Help me I.D. this Japanese Rifle

[VirgilCaine]

My grandfather received this "Japanese sniper rifle" as a souvenir from the U.S. Navy. I don't think it's either of the Arisaka models used by the Japanese--no magazine.

Wide view:


Action design:


Bolt design:


Stock:


There's an identical marking on the receiver just behind the sights. The bayonet lug and the bolt handle are marked "3277".

Edit: Also, sorry about poor image quality. It looks decent on the camera screen, then when you open it on the computer it's all slightly out of focus. Gonna dig into the manual and see if I can fix that in the future.

Edit: Also, thanks for moving this, mods. I must have missed the addition of the firearms research forum sometime.

 

[Ron James]

I looks a whole lot like a Standard Arisaka Type 38 Rifle. I don't believe that in any of it's previous lives it was ever a sniper rifle. Japanese rifles didn't use detachable magazines?

 

[SDC]

It's hard to tell from your photos, but it COULD be a Type 97 sniper rifle (6.5mm Arisaka); it's definitely an Arisaka action, and it should have a barrel 31 3/8" long, and a folding metal stand attached to the front band (but the monopod was quite often "lost" or discarded). The factory markings should be on the sides and top of the receiver, and it should have a 5-round internal box magazine.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I am somewhat familiar with the 6.5mm Type 38(1905) and the 7.7mm Type 99 (1938). I don't know anything about a Type39. There isn't any difference between the Type 38 and the Type 97 except a scope on the Type 97. What caliber is it? It should have a 5 round box magazine regardless of which rifle it is. The Type 97 6.5mm sniper had a 31" barrel where the Type 97 7.7mm sniper had a 25 1/2"barrel.

 

[Dr.Rob]

You can see how its discolored from the dust cover? or is that possibly from a scope mount?

I also don't recognize the Japanese character on the stock.

I didn't see it on this chart?

http://www.cruffler.com/trivia-September00.html

 

[Ron James]

My misprint, type 38, It doesn't have the turned down bolt handle that the Japanese sniper rifle has ( at least in my books) and the stock doesn't seem to match match the type 35, Put a turned down bolt on it and yes it could be a type 97 Sniper rifle. If frogs had wings they could fly Thats just my opinion on both the rifle and frogs and both may be in error.

 

[Pax Romana]

That is an unusual symbol on the stock. It could be a simple issuance code of some kind but you would have to verify this with someone who can read Japanese...

The picture quality is such that I cannot even see if there is a Chrysanthemum on it, which could help me identify, quite possibly, if it was constructed during the Showa era (Hirohito), or possibly even late Meiji or Taisho era. Is it 6.5 Jap?

 

[VirgilCaine]

I apologize for not including the picture I took specifically for this purpose (that was quite stupid of me) but this is important: there is NO magazine at all! Solid metal on the bottom of the chamber.

As for if it is 6.5 or 7.7, I have no idea. Where is the chrysanthemum located?

 

[Jim K]

I can't be sure without better pictures, but I think that might be a training rifle, made to fire blanks. They were made for use by the Japanese equivalent of a high school ROTC.

Some training rifles will fire live ammunition (6.5) but they were made from cheap castings and would be dangerous with anything but blanks. Anyway, do NOT fire it until you find out exactly what it is.

Jim

 

[VirgilCaine]

Have you checked the costs for that recently? Of course I won't be firing it!

But, thanks all for the info, I will try and take better pictures.

 

[Jim K]

A few things to check. Are there full size locking lugs on the bolt, and is the extractor a long one like on Mausers or is it a short spring about 1 and 1/4 inches long? Are the top and bottom tangs separate or are they part of the receiver? Is the bore rifled?

Jim

 

[VirgilCaine]

No rifling as far as I can tell.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I'm with Jim, this 'sniper ' rifle sounds like a trainer.

The 'mum should be visible on the receiver ring, it's not, nor does it look ground off.

Characters don't match known stock markings.

Smooth bore.

Very likely a trainer.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Agreed,sounds more and more like a trainer.

 

[Moonclip]

You may want to try the Japanese forum at gunboards.com

 

[VirgilCaine]

Thanks, Moonclip. If I get an extra minute I'll do that.

The 'sniper rifle' part was what the Navy apparently told my grandfather it was.

 

[Mp7]

...

lucky you don´t get that ammo on every other corner ....
... that could be a dangerous way to find out it´s not
the sniper rifle your pop as told about.