The ship captain usually required the bolts to be removed and stored in a barrel during the trip, so it was normal to get someone else's bolt unless you marked it. In fact, according to witnesses, many times a deuce and a half truck was parked on the pier and they were handed out.'Here's your souvenir'. It's a known fact that returning G.I.s were allowed to bring a captured rifle back. If they don't match, the bolt was likely swapped out by mistake during its return to the U.S.

If they match you have an arsenal original. The most important numbers on an Arisaka.ANY Arisaka.are the bolt and receiver numbers. Gunboards' 'Japanese collector's Boards' has very large amount of excellent information.

Those bolt numbers did match the assembly number on the underside of the receiver, therefore correct.Īlso on an assembled rifle check the action screws to see if they are still peened with center punch like mark at end of screw slot, this usually indicates it has never been disassembled after manufacture. Dealer had them marked as mismatched.įor instance, had a mismatch rifle whose number on bolt parts didn't match serial number. Have seen many 'non matched' Arisakas for sale which were original and matched, just not to the receiver serial number. Unless you have a valuable model(arsenal etc.) Then determine how much parts from it would be worth versus correct parts to complete yours.(in my experience it will be 150-175% of what the rifle would be worth) You need to find out which arsenal, series, serial number and assembly number your rifle is/has. You would do far better just buying a complete T38 rifle.Can't help but think this is best advice all around. Yes, Liberty Tree Collectors, Numrich (e-gun parts) and SARCO will likely have everything you need, but it will still end up with a rifle that is totally mismatched by serial number, arsenal and series.

Hate to rain on your thoughts, but the cost of all the parts you will need to turn that T38 barred action into a complete rifle, will far exceed the value of the completed rifle.

Arisaka Type 38 Serial Number Lookup