WW II ARISAKA TYPE 38 Made Late 1941 Complete MUM, Dust Cover and Matching Numbers 6.5x50 Japanese

Here is a rare Type 38 Japanese Infantry Rifle that has survived in its original condition. The Imperial Chrysanthemum has NOT been ground or defaced and the Serial Number (88443) and Part Numbers (443) match.


The Type 38 is chambered for the 6.5 X 50 mm Arisaka cartridge and based on the Manufacturing Series (27) and the serial number it was built at the Tokyo Nagoya Arsenal in late 1941 or early 1942 . A total of almost three million Type 38 rifles were built by the Japanese between 1905 and the end of World War II. Nagoya Arsenal built 312,500 Type 38s between 1932 and 1942.

It is unusual to find a Type 38 with the full Chrysanthemum (Mum), sign of ownership by the Emperor. At the end of WW II, General MacArthur ordered that the “Mum” be ground off of all captured Japanese equipment surrendered at the wars end. The full Mum indicates that SN 88443 was captured before the surrender.

SN 88443 not only has the Mum in place, but it is complete with the original dust cover, cleaning rod and bolt assembly. The bolt and bayonet lug (only parts numbered on a Japanese rifle) are numbered 443, matching the receiver. The rifle is good condition and there is no Import Mark leading me to believe that it was picked up as souvenir and brought home by a “Vet”. To further this idea, the letters “REId” are carved in the stock in front of the trigger guard assembly.


The action is tight, cycles smoothly (dust cover does not bind) and feeds cartridges without problems. The safety works correctly. The bore is worn, but the rifling is visible and should shoot nicely. The metal work is clean with no rust or corrosion. Almost all of original blue/black finish remains on the barrel, receiver and other metal components. There appears to be light pitting on the dust cover, but the rough surface is beneath the finish indicating that the stamped part was not polished before the finish was applied.


The original oil finish on the Type 38 stock and hand guard is clean and smooth to the touch. There are some handling marks and a few “dings” in the stock, but no cracks or large gouges. The Type 38 clearly saw service but did not receive any major damage.