt, floorplate, stock, etc match numbers with the receiver? also, another thing to keep in mind is that a mum does not make that rifle rare. the rarity is determined by series and arsenal marks as well as a few other things.

as far as i know, the russians did not add any markings to the arisaka rifles they used. the finns did add some things though.

Yeah I know what yor saying, mine all original just missing to mum but I wasn't going to drop 75 on a 5 inch peice of metal, maybe some time. But I would email jarjar he would know for sure.

Yes bolt is all matching, floor plate matching have the original catch . And as far as the stock the handguard has a different 4 digit though? Were is the numbers located at or best location on stock? As far as the marks are concerned it has the upsidedown christmas tree then the serial number and the 3 interconected winged rings. As thats the best I can describe it as.

And as far as Russia and the British Arisakas the only thing was the mum had either a circle around the edge or 3 circles interconnected in the center of it. Like I said I bought this one more as a shooter and gap filler in my Russian/ Soviet collection not as 100% best condition collector rifle.

BUT THANKS AS NOW I KNOW that the T99 well not fit. Like I said I know most Mosins inside and out but when it comes to Pre and actual WWII Japanies it is just French to me. But I am learning all sorts of stuff on this rifle.

Just had someone insult it saying that it well blowup in my face. Funny as it was probably the strongest bolt action made. Not even a Mauser or Springfield was as strong.

And like I said before thanks for the info and I'll keep you informed if anything else pops up.

Yeah it seems like any time the Arisaka's are mentioned someone comes along to tell everyone how dangerous they are. Then it starts the back and forth. I guess I'll believe the danger when I see some medical reports that people were harmed while firing one, as far as I am concerned its all hear-say!!

correct, mums were cancelled when arisakas were surplused out to other nations. in fact, my Finn marked T-30 has this cancellation of the mum.

im not familiar with the markings you describe but i think yo uare trying to describe the series mark that precedes the serial number, and the arsenal mark which sounds like a Kokura mark. (its actually 4 cannon balls stacked and viewed from the top). these markings are what really determine how rare the rifle is. the numbers on the stock are found in the barrel channel, just like the handguard. the handguard sounds as though it is mismatched, or it could match the assembly number on the bottom of the receiver. Kokura arsenal had some strange ways to match a rifle in the middle of 38 production. yours is a mid to late 38 rifle as it has the front sight protectors and series mark. it was issued with the cleaning rod and dustcover which was numbered to the rifle. also, type 38 production ceased around 1941-1942 time frame to focus on the production of T-99 rifles. there were never any "last ditch" style T-38s made. check out the sticky at the top of this page for rifle markings. its not a complete list of amrkings (its only a T-99 chart), but some of those same series marks were used on T-99s and T-38s. you might be able to get a good idea of what series your 38 is by looking there.

Well I only have two rifle books and they called it an upsidedown christmas tree so don't shoot the messanger. But I'll take it completly apart today and then give a complete run down on what I find.

Plus this weekend I got 19 Norma 6.5 156 grain for 30 bucks yes the person that sold it didn't know what happen to the other round But still that is cheap when you see what this stuff goes for new.

But like I said about the rifling it is sharp and almost new except for about 5 inches towards the muzzle and crown area. Could this be due to improper cleaning??? As a few of my Mosins I had over the years Finn 91/27 and a Soviet 1932 Tula blade front sight dragoon exibit this pattern but only like about 1/2 of what I see here.

the style of rifling used in arisakas is medford and will look like the edges are rounded. i have never seen any arisaka that has sharp lands, only rounded ones. your rifle is a later production 38 so it wasnt in service for very long (in comparison to an early no series 38) and would not have been subject to vigorous cleaning/wear.

Ok other than totally stripping down the bolt all the metal parts do have the 494 numbers from the 27494 serial number. As far as I seen that had numbers stamped on them. Nose cap and barrel band didn't see any numbers.

And the stock and handguard match each other but do not match the rifle serial

It is what looks to be a deep 7 looking Kanji marking number 667 and towards the rear the T with forward curved tail Kanji also seen these T markings under the nose cap and butt stock by the sling swivel.

At least I got a better understanding on what I got a numbers matching rifle and a numbers matching stock and hand guard.

And now I see what you posted about the rifling Jarjar. As it was a trick of the eye. because the rifling looked real sharp or defined and when it got closer to the muzzle it sort of went soft and less defined. But it does have a real good bore should be fairly accurate.

And I really do appreciate this you have no idea as I just love history and I want to know most of what I have. As I just hate it how most people spew a lot of nonsense about something they have no idea what they are talking about. Like the jerk that said this rifle was unsafe and was a junk. But yet his precious Springfield action couldn't handle the type of pressures the Arisaka went through on testing after WWII

And heres a picture of it sorry I tried to get a close up and it sort of went fuzzy.

ok, sounds like you have a mismatched rifle. the stock and handguard should match the rest of the other parts as well as the safety, firing pin, etc. often times the stocks, pins, and safety have been replaced over time. this is not a big deal, but it does keep the rifle form being of collector value. however, it will not effect function, so if you are looking for a shooter, then you found it! congrats on your new purchase! should you need any more info on it or have any more questions, feel free to post them here!