Japanese Type 38 stock separation.

[Doucme2]

Anyone ever have success in rejoining the separated butt stock on a Japanese rifle. I recently purchased a nice Type 38 and would fix the stock if possible. I believe the stock separation is caused by the drying out and shrinking of the wood as the butt plate still fits the stock and the stock is basically solid in spite of the opening. I was thinking of trying steam inside the opening. Anyone ever tried that? Thanks.

 

[courier de bois]

Steam is an iffy thing, could make it worse. Some of these things are 100 years old, only glued together then, so if you find a glue half as good, your repair will last into the 2060's... If you aren't good at this sort of thing, field strip it, to be legal, and not freak someone out, and take just the stock and buttplate to a cabinet maker or furniture repair place, the might do a better and quicker job than a lot of half fast gunsmiths I run into.

 

[Doucme2]

Thanks, you're probably right. I suppose as a last resort I could learn to live with the stock the way it is. I'll tell you one thing, this is one well made rifle. This one was made some time in the 30's and the metal work is as good as I have ever seen. Guess they weren't worried about the stock lasting 70 or 80 years. Hope it shoots as good as it looks.

 

[zhyla]

I thought Arisaka stocks are dovetailed together? What kind of separation are we talking about here? Pics would help.

 

[BADUNAME37]

If it is the 7.7 Arisaka, it does have a butt join of wood along the length of the buttstock. The nailed-on wooden buttplate is a single piece.

I have one and the stock has a definate joint where the two pieces of wood meet. As to just how they are joined, I do not really know as it never concerned me enough to make it any better than it always has been and most likely always will be. The 'mum is ground off of mine as well -- something I do not plan to ever "fix."

 

[Doucme2]

Thanks for the responses. The stock is dovetailed. The stock is on a 6.5 Jap type 38 rifle. The rifle is in great shape other than this. I don't know how but the stock still feels solid, thats why I think it's shrinkage. I can close it slightly with a lot of pressure so I thought I might just shoot a thinned long setting epoxy into the stock from the rear and just accept the amount which does not close. Pictures attached.