ID these two old vets for me, please.

[Ganderite]

This is a well made Arisaka rifle, with an intact Mum. I think it is a pre-war action, but do not know that to be a fact. It has obviously been re-built post war for a new customer (Thailand??). The wood is very nice, caliber is 30-06 and the front sight has an American look to it. I have seen only one other like it. It hangs on the wall in the RCMI and is mis-identified as a WW2 Arisaka.

Because of the caliber and the peep sight, I have shot this rifle from time to time in military matches. It shoots better than my Mauser and Springfield.

I would love to find out exactly what it is and the current value.

This is a Caracano in 6.5mm. I have no idea when or why I acquired it. I had to wipe the cosmo off the bolt to take these pictures. Given its age, it is in pretty good shape. The action number matches the big cartouche number on the butt. Rear sight looks strange. I assume it is old. What is it? And value?

 

[smellie]

Arisaka is a Type 38 6.5mm rifle rebuilt post-War Two for Thailand as a .30-'06. As you have discovered, they are ACCURATE.

DEFINITELY the rifle for the guy who wants the Best of All Possible Worlds. (Sincere apologies to Voltaire!)
*********************

The CARCANO is an original Fucile 91, the father of the entire series.

The butt marking is a rebuild mark, I am assuming.

There should be a Barrel Date on the right side of the action, above the Chamber, 2 figures only on most rifles; mine are 17 and 18. Italian Vetterlis were dated with 4 figures right to the end of production (I have one marked 1892) but I don't know about the early Carcanos, so I will sit up here on my cloud and look very wise...... and avoid your perfectly-sound question!

I DO hope this is a bit of help, anyway.

BTW, with a bit of effort, you can get a Carcano to shoot just WONDERFULLY.... and very little recoil.

 

[cote_b]

I had one of those Arisakas and I regret trading it away

 

[smellie]

Hi, Ganderite!

Looking a bit closer at your photos, I realise (at freakin' last!) that there is an original factory manufacturing crest UNDER that 1946 rebuild marking on your Butt.

If you head to your local Dollar Store and pick up a Black Light Bulb (75 cents plus tax, not more than a couple bucks even in BC!) you might be able to bring that marking out much better. What you do is shine the Black Light onto the wood and see what becomes visible. Black Light is actually UV, so shield your eyes from the direct rays: we were not designed to take that much UV. The die which makes the markings on the wood COMPRESSES the wood and this shows up much better under UV. This is a stamp-collectors' trick which has proven quite useful in detecting worn or obliterated markings on rifle wood. It has been used on several heavily-sanded Rosses with success.

Hope this helps.

 

[Ganderite]

"There should be a Barrel Date on the right side of the action, above the Chamber, 2 figures only on most rifles; mine are 17 and 18. "

Yup. 17