History of WWI Primer 032: Japanese "Arisaka" Type 38 Documentary 

P. O. Ackley converted a type 38 to 30-06 and loaded extremely overpressured rounds in order to torture test the action. After failing to blow the rifle up, he recorded it as one of the strongest actions ever developed.

My great-grandfather brought back a captured Type 38 from the island of Saipan when he returned from service in the Pacific War. It might just be my favorite rifle because my fascination with it at an early age inspired my love for firearms history and design.

Thank you I’m Japanese but I only knew Nanbu by the hand gun. Didn’t know he was the designer of more famous type 38.

Hi y'all, I am a retired South Carolina Deputy Sheriff and in my last 15 years of service I was the departments Quartermaster and Armorer. I inherited a rusty Arisaka Type 99. I have completely restored the weapon to firing condition. My Grandfather sent it to my Father from the South Pacific. Prior to the 99 all of my experience was with modern firearms, but I completely enjoyed the process and have since had the chance to work on a M 1 Carbine. Didn't touch the finish on it just a thorough cleaning and replaced all the springs. I am enjoying your videos. Thanks .

I think the reason for the rumors of soldiers ditching the dust covers is simple, the Marines and GIs who captured them found them unnecessary and pitched them before taking home their trophies

As a Korean, the fat that these rifles were even manufactured in Incheon. The Japanese colonial policy has focused heavy industrialization in the Northern Area of the peninsula. And two short-and-interesting stories for those who read my comments. One; these rifles were one of the most common rifles seen in the hands of Korean Freedom Fighters. Since Japan has placed Military Police throughout Korea to force marshal laws, it was pretty dam easy just to go to the local police armory and grabbing one - assuming if you didn't get caught in the way. Two; even after the liberation of Japan's colonies after WW2, these rifles were still in use by the militaries on both sides of the Korean Peninsula - mostly due to the fact that there was a HUGE stockpile of Japanese arms in Korea. That's all for now and Kudos to Othias, Mae, and every other person who devote long hours or money to help this show rolling!From South Korea, Jack the Korean Gun Nut.

31:31 InRangeTV conducted a mud test on the Arisaka Type 38, and the dust cover absolutely done its job. It out performed both the K98k and the Mosin-Nagant that they've tested. As I commented on that video, the dust cover was not this lousy, impractical feature as some have proclaimed it to be.

我々日本人にもわかりやすい説明をありがとうございます Thank you upload very nice video

my grandfather worked at the kokura arsenal when the bombs were dropped. thanks to the cloud cover, he didnt have an atomic bomb dropped on him and my mom was born in 1949.

大切に扱ってくれていて嬉しい

“I know it’s not the most attractive thing in the world” Me: it’s freaking beautiful!

Glorious Nippon Steel.

三八式歩兵銃ほんとイケメン

Great-Granddad brought one back from the Pacific. It was built in 1934 in the Mukden arsenal (Manchuria). It preforms beautifully out to 200 yards and cycles with no problems. I totally agree with your choice of favorite rifle.

日本語翻訳たすかります！！

Learning about Japan in ww1 is actually pretty cool

I remember all of the History channel documentaries about Japanese small arms and how junky and/or awkward they were. I fell into that crowd as well because of those documentaries. But since watching you guys and other RU-vid channels and going on to more informed websites and authors, I've since rescinded my old opinions. The Japanese type 38 is probably one of my favorite bolt-action rifles ever made. I have yet to shoot one, however.

I am glad that you have studied Japanese rifles in detail and cherished them so much. Great report.

Thank you for commentary based on an objective historical view. I was impressed by the rich knowledge of the distributor. From Japan.

Semi-Rimmed ammo, for the extractor's pleasure.

日本の銃を愛してくれてありがとう これからもずっと大事にしてください

My father brought a type 38 back from the pacific in 1945. I have has the rifle in my possession for the past 15+ years. I think it shoots amazingly well. As a matter of fact the only thing that has prevented me from "shooting the fire out of it" has been ammunition availability. Now that I have a stash of quality Norma brass stockpiled, I will be purchasing a die set so I can start hand loading.

sleeve type striker adds another layer of steel between the spring, and the atmospheric elements intent on corroding it. it gives as much support as a wire guide, but greatly simplifies re-assembly (no dolls head whose neck must be broken to disassemble, or lined up to reassemble), as everything going into the rifle fits inside the piece in front of it (for those illiterate rice farmer conscripts). body slides forward onto extractor, sleeved pin slides forward into bolt body, spring slides forward into pin, pin on safety cap slides forward into spring. no mystery, no ambiguity, no muss, no fuss. everything slides "OUT" to disassemble, in nice regimented order, no "hand jive" manipulations needed. assembly is basically just packing stuff in by size places, same thing though, all 1 direction, front to back, only "IN" in every case, also with a complete lack of any "secret handshake" manipulations. it is basically an absolutely idiot proof bolt, which is about as rare as hen's teeth, honestly. it also comes as close to eliminating primer salt contamination of the spring as humanly possible, another major plus in the glory days of chlorate primers. that nambu was just about the john browning of japan, wasn't the wiley old cat?

In TROTCS (Thai Reserve Officer Training Corps Student) It call Siam Mauser Type 66 it use 8×52. They have a lot of this gun and It use for lot of training. Ps. Without firing pin,dead bolt and missing rear sight lol. 😅 Sorry for my English if it wrong.

Great channel, family friendly, and almost (But not) excruciating in detail... a true treasure trove of knowledge

Really great video! Thanks for taking the time and energy to make this.

Thank you from Japan😄👍🇯🇵

It is not easy finding the fact about which type was used where during WW2. I searched for a long time for this information on the web to no avail. Many thanks to Othias for clearing things up : Type 99 mainly on the pacific islands and Burma, Type 38 mainly in China.

Excellent video! Dad had fought at Luzon and had brought home a type 38 carbine, and my brother and I found it to be a great shooter despite the WW2 propaganda that was still around. One issue, and I'm surprised you guys didn't say anything about it, that is the oversized chambers that the manufactures build into their weapons. The Japanese military determined that using oversized chambers aided in casing exaction, especially in automatic weapons, but used them in all their infantry weapons. This doesn't present a problem until you start reloading. My brother and I found that the casing will rupture on about the 3rd time the bullet is reloaded, and thank GAWD for the vent system in this rifle!!! It wasn't until years later I found out a trick that can be used to get more reloads from fired cases, that is to put a 1/4" wide piece of tape just ahead of the rim groove. This helps center the casing in the chamber so all the expansion is spread around the casing and not to just one side (which is normal on casings fired in oversized chambers). AGAIN great video, I enjoyed the history.

That qualified second favorite selection by Mae seemed instigated by a desire to avoid hurting Othais's feelings.

These vids have a lot of re-watch to them, thanks for the effort :D

The AK of bolt-actions. Fine rifle, never you mind the detractors. I'd love to have one as much as I want a Garand and Mauser.👍👍👍

YES!!!!! Finally, I have been waiting for this video! Thank you, Curios & Relics Arsenal.

I can only speak for my self, but with out a Shadow of doubt, i am most defiantly still enjoying your videos and long for every episode.The time draws ever near to when i will be able to help you through Patreon. Keep up the great work and long may the best channel on RU-vid prosper. Thank you for everything. Huge love from the UK.

Fantastic. As ALWAYS. I have one of these and it is a solid rifle. Thanks for the history and the shooting. You guys ROCK

31:00 *Othais profusely declares his never ending love for the type 38*

Awesome video... big help to me and my garage sale type 38... thanks for posting

Great episode! Thanks and we're glad to have you too ;).

Thank you for sharing a nice video. I'm astonished at your knowledge of Arisaka rifle which was designed by Nariakira Arisaka of "Chosyu", Yamaguchi prefecture.

Fantastic episode! Just shot my Type 99 for the first time last week....great fun!!

Othias, why are you talking about the type 38 while wearing a shirt featuring the type 99? I can see where your loyalties lay.

A very honorable rifle.

It's funny that Othais' Japanese is significantly better than his Italian, lol.

Came here from Forgotten Weapons video auto play listing. I just realised I have let your vids go for seven in a row- excellent thorough videos each time, in depth and shooting too? Gosh. Needless to say, likes are being dropped, subbing is a given, alerts are set and I'm recommending this channel to all my friends into military history. Keep up the excellent work!

凄く詳細で解り易い説明。

Wow these are the best gun videos I've seen

The Type 30 and murata type 22 was used in the Trench war at the Battle of Mukden 1905. Because of their experience the Type 35/38 was born. Very accurate and no kick rifle but a Pain in the butt to reload with their oversized chambers.

I just loooooove the dry dorky burns!! 15:46 had me actually loling, not something I am usually prone to do! Cheers!

A very beautiful rifle, I'm hoping to get one myself soon and as always I try to see what Othias & Mae have to say about the rifle. Really informative videos on this channel.

Another great episode Othias and May! I would wholeheartedly agree that the Type 38 is a beauty, not only simple but rugged and mine is a real tack driver. Keep up the great work and collaboration Indy and the Great War crew....can't get enough

Very informative, very enjoyable. I am now hooked after one episode. I am a Curio and Relic holder. I happen to have a type 38 that I bought in 1989. It is a Tokyo Stacked Cannonball Mark. Serial 1,820,1xx , I'm guessing 1920-1923. Due to the lack of ammo back when I bought it I had it re-chambered to 6.5x55 Swedish. It will clover leaf 3 rounds at 100 yards (until that 800mm barrel warms up, then it walks a bit).

Thank you for making this

Watched all your episodes. Can't wait for the next one. Battlefield 1 news got me to watch this episode again.

Just watched you guys on the Great War channel and now a new video today. Awesome.

I have a type 38 that was my fathers war trophy. He brought it home from Saipan. It is a wonderful rifle to shoot. Mild recoil and very accurate. I only wish that the ammunition was more reasonably priced.

Really enjoy the videos ,,,you and May have it all together ,,,,wonderful combination ,,,,type 38 is one of my favorites !! 😎

Just acquired mine. Thanks for the good info.

great as always, good job!

I love the handsome requirement. The man understood the importance of the soldiers confidence in his weapon.

good job. I find my favorite the type 38 rifle I still hope to see another of the arisaka

Thanks for the history

Re-watching as one of these beauties has found it's way into my collection :D

Love all your videos ;- your no.1 fan from Canada.

Good collection, good care.

I have tons of milsurp rifles including several known for great accuracy such as the Swedish Mauser, K31, M39, Argentine Mausers, etc...but the absolute best group I've ever shot using iron sights is with my mismatched and beat to hell Type 38.

Hi, C&Rsenal, this is a small comment, you showed an emblem (28m:20sec), two circles combined by several ovals inside, that is the emperor' s signs (chrysanthemum). Japan soldiers, after boot training, wore told "this rifle is the donation from Emperor, you never loose, even a small parts".....You mention that they did not remove "dust cover", this is absolutly true, because if he miss the rifle, he will be prisoned..(from Tokyo, many thanks)

Thanks Othias for good and detailed introduction of Type38. A couple of comments to back you up, one, when Type38 was designed and developed the hypothetical battle field for IJA was northern China and Siberia so the rifle was not intended for jungle battle. The purpose of the dust cover is to protect action from sand, spring mad and ice/snow. At the same time, the safety operated as push-turn by palm is totally this reason. Not with modern nice hi-tech material but with cotton or heavy leather gloves on infantry man's hands, this operation is purposely designed. Even with gloves your fingers are all useless or totally dead with frost bite, palm push breaks ice, frozen mud out from the mechanism and make turn the safety. A very reasonable design.

Inrange and C&R posting videos on the Type 38 at the same time, Coincidence ? This worked out fantastic. As always great video and Mae always makes me smile.

You did this wonderful rifle justice. Mr. Nambu would approve. I do too.

My grandfather left me one of these rifles. It still has a engravings on the upper receiver too.

Ah, Pump & Rock.. Also the theme of our senior prom

Very helpful, improved my knowledge of the arisaka 38. Have a model with 5 numbered serial #. Having some problems with bolt.

This needs to be added to the Primer playlist.

Excellent. My Father in law has one found on the battlefield in the South Pacific during WWII.

I hear back song when a lady shoot nambu38, that is a Japan-Manchuria army's (Kanto Gun) military song. It says "several hundreds miles from patriot land, far away in Manchuria, friends who punished enemies, are now in field under rocks....Thus we Japanese reminders the victory of Japono-russo war (1904~05). Big thanks for your RU-vid mouvie (from Tokyo).

Wonderful channel.

I really like Nambu, one of my favourite arms designers.

射程距離の長い銃で、しかも泥の入らないようにカバーつけてますもんね

I'm really excited for the type99 video

As a Chinese I have such a complicated feeling toward this gun. On one hand I like how effective this gun can be but on the other hand I cannot forget how much destruction it have done to my ancestors

Just stumbled on your channel! It's awesome!

他の動画にも日本語字幕ほしいなぁ

日本でもなかなか入手のしにくい情報ですね…。 ありがとうございます！！

I purchased a type 38 that was sporterized several years ago and as neglected and poorly treated as it was it is one of my favorite hunting and plinking rifles so I agree with you both.

I have a carbine and long type 38 and the dust cover does make operating the bolt a touch notchy but without it the action is super smooth. Its not a mauser safety more a carcano safety but it works fine

*_Sapperiour Jappunisu steeru_* -I had to say it with a stereotypical Japanese accent Awesome video as always Othias, I am really happy that someone knows his guns and praise them without bias

This gave me a new appreciation of the Type 38, 6.5x50 seems like it would be popular even today....nearly Creedmoor? This is close if not the best firearms content on the web and I look forward to every video, thanks.

Just got a Type 99 and a Type 38 in the last couple weeks. Already have some good cast loads worked up for the 99, but the 38 is going to be the real challenge from what I hear. (with cast loads, at least) Metford rifling + undersized brass and loading dies + generous bore diameters =\= a good time.

Excellent segment,

Great videos! Speaking of 6.5mm cartridges, please do a segment on the Swedish Mauser type 1896.

外人が熱く語っている。しかし、日本人は知らないのが悲しい。

love the fact that y'all played Comrade in arms in the background

Lmao "i've got fingers, I like using them."...that sounds like a great innuendo and almost certainly should be put on a t-shirt...epic. Also great video as to be expected.

'Maegun' sounds positively oriental.

I live in Incheon! I honestly didn't expect to learn something about my city while watching this video. It's quite cool to know that some of those beautiful rifles were produced here. Thank you for making cool videos BTW.

I want to know more about the French using the Type 38 Arisaka. I keep hearing that the French purchased some Type 38 Arisaka, but cant find more information. Help please!

One of my all time favorite rifles.

Thanks for posting. We have two type 38s at the museum I volunteer.

Cartridge similarity. Compare the 6.5x53mmR (Dutch), the 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schonauer, the 6.5mm Carcano and the 6.5x50mm (Type 38) cartridges. Looking over the specification listings in Cartridges of the World they are within a couple of hundreds of an inch. (smaller than one millimeter). They have several different rims and the Carcano has a goofy (different) bore diameter. Even so, the cartridges are nearly interchangeable. The biggest difference is the Japanese cartridge used a 139 grain (9 gram) bullet rather than the other three using 160 grain (10.1 gram) bullets. Push type safety. I have heard or read the design of the safety was to ease handling in cold weather or wearing gloves. One can be inconvenienced by either and still work the safety rather easily. Strength of action and 'burst' rifles in Arabia. As you say, and others - including a couple friends of mine who field tested the type 38 action privately - and render the same finding. Could it be the rifles 'burst' in Arabia might have destroyed barrels with obstructions, rendering the arm useless (without a high echelon repair facility) without damaging the action? Just a thought, not a hill upon for me to die. Collecting WWI (and era) rifles is one of my interests. I do not yet own a Type 38 (I shall endeavor not to call it an "Arisaka"). It is on my list. I mainly need to find one in my looking.

Given the smallish stature of the Japanese troops, they must have found this rifle very awkward. I heard of a guy who had his converted to .30-06 as he could not find correct ammo. He complained about the excessive recoil to his gunsmith.. Even though it was no .30 caliber the bore remained 6.5. A testament to the strength of this rifle.