#3902 Arisaka Type 38 rifle, British Army, cal. 6.5 Jap.

#3902 Arisaka M1905 (Type 38) carbine, cal. 6.5 Jap. Manufacturer: Koishikawa Kōshō Arsenal (produced at this arsenal from 1906 to 1935). Barrel bore: the rifling is distinct, but the entire bore is covered with small pits and a matte finish. It simply wasn’t cleaned after shooting at some point—the passage of time has taken its toll. No postwar stamps—only period stamps are present.

A very interesting example, with ORIGINAL British Army regimental markings from World War I: volunteer cavalry (Y, Yeomanry), 2nd Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment (GR).

At the start of World War I, to make up for arms shortages, Great Britain purchased around 130,000–150,000 Type 38 rifles and carbines and issued them to its forces. They were marked with regimental stamps, like standard British Enfields, but, of course, due to their design, in different places: on the top or sides of the receivers, on the buttplates, and also on the wood. Just as on this example. British factories also began producing 6.5 ammunition.

After developing its own standard arms production, Britain began gradually selling these Arisakas to Tsarist Russia in 1915. In total, around 128,000 were delivered there by the end of World War I.

However, not all had been sold by the time of the Bolshevik coup. In 1925, exactly 17,418 remained in British warehouses. They were eventually sold to Finland via Sweden.

This example comes from that very shipment, having been acquired from a very old collection in that country.

We recommend it. Once again, we’re pleased to offer a truly interesting firearm that served several countries across both world wars.

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