This is an unusual rifle, the Japanese 6.5mm calibre Arisaka Type 38.  Though not a rare rifle, they are not seen often in this condition.  The name related to the 38th year of the Emperor Meiji of Japan, being 1905, in which it was designed. It first saw service during the Russo-Japanese War prior to WW1, and continued to be made up till 1942, by which time it had been superseded by rifles such as the Type 99, but was still in use by second line troops. The markings on this rifle identify it as being made at the Nagoya Arsenal between 1933 and 1940. The Japanese characters for Type 38 are stamped on the top of the breech but as is common, the Imperial Crysanthemum has been overstamped in an attempt to obcscure it, but it is still clearly visible. This particular example is in very good condition, with lovely wooden stock with the typical two-part butt. Good blacking with the often missing bolt cover still present, interesting notch put in the leaf-sight to prevent it being elevated for longer distances, matching serial number to bolt. Cocks and dry-fires, and fully field strippable. Deactivated in the UK with proofhouse certificate of deactivation.

Deactivated weapons sold by Jaybe Militaria are deactivated in the United Kingdom and hold a London or Birmingham proof mark and certificate stating that the weapon has been deactivated correctly and is legal within the U.K.