Arisaka Type 38 Carbine Markings Free Up SMLE Some Type 38 rifles captured by the Kuomintang forces were also converted to fire the 7.9257mm Mauser round. Some of the captured Sino Arisakas were later exported to the United States, examples including a number of Type 38 carbines rebarrelled and rechambered for the 7.6239mm round. Most of the Arisakas with surviving insignia are in Japan, though there are a few remaining on samples taken as war trophies before the surrender, and those captured by Chinese forces. To date, no documentation from either Japanese or U.S. There are conflicting claims that this was done on the orders of the Imperial Japanese Military prior to surrender, however it is generally accepted by most historians that the imperial chrysanthemums were ground off the rifles on the orders from General Douglas MacArthur, the commander of occupation forces at that time. Since most Imperial Japanese Armory contents were thrown into Tokyo Harbor after the signing of the surrender, spare ammunition also became rare.Īdditional 6.550mmSR ammunition was, however, produced in China for use in their captured rifles. However, after the Japanese surrender in the summer of 1945, manufacture of rifles and ammunition stopped abruptly, and the Arisaka quickly became obsolete. Many captured Arisaka rifles were employed by neighboring countries both during and after World War II, in places such as China, Thailand and Cambodia. The Czech Legions that fought in the Russian Revolution were almost entirely armed with Type 30s and 38s. Prior to World War II, Arisakas were used by the British Navy and Russian Army, in Finland and Albania. Near the end of World War II, last-ditch ersatz models were being made in various cost-cutting feature variations with the goal of cheaply bolstering the imperial armed forces for example, the ovoid bulb-shaped bolt of earlier runs were replaced by a smaller and utilitarian cylindrical shape, the handguard on the barrel was omitted, and crude fixed sights were fitted. The rear sights also featured folding horizontal extensions to give a degree of lead suitable for firing against aircraft. The Arisakas were also one of the only guns of the era to use polygonal rifling in its barrels, rather than the more traditional lands and grooves. Tests on samples of Arisaka rifles conducted after the war showed that their bolts and receivers were constructed of carbon steel similar to SAE steel grade No.ĭuring destructive tests, the Arisakas were shown to be stronger than the M1903 Springfield, LeeEnfield, and Mauser rifles.
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