This is why the type 38 Arisaka action is so strong

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tark

tark

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This is a bolt from a type 38 Arisaka next to a 98 Mauser bolt. It is obvious why the type 38 is such a strong action. The locking lugs are much larger with more contact area and the left lug is not slotted for the ejector. These actions were made from the best steel available at the time.
 

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Fascinating!
I’ve never seen them side by side.
IMO, the stop-gap rifles from late in war and widespread racism of pre and post war world (usually mis information ignorantly repeated) resulted in disparaging discussion of all things Japanese.

A friend had a demilled Arisaka that I was able to handle a bit. His dad acquired it post war as he was shot and wounded by one on Okinawa circa 1945. Actually, his M1 magazine was hit and debris was deposited in his opposite shoulder.

He called it his “million dollar wound”. It took him out of action for duration of war. He actually had a profound respect for the Japanese Marines he was opposed by. He noted that unlike stereotypes, they were over 6’ tall, and highly skilled soldiers (he was a U.S. marine...)

I was always positively impressed by the Arisaka. Though it had a hole drilled in the chamber and barrel welded, it had an intact Mum. Today it would be a good candidate for restoration. His dad demonstrated once the proper operation of the striker cap safety. In actual use, it was quite effective and purposeful. Kinda a slap and twist of the wrist...
His Dad later became a dentist and was the most colorful of all my friends dads. His brother (friends uncle) was a fighter pilot during WWII. He told the best war stories I ever witnessed. Especially about the time he was out numbered in a running dog-fight. He was flying a P-51, surrounded by “Fokkers”.... someone would say, Frank, weren’t you in WWII? He would chime back... didn’t I mention those fokkers were flying Messersmitts!!!... (ME109’s).
 
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I have a half dozen of each. The Type 38 is better in my opinion but mostly due to the 6.5 round over the 7.7. I believe the 6.5 mm in any rifle is inherently more stable in its trajectory than most calibers.

Hugger: I am not sure what you are referring to. The bolt and trigger assemblies are very similar between all the Arisaka models. If I remember my history correctly II believe they were all based on a British design.
 
No, it is a rifle that has an external linkage that can cause it to fire, I'll have to do some research, but I'm pretty sure it was the 38.
 
Juilan Hatcher for the military got to blow up alot of guns, shoot them, tinker with them and generally weed out the facts as to what a gun can and cannot be or do.

He found the Arisaka series to be the strongest actions there were in standard production rifles.

Arisaka based the action on the Mauser.
There are no exposed sear linkage in any Japanese service rifles, its the external linkage on the Type 94 pistol thats most likely the discussed part. It takes effort to get that to happen.
 
GooseGestapo said:
Fascinating!
I’ve never seen them side by side.
IMO, the stop-gap rifles from late in war and widespread racism of pre and post war world (usually mis information ignorantly repeated) resulted in disparaging discussion of all things Japanese.

A friend had a demilled Arisaka that I was able to handle a bit. His dad acquired it post war as he was shot and wounded by one on Okinawa circa 1945. Actually, his M1 magazine was hit and debris was deposited in his opposite shoulder.

He called it his “million dollar wound”. It took him out of action for duration of war. He actually had a profound respect for the Japanese Marines he was opposed by. He noted that unlike stereotypes, they were over 6’ tall, and highly skilled soldiers (he was a U.S. marine...)

I was always positively impressed by the Arisaka. Though it had a hole drilled in the chamber and barrel welded, it had an intact Mum. Today it would be a good candidate for restoration. His dad demonstrated once the proper operation of the striker cap safety. In actual use, it was quite effective and purposeful. Kinda a slap and twist of the wrist...
His Dad later became a dentist and was the most colorful of all my friends dads. His brother (friends uncle) was a fighter pilot during WWII. He told the best war stories I ever witnessed. Especially about the time he was out numbered in a running dog-fight. He was flying a P-51, surrounded by “Fokkers”.... someone would say, Frank, weren’t you in WWII? He would chime back... didn’t I mention those fokkers were flying Messersmitts!!!... (ME109’s).
Click to expand...


considering the average height of a jspanese male in 1939 was 5'4", finding 6 foot marines would be a tough task.
 
DukeConnor said:
considering the average height of a jspanese male in 1939 was 5'4", finding 6 foot marines would be a tough task.
Click to expand...

That’s the point!
Jim wasn’t one to exaggerate. He stated that the physical minimum for the unit they faced was 6’.
My dad was average in 1944; he was 5’7”, 145lbs.
 
The only Japanese bolt-action rifle that wasn't structurally superior was what collectors call the "Type I", which is actually an Italian-built Carcano that was built in the Japanese style for the Japanese Navy. Mine is an adequate rifle but not up to Type 38 or Type 99 standards.
 
DukeConnor said:
considering the average height of a jspanese male in 1939 was 5'4", ....
Click to expand...
One thing I've noticed about my Arisakas is that they are difficult for me to properly shoulder and get my eyeball in line with the sights. I attribute that to the butt stock being designed for the average height of the Japanese soldier. (Not 6' - 1" like me ;))
 
Hugger-4641 said:
Isn't the type 38 the one with external sear that could discharge from a rough jolt?
Click to expand...
You are thinking of the type 94 pistol One of the worst pistols ever made and hands down the ugliest. In the gun's defense, with a round in the chamber, applying the safety blocked the exposed sear from moving.
 
I cannot imagine how you could accidentally discharge an Ariska w the safety on. You could throw it from several stories on a hard surface & it still would not fire. Total mythology.
 
caribou said:
Juilan Hatcher for the military got to blow up alot of guns, shoot them, tinker with them and generally weed out the facts as to what a gun can and cannot be or do. He found the Arisaka series to be the strongest actions there were in standard production rifles.
Click to expand...

P.O. Ackley backs up Hatcher on this. The first article in Volume II of his Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders includes considerable test details on the Japanese bolt actions, on their own and in comparison with other military actions.
 
This is a bolt from a type 38 Arisaka next to a 98 Mauser bolt. It is obvious why the type 38 is such a strong action. The locking lugs are much larger with more contact area and the left lug is not slotted for the ejector. These actions were made from the best steel available at the time.
Click to expand...

If you’re talking about Ackley’s testing of the Arisaka, then I have to disagree. In Ackley’s testing, other contemporary bolt actions failed either with a split barrel or a shattered action. Below is his photo showing how a Springfield failed, note that the bolt looks almost new except for the handle. Even his “test” of the Arisaka is flawed since no pressure measurements were taken, and he did not test enough rifles of any type to say that all Arisakas are stronger than all others. He did the best he could given his circumstances, but his testing is hardly definitive by today’s standards.

4-C282-C49-1476-4987-8047-EF110-BA8-A9-F8.jpg
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
P.O. Ackley backs up Hatcher on this. The first article in Volume II of his Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders includes considerable test details on the Japanese bolt actions, on their own and in comparison with other military actions.
Click to expand...
..... This interesting thread reminded me of a thread here a few years ago in a similar vein. One in which I posted a photo of a page from Mr. Ackley's aforementioned book. So I poked around here on the computer and found that I still have it. His testing rated the 6.5mm Arisaka as the strongest with the 7.7 coming in second. Pretty interesting even though he had no real scientific pressure testing equipment back then...... IMG_2794.JPG ..
 
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