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Winning Bid US $281 First bid $150 Quantity 1 # of bids 6 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2025-07-28 00:00:00 Ended 2025-11-21 22:35:25

Kokura Arsenal (Japan), Model: Type 38 Chinese converted, Cal: 7.92x57mm (8mm Mauser), MFG: 1930s, S/N: 38351 (22nd series). Bolt action rifle, 31 1/4'' barrel.

HISTORY: This is a Japanese made type 38 that was converted to 8mm Mauser by the nationalist Chinese government during the Chinese civil war of 1945-48. The nationalist government standardized its military on the 8mm Mauser cartridge as they had hundreds of thousands of Mauser rifles & carbines chambered in it that made up the bulk of their arms. They also received large quantities of Japanese Arisakas from War reparations & from the Japanese arsenals they took over. These would mostly be converted at the 60th arsenal (located at original Jingling Arsenal, Nanjing), & some were converted at the 90th arsenal (Mukden arsenal) but they were mainly making & converting type 99 rifles to 8mm Mauser. These rifles were originally issued to rear line garrison troops, but because of the great losses of front-line troops during the war, these troops were moved to the front-line role & these rifles will see use. After the Communist won, the program would be taken over by them & these rifles would arm the PRC peoples militia. They would convert the rifles by boring the bores to 8mm, notching the top of the receiver to fit the longer cartridge, the magazine was cut & stretched by welding in sheet metal fillers on the sides. These would normally have a recoil cross bolt added to the stock to deal with the added recoil of the 8mm round. This rifles stock is missing the crossbolt & hot loaded ammo should not be used as it could crack the stock with repeated use.

CONDITION: The semi-pistol grip wood stock is good with various nicks, dings, dents, & scratches from use/age. The stock has shrunk/worn down in spots over the years & the metal is proud to the wood around the toe, & slightly around the upper & lower tang. The two-piece buttstock is normal for Japanese rifles of this era, this was done to make the stocks stronger, easier to repair, & made better use of the wood to make the stock. Bottom of the wrist has a faint Japanese cartouche. The right cheek of the stock stamped 44. The metal was likely re-blued when converted with smoothed over deep pitting all on the barrel. The metal has toned to gray & brown patina. Most markings are faded from wear. The left side of the receiver is marked with the series mark, S/N, the Kokura Arsenal logo, & one small inspectors stamp. The top of the receiver is marked in Chinese from right to left 7 9 Mouth Diameter. The right end of the barrel marked with import markings. S/N mismatched bolt & front barrel band. The bore is good to fair. Its bright but has thinned rifling & consistent roughness & pitting throughout the bore. The barrel holds a barleycorn front sight with protective ears, & a flip up ladder, V-notch rear sight marked 5 to 20. The stock carries a steel buttplate, toned to a gray/brown patina & spots of wear showing gun metal gray. Rifle has both bottom sling loops. Rifle missing the cleaning rod. Rifle appears to mechanically function fine, but with the nature of a old re-chamber should be inspected by a gunsmith before firing. FFL or C&R Req - Value: 300 to 600

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Price

Kokura Arsenal (Japan), Model: Type 38 Chinese converted, Cal: 7... Item # 4493 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $281

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