Arisaka Thread

[mallc]

I recently purchased a highly sportorized Arisaka type 38. The rifle was shortened to 38" and glass bedded into a walnut stock with cheekpiece. It's fitted with a Lyman front site and I believe a Willliams adjustible rear peep site. The its been turned and polished with a beautiful, deep blue finish.

I bought it at a flea market. The vendor said he bought it from a lady moving into assisted living. Her husband, who passed over in 1976, was an avid sportsman who hunted all over North America and Mexico. This was his favorite rifle and had not been fired since his last hunt.

In researching the rifle, I've found a number photo that look exactly like this rifle and I found the following refernce in one of the threads.
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The Rifle as it appears in the thread starter looks exactly like one featured in a Williams Gunsite catalog and sporterizing guide book I got many years ago. If I can find the booklet I'll scan the page their Arisaka conversion is on and post it.
The rifle was probaly sporterized by someone who followed the Williams guide to the letter, a classic sporter of its day.
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I'm thinking that some shop was turning out sportorized surplus Arisaka's and I'm hoping to track them down and see if I can date the rifle.

Does anyone have any information?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[Vaarok]

It was probably Interarms/ Interarmco in the 1960s, through several small California gunsmiths, much as the other period conversions they offered.

That's an awfully nice T38, there's no shame in a sporter if somebody actually took some time and effort to do a decent job.

The 6.5-257 Roberts conversion is pretty common, seems.

And while a royal pain to rebarrel, the T-38 action is one of the strongest military actions ever made.

 

[MMCSRET]

My highly sporterized Type 39 is done in the same manner except no sights and drilled and tapped for scope mounts. Stock is identical and very well fitted, blue is very well done, highly polished and blue not black like todays coloring. Very accurate with the right loads, and a pleasure to shoot. Except the safety is unmanageable with a scope on the rifle.

 

[mallc]

Actually -

The photos are not of my rifle but my rifle has EXACTLY the same bolt, site, stock, and sling. Mine is 6.5 JAP and was not converted to 6.5 Roberts. I've also seen a 99 in the same dress and a scoped 38 with the same stock and front sight.

Thanks for the tip on InterArmsCo.

Scott

 

[mallc]

GCA

I read on another thread that the 1968 GCA end importation of milsup until the 1986 GCA turned it on again with the requirement for importer marking with a serial number. If this is true, then my rifle was sportorized before 1968 because it has not importer marking and only the orginal SN.

Does anyone have a source for Arisaka SN date of manufacturer?

Scott

 

[Navy joe]

And while a royal pain to rebarrel, the T-38 action is one of the strongest military actions ever made.

How so? I have a sported up Arisaka that was done in the 50-60s judging by the look. When I get bored it's going to get re-blued, new stock and barrel. The one on it is probably 30" and pencil thin, shoots 1.5" at 100yds now but if you so much as look at the fore end the POI shifts. A lot.

 

[Vaarok]

Supposedly there's a teat on the bolt face that needs to be milled off and something to do with the bevel on the end of the barrel shank matching up with the reciever. It might just be Type 99s, I typically avoid sporterizing discussions.