INFO

The Type 38 Carbine, also known as the Arisaka Carbine, was a Japanese bolt-action rifle used during World War II. The rifle was developed by the Imperial Japanese Army in 1905 and was the standard issue rifle for Japanese soldiers until the end of World War II.

The Type 38 Carbine was named after its adoption year, which was the 38th year of Emperor Meiji's reign. The rifle was produced in a number of different variants, including a cavalry carbine, a short rifle, and a long rifle. The carbine variant was particularly popular due to its lightweight and compact size, which made it well-suited for use by cavalry units.

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The Type 38 Carbine had a 5-round internal magazine and fired the 6.5x50mm Arisaka cartridge. The rifle was 50 inches long and weighed just over 7 pounds. The carbine variant was shorter, at 40 inches long, and weighed around 6 pounds.

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The markings may include the symbol or name of the manufacturer. For example, the Kokura Arsenal is often represented by a symbol resembling the character "ko" (小), while the Nagoya Arsenal features the character "na" (名) within a circle. Additionally, the markings may specify the series or model designation, such as "Type 38" or "Type 38 Cavalry." Many rifles bear a marking indicating the production year, which can be represented by a single character denoting the last digit or a combination of characters representing the full year in the Japanese Imperial era calendar. Inspection and proof marks, in the form of small symbols or characters, may also be present to indicate successful quality control or proof testing.

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The Type 38 Carbine saw action in a number of conflicts throughout the first half of the 20th century. The rifle was used extensively by Japanese forces during World War I, the Russo-Japanese War, and the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was also used by Japanese forces during the Pacific War, including in the Battle of Midway and the Battle of Guadalcanal.

The link below is a great  reference guide for all the different Japanese markings. 

 link:https://oldmilitarymarkings.com/japanese_markings.html