Two Arisaka rifles gifted to me tonight...

Catfish

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And I need advice.
Both have intact mums. And there is a bayo and scabbard as well.

Example A has been sporterized by hacking the stock but metal is intact (?).
Example B has a complete stock with sling and cleaning rod but the bolt has been damaged. The part at the rear of the bolt is gone, firing pin is MIA, remainiing metal is bent and I suspect the receiver is damaged as well. I cannot remove the bolt.

I think I can salvage one complete correct and functioning rifle from the two but I’d like to hear thoughts from the peanut gallery before I attempt any work.
 

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I don't know anything about Arisaka rifles, but I am excited for you. This sounds like it will be a really fun project. I hope you are able to come out with a great shooting rifle in the end. Good luck!
 
It looks like you could swap the stocks to make a functional rifle, assuming that the complete rifle is not otherwise special. I do not think that any of the stock parts are serialized on Type 38's, but the action and bolt parts should be and it is a plus if they all match. One problem is that Type 38 bolts and bolt parts can vary, so you may not be able to swap parts from one bolt to the other, but it doesn't look like you'd need to if you just swapped the stocks.

Do you have any photos of the arsenal and series markings on the side of the receivers by the serial numbers? As for the stuck bolt, will it rotate any at all? Or does it seem to be fused solid?
 
Ok i got the bolt out and detail stripped the rifle. Its missing only the safety knob and dust cover. They are both type 38 rifles but bolt parts are not interchangeable. Numrich is out... gunbroker?

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If they are both 38s the bolts should swap.

As I side note if the bores are good I might be interested in the leftover as a project.
 
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If not Gunbroker, maybe e-bay will have some parts, like a safety knob. I would not even try to replace the dustcover. Repros suck and if you find an original that doesn't match, it adds no real value to the rifle.
 
There are safety knobs on ebay for ~35 that came from trainer rifles... I wonder if one of those would ift.
 
If you are planning on an occasional round or 10 down range I’d suggest while you are looking start source 6.5 Jap ammo ... it’s not impossible to find but you do have to look ... Norma was one manufacturer and about $2 a pop.
 
If they are both 38s the bolts should swap.

As I side note if the bores are good I might be interested in the leftover as a project.
They are both 38’s as they both have the ||| )( stamp. They’re both series 25 and only about 500 apart in serial number. But the bolts definitely do not interchange. It looks like maybe the sporterized rifle was modified to accept a bolt from a type 99. The locking lugs to the bolt face is about 0.1” different between the two. It’s bolt looks almost new while it’s mate looks worn to hell and back with a hammer.

Guess I need to learn how to do a chamber casting and figure out just how modified this thing is...
 
I picked up an arisaka few months back for cheap. Ammo is online for 28 per 20 rds give or take.

Mine is a Mixmaster but it is a pre 35 model made at the original factory.
 
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Here is the finished project T38. All numbers match except the bolt. I went through it piece by piece removing all gunk and rust. I cherry-picked some small un-numbered parts from the sporter to improve this one. I found a safety knob on gunboards.com and futzed around with that getting to fit. Then I scrubbed the stock with 0000 and mineral spirits then applied 4 coats of linseed oil. Annnd it looks pretty much the same as it did when I started exceept it no longer leaves greasy pecker-tracks on everything it touches.

Unfortunately the bolt is in such poor condition I am not going to fire it, so in the safe it goes with the rest of the war relic rifles. I now have 6 countries represented with WWI or WWII military rifles. 7 if you count the Finn Mosin.


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I love shooting my Type 99's. I was at ACME Bullet Company in Graham earlier in the week, and the owner told me he was currently sizing/forming the brass and getting ready to put together another run of 7.7 Jap. I have bought his ammo before, and it shot really well. If you can't find a source for 6.5 Jap, you might want to give ACME a call. If he doesn't already make it, he might be willing/able to put some together at a competitive price.
 
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