Arisaka Type I

F

frank30

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Hello everyone,

I just received a rifle in the mail and thought Id post some pics since I don't see many Type Is in Canada.

These rifles were made by Italy for the Japanese navy and were chambered in 6.5x50. They were made with two stock lengths, the longer of the two were the first to be delivered and the shorter followed at the request of the Japanese. Its estimated that 60,000-80,000 were produced (Not sure how accurate that is) and the arsenals that produced them were:

Gardone VT A,B,C,D,E, and F block
FNA Brescia G,H, and I block
Beretta J,K, and L block

My example looks to have been issued and being serial G1 would have been the first produced at FNA Brescia

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I would expect it to be accurate rifle if it wasn't abused and rifling is good.

What would worry me a bit is the cracked butstock.It it made from 2 pieces dovetailed together?Would that make it Japanese made stock?
 
2 piece buttstock. I regret not buying the excellent condition one I saw, although it is rumoured the chambers are off center on these.
 
Yep Mig25 is right, it’s a two piece stock dovetailed. It’s rock solid, ive had it out shooting with no problems but I can’t speak on accuracy. I’m a terrible shot. I imported it from the states, it was a gunbroker item and wasn’t listed as anything special.
 
Mig25, that's the first time I've seen anyone report the chambers on the Jap Type1 rifles had crooked chambers.

I've had the pleasure of owning/shooting a couple over the years and they were all capable of excellent accuracy, with good ammunition.

I still have one and I like it a lot.

OP, as far as being issued? From your very good pics, I don't see any stamps on your rifle to indicate it had been issued.

The Japanese did issue some of them to their navy and we know what happened to their navy.

When the allies occupied Japan, they found a warehouse full of Type 1 rifles, still new in the crates. Supposedly they had issues with the bolt handles breaking off. Mine seems as solid as any other military bolt.

The Japanese ordered them not quite completed.

Many of them had raw wood stocks, which needed to have a finish applied. None of them had the Chrysanthemum crest roll stamped onto the receiver ring. All of that was supposed to be done in Japan.

I don't know about the issue rifles. I've never seen an issue rifle to my knowledge. I would think that some escaped DJ's locker.

They to have some compatible features with the Arisaka. The trigger guard/floor plate is reminiscent of both the Carcano and Arisaka blended together.

The Type 1 seems to be smoother operating than any other Carcano, I've used, as well.

Recoil, as you know is very mild.

Your rifle appears to have had a coat of Linseed Oil applied and done well. I've seen them with raw wood, with no finish but sanded and ready, a light coat of dull grey or brown sealer and with the finish you have on your rifle (very few)

Alan Lever brought in several crates of them back in the mid sixties. I believe they came from International but they may also have come from the UK.


Most of the Type 1 rifles I've seen were in VG+ to Exc condition unless someone shot corrosive ammo through them and didn't clean them properly.

Overall, they are excellent handling rifles and very strong. I saw one that was rebarreled and had a lot of work done to turn it into a lovely sporter, chambered for the 243 Win. It was a labor of love IMHO.

They were much easier to turn into a sporter than the average Carcano, simply because they didn't require enblocs to hold the cartridges in the magazine.

Very nice rifle.

There aren't a lot of them left anywhere. Most are squirreled away in the dark recesses of of closets or safes and their owners have no idea what they are.

To bad, because they are very accurate, albeit a bit long. Mind you. being long makes it easier for those of us getting long in the tooth to see both sights with clear definition
 
I’m still learning about these but I assumed it would have been issued due to a sling with markings in it. From what others have told me the top two symbols may correspond to a place and the bottom two is the number 65. Could it be some kind of unit marking?
 
frank30 said:
I’m still learning about these but I assumed it would have been issued due to a sling with markings in it. From what others have told me the top two symbols may correspond to a place and the bottom two is the number 65. Could it be some kind of unit marking?
Click to expand...

That sling could have come from an Arisaka.
 
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