Type 38 ArisakaThis is a featured page

Type 38 Arisaka. From proxibid.comModel: Type 38 Arisaka
The Sampachi-shiki hohējū, as it is known in Japanese, is a bolt-action rifle used by the Japanese in World War II. It was also referred to as the Arisaka after its inventor, Colonel Nariakira Arisaka. Due to the emphasis on bayonet combat by the Japanese at the time, it was the longest service rifle of the war and gave Japanese soldiers an edge in melee combat; when fitted with the bayonet, which was over 15 inches long, the rifle was about 5 1/2 feet, taller than the average Japanese soldier (who stood 5'3).The Arisaka would later be supplemented by the shorter, more powerful Type 99.

Post-war testing by both the US military and National Rifle Association found that the bolt was the strongest of all bolt-action rifles of the war, with the 6.5mm round rather underpowered for what stress the bolt could take. The Type 38 was also made into the Type 44 cavalry carbine, with a 19.2 inch barrel, and the Type 97 sniper rifle with a 2.5x scope and occasionally a monopod band.



Specifications:
Weight:
8.71 lb (3.95 kg).
Length:
50.39 in (1280 mm).
Barrel Length:
31.49 in (800 mm).
Cartridge:
6.5x50mm Arisaka
7x57mm Mauser (rather rare variant)
Action:
Bolt-action
Muzzle Velocity:
2509 ft/s (765 m/s).
Effective Range:
550 yd (500 m).
Feed System:
Internal box magazine. 5
Sights:
Rear notch, front post. Flip-up anti-air tangent sight



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Where to find

The Arisaka isn't a particularly rare gun on the surplus market and can be found for about $400 in some markets, even showing up on the used racks of gun stores.


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Complexity

The Type 38 has a very strong bolt that will last for quite some time, and like many bolt-actions the sheer simplicity of the action ensures reliability. Unfortunately, ammunition can be difficult to come by.

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Controls

  • Safety: Located on the rear of the bolt. Turn to the left for SAFE, right for FIRE.
  • Bolt handle: Located on the right side of the bolt.
  • Floor plate catch: Located on the front of the inside of the trigger guard.

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Loading

Condition One, or "Locked and Cocked." Chamber loaded, magazine full, hammer cocked and safety applied.

  1. Point the weapon in a safe direction. Critical step in case it accidentally discharges!
  2. Turn the safety to the left to activate it.
  3. Pull the bolt handle up and pull it back to expose the magazine.
  4. If loading with a stripper clip, place the clip into the clip guide at the rear of the receiver and push the rounds into the magazine with your thumb. Remove the clip. If loading single rounds, push them down into the magazine one by one until it is full.
  5. Pushing the rounds in the magazine down with your thumb, take a single round and push it into the chamber.
  6. Push the bolt handle forward and down to close and lock it.
Condition Two. Chamber loaded, magazine full, hammer down, safety off.

    Cannot be done.

Condition Three. Chamber empty, magazine full, hammer down, safety off.

  1. Point the weapon in a safe direction. Critical step in case it accidentally discharges!
  2. Pull the bolt handle up and pull it back to expose the magazine.
  3. If loading with a stripper clip, place the clip into the clip guide at the rear of the receiver and push the rounds into the magazine with your thumb. Remove the clip. If loading single rounds, push them down into the magazine one by one until it is full.
  4. Pushing the rounds in the magazine down with your thumb, push the bolt handle forward until it rides over the top cartridge. Close and lock the bolt handle.

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Unloading

How to unload the firearm and make safe. Presented in a numbered list.

  1. Point the weapon in a safe direction. Critical step in case it accidentally discharges!
  2. Turn the safety to the left to activate it.
  3. Turn the rifle over and depress the floor plate catch.
  4. Pull the magazine floor plate down and let the rounds inside spill out.
  5. Turn the rifle over and pull the bolt handle up and back to eject the round in the chamber. Examine the magazine and chamber for any ammunition.
  6. Close and lock the bolt handle and floor plate.
  7. Deactivate the safety.
  8. Pull the trigger.

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Field Stripping

How to disassemble the firearm for cleaning. Presented in a numbered list.

  1. Point the weapon in a safe direction. Critical step in case it accidentally discharges!
  2. Unload the weapon as described above.
  3. Open the bolt and pull the bolt catch on the left side of the receiver outward. Pull the bolt out the back of the gun.
  4. Remove the receiver cover.
  5. Pull out the cleaning rod under the barrel.
  6. Depress the floor plate catch and pull the floor plate down. Remove the floor plate, magazine follower, and spring.
  7. Remove the trigger guard screws and tang screw behind the trigger guard. Remove the lower tang and trigger guard and magazine assembly.
  8. Depress the bayonet band retaining spring on the bottom-front of the handguard and remove the bayonet stud.
  9. Depress the lower band spring and slide the barrel band over it to remove.
  10. Lift the rear sight tang and slide the handguard forward off the rifle.
  11. Lift out the barrel and receiver as a single part.
  12. Remove the upper tang.
  13. Remove the front and rear sling swivel screws and remove the sling swivels.
  14. Unscrew the lower and upper buttplate screws and remove the buttplate.
  15. Lightly tap out the sear pin from the receiver and remove the trigger and sear spring.
Reverse to reassemble.



chitoryu12
chitoryu12
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