Arisaka Type 38 sniper 6.5x50SR

[TMM]

Hey all.
My friend just inherited a rifle from his grampa, and he is looking to find some things out about it. it is a Arisaka Type 38 sniper rifle in 6.5x50SR. namely, where can the ammo be found cheaply? on cheaperthandirt.com a 20-rnd box goes for $30... any other things he should know? any interesting facts?

more questions as they come, if that's not all.

~TMM

 

[Cosmoline]

Does it have the original scope and look like this:

If it's stock is intact, and has the monopod on it plus the scope, it's a very rare and valuable rifle. Among the rarest of C&R rifles, in fact. If it has an intact mum, don't even touch the thing. Just back slowly away. There are some recent fakes out there, but if you know this rifle dates to WWII you may be looking at a very valuable piece of history.

Or are you just talking about a cut up Arisaka with a modern scope on it?

 

[jefnvk]

I'm with cosmo. If it is a true T38 sniper, don't mess with it. Get it to some antique dealer who knows about guns (I hate to say a gun dealer/smith, many would know nothing about this sort of thing), have it looked at and get their opinion on value.

Just for an example, US 1903A4 snipers go from about $3000-5000. K98 snipers I have seen over $10,000, but many in the $5000-8000 or so range. The T38 sniper wasn't produced in any large number, IIRC.

If it ain't a real sniper, be sure to have a smith check it over, especially if it is a vet bringback. I'd be worried about old age and uncared for, but now, with vet bring backs, I am beginning to wonder about all the stories I hear about enemies sabotaging caches of weapons.

If it checks out, I believe Grafs had some 6.5x50 not too long ago for $20/box. Norma makes some, but it'll cost about $30/box.

 

[Cosmoline]

I'd also suggest posting pics over at Parallax's Rising Sun board:

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=42

There are quite a few ex-snipers around, but most of the ones that made it stateside were hacked up badly. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this one was left alone. As appreciation grows for the Arisaka, the prices on the intact ones keep going up and up.

 

[TMM]

i don't think he has the scope, just the asjustable front sight.

his grampa brought it back from where ever he was fighting [don't know what war]. the bolt is taken not original, it was missing or somthing and was replaced with a different bolt. might be a 7mm bolt, not 6.5mm.

i remember he said that people valued the rifle more as a good rifle than a collectable. guess he was wrong.

i have not seen the rifle, just his basic descriptions.

~TMM

 

[jefnvk]

If you can get some pictures, that'd be great. But, it sounds more like simply a regular bringback.

 

[Cosmoline]

Get pictures, list the SN's and any other detailed markings. The more original material on the rifle the better. Don't sand it, clean it or do anything with it.

 

[TMM]

ok, i found out that the bolt is taken from the Arisaka type 38 rifle, not sniper.

i'll try to get him to register here and possibly post pics.

~TMM

 

[Commissar Gribb]

I would imagine most WW2 vets would have a hard time believing that cheaply mass-produced arisaka bolt rifles have actually come full circle into being desirable.

 

[Ian]

Prewar manufacture Arisakas (which means many or most Type 38s) were excellent weapons, and very well made. It was only when we started obliterating Japan's arsenals that quality went downhill.

TMM - As far as I know, there is no cheap 6.5 Jap ammo available. You friend's best option, if he wants to use the rifle as a shooter, is to reload for it.

 

[jefnvk]

I would imagine most WW2 vets would have a hard time believing that cheaply mass-produced arisaka bolt rifles have actually come full circle into being desirable.

I can just imagine their reaction at the prices of some of the last ditch rifles I hae seen.

 

[MikeB]

My family have been Arisaka fans since Grandad brought two back during WWII. One was chopped after the authorities made him bend the barrel or something I forget the whole story. The other fit in the seabag and is original. Both have the Mums intact. Since then we've aquired several others of various types and conditions.

There is no "cheap" ammo available.

If the rifle looks to be in decent condition it should be safe to fire. The Arisaka had one of, if not the strongest chambers of any WWII rifle.