does anyone have the history on the type I jap rifle 6.5 rifle?

Do you meen the 38??
http://surplusrifle.com/arisakatype38/index.asp

The Type 38 Arisaka is a fine weapon, well built but a bit odd to most of us. The safety is weird.
The 6.5 was proven lethal. The rifle was made in several versions, including sniper use with scopes.

I made a custom rifle from this action years back. Have always been an Arisaka fan.

does anyone have the history on the type I jap rifle 6.5 rifle?

htshot,
The Japanese Type I rifles was made in Italy by Carcano in 6.5 Jap caliber. The rifle has a Mauser type magazine and a Mannlicher Carcano action. One undocumented report claims about 50,000 were made before WWII and issued to the Japanese Navy.

I have only seen two of these rifles in my life and bought both of them. The first was aType I barreled action that I bought for $1 at a rural feed mill that also sold guns. I gave that rifle to a WWII U.S. veteran who landed in Japan at the end of WWII and wanted a souvenir.

The second rifle came from a local gun shop where it was sitting on a used gun rack. I acquired the mint rifle, with bayonet and sling for $85. The shop has just bought it from a widow whose husband brought it home from the South Pacific.

Smith and Smith in "The Book of Rifles" and W.H.B. Smith in "Small Arms of the World" have pictures of this rifle, but little information. Hope this helps. All the best...
Gil

Gil, You never stop amazing me!

Gil, I am showing no info on this rifle. The Jap 38 was adopted during WW1. So was the Italian Carcano 1891(used in) w/ a progressive twist, also 6.5, but the Italians used a 161.8 grain bullet and the Japanese used a 139 grain bullet. I show no record of it! ? The rifle you are talking about sounds like a 6.5 Romanian Mannlicher. Please add some more info. Jim

thanks for the info Gil . as you say there is little info on the type I jap. I have two of them myself ,only ones ive ever seen.they being issued to the navy would explain why they are in such good condition. they never used them. any idea of thier value?

Gil, I am showing no info on this rifle. The Jap 38 was adopted during WW1. So was the Italian Carcano 1891(used in) w/ a progressive twist, also 6.5, but the Italians used a 161.8 grain bullet and the Japanese used a 139 grain bullet. I show no record of it! ? The rifle you are talking about sounds like a 6.5 Romanian Mannlicher. Please add some more info. Jim

Jim,
This rifle is clearly a 6.5 Jap caliber and a Carcano action. If you can look at a copy of "The Book of Rifles"or "Small Arms of the World" under Japanese rifles, there are pictures of the Type I. I have exactly what is portrayed of the rifle, bayonet and original sling.

htshot,
The value depends on a lot of things. The right buyer would probably pay a lot more than the average shooter. I attempted to get appraisals, but there were enough numbers for a bingo game. My recommendation would be to keep the rifle, they are rarely seen or offered for sale. All the best...
Gil

Well Gil, I thought I was pretty savy on Jap rifles but I jumped before I looked! You educated me! Just grabbed my copy of "The Book of Rifles" to check this thing out.
Thanks for the lesson.

Well Gil, I thought I was pretty savvy on Jap rifles but I jumped before I looked! You educated me! Just grabbed my copy of "The Book of Rifles" to check this thing out.
Thanks for the lesson.


Glad to be of assistance. I have been studying and collecting surplus arms since November 1958. All the best...
Gil

Gil, several Japanese rifles were sold to Russia and Finnland. Did the Type 1 go that way?

When I was stationed in Japan I spoke to many veterans about their small arms and unless I just missed it, never heard of this one. I saw large stashes of stuff that was pre-WWII, including some older rifles. Wonder if those things are still stashed away collecting rust somewhere.

BTW, in 1958 I was still trying to figure out how to pass the 1st grade!

GIL does your typeI have any markings on it except for the serial # ? I thought the emperor marked everything. mabey he didnt much care for imports.

GIL does your type have any markings on it except for the serial # ? I thought the emperor marked everything. maybe he didn't much care for imports.

The Type I rifles I have handled did not have the Japanese chrysanthemum. All the best...
Gil

Well, what do you know. There must be a surge in interest in these things right now; saw one that the gun show today!

Unquestionably a Carcano action, and labeled as 6.5 Jap. I didn't inspect too carefully as the price tag of $375 kept me from picking it up. Still, it looked to be in pretty good condition on the outside.

Learn something every day.

Me too Mike... I was referred to "The Carcano, Italy's Military Rife" by Richard Hobbs for more info on the Type I.
Apparently they were used all over, mostly by the Navy and ...vocational schools?

Wasn't there a Jap 7.7 that was exactly like the .303 Enfield. I know that the Japs had rimmed, semi-rimmed and rimless cartridges of all sorts, a real logistical problem for them (thank God for us)

More on the Type I rifle.
http://cosmolineandrust.blogspot.com/2007/05/japanese-type-i-rifle-unusual-hybrid.html

Bye
Jack

The Type I came about as part of a trade agreement between the Axis Powers that required them to have some trade exchange. And the Militaristic Japanese fullfiled thier end by purchasing weapons. They also bought some Czech Mausers.
By the time the orders for the Type I were ready, surface shipping by the Axis from Italy to Japan was a risky venture. Therefore most (if not all) Type I's were reportedly shipped via Japanese Submarine.
Upon arrival in Japan, the rifles were universally disliked by Japanese troops. Even tho they have been shown to begenerally more accurate than their Japanese counterpart, the T-38. The troops prefered their old "tried & trues" and the Type I was mostly relagated to Naval (non) use and arsenal storage. This accounts for the generally VG, often nearly unused condition found on most examples.
Towards War end, the Type I began to be increasingly seen in battle. Particularly on Iwo Jima and Okinawa, where Japanese Marines and other Naval members fought alongside infantry units. But still in far fewer numbers than other more "conventional" Japanese arms. Also by this time, Allied bombing of Japan had crippled Japanese arms MFG'ing to the extent that the Type I was now by far a better weapon than the "last ditch" T-99's being produced.
Historically the Type I has been considered a kind of "bastard" in the milsurp collector community. Not an Arisaka, not a true Carcano.
But in the past 10 years or so, mostly due to the availibility of info via the internet, interest has risen dramatically. Values have at least doubled. Curiosly, most examples are found minus their original partially wooden cleaning rods. Replacement rods are hard to find and expensive when found. (Steel T-38 rods will interchange, but of course are not considered "correct.") And examples found including the original rod bring premium prices.

Now, that's some great information, Fatstrat. Glad you provided it. Never realized so much manipulation went on between the Axis powers. Knew about the airplane and engine technology by the Germans was traded with Japan for rubber and other precious metals, but never knew of the rifle connection.

BTW - used to be the Mayor in Owasso. Does that count for being in NE Okla? :p

Now, that's some great information, Fatstrat. Glad you provided it. Never realized so much manipulation went on between the Axis powers. Knew about the airplane and engine technology by the Germans was traded with Japan for rubber and other precious metals, but never knew of the rifle connection.

BTW - used to be the Mayor in Owasso. Does that count for being in NE Okla? :p
Close enough for me. Real close. Only about 20 miles away close.

I have a Type I rifle in mint condition and a bayonet that I picked up cheap. You are correct, the prices on these rifles is going right off the chart.

Another unique item is the Carcano 1938 7.35mm rifles that were sent to Finland in 1939 to help hold off the Russians in the 105-day Russo-Finnish War. I found one with "SA" (Finnish Army) markings and got it really cheap. Take care...
Oberndorf

there not that uncommon I had one and the story of use by navy.I understand that the arsenals couldnot supply the navy with mod 38s so the navy contracted for these.There was another that a nabor had in my town in Mass.