Here's a rifle my Grandad brought back from Japan after WWII...

Arisaka Type 38 Carbine, 6.5x50mm



Like most other Arisaka models from the era, the Japanese imperial seal, a chrysanthemum blossum, has been crudely removed from the receiver. These rifles were considered property of the empire and if a Japanese soldier thought he was in danger of being captured, he would destroy the seal before his rifle fell into enemy hands. The most common method of removal was by hacking at the seal with their bayonet...

The Arisaka bolt-action rifle saw heavy use everywhere the Imperial Japanese Army fought. Prior to World War II, Arisakas were used by the British Navy, Russian Army, in Finland and Albania. The Czech Legion that fought in the Russian Revolution were almost entirely armed with Type 30 and 38 Arisakas. Many captured Arisaka rifles were employed by neighboring countries both during and after World War II, in places such as China, Thailand and Cambodia. However, after the Japanese surrender in the summer of 1945, all manufacturing of rifles and ammunition stopped abruptly, causing the Arisaka to quickly become obsolete. Since most Imperial Japanese Armory contents were thrown into Tokyo Harbor after the signing of the surrender, spare ammunition also became rare. Additional 6.5×50mm Arisaka ammunition was, however, produced in China for use in their captured Arisaka rifles.



One of the final standing orders of the Imperial Army was to file off the Emperor's family Chrysanthemum insignia, or Mum, from each of the rifles, thereby preventing dishonor from having the symbol fall into surrender. Therefore, the value of one of the rifles to a collector is slightly higher if the insignia, referred to by collectors as a "Mum", is intact, as this implies the rifle was captured on the battlefield prior to Japan's surrender. The only insignias that survive on Arisakas are those brought back to the USA by GIs as war trophies, and those captured by Chinese forces.

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Great pic and info Shooter,

I didn't get a pic of the receiver on his, but the seal was crudely removed...