The Type 44 rifle was a bolt-action rifle used by the Imperial Japanese Army from 1912 to 1945. It was developed to replace the earlier Type 38 rifle, which was first introduced in 1905 and proved to be reliable but lacked certain features that were becoming more important for military use. The Type 44 was designed by Colonel Arisaka Nariakira, who had also designed the Type 38 rifle. It was named after the year in which it was adopted, 44th year of the Meiji era (1911 in the Gregorian calendar). The Type 44 was the last in a series of rifles developed by the Japanese military, and it incorporated features from earlier designs while also introducing some new ones.

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One of the most significant features of the Type 44 was its folding bayonet, which was designed to make the rifle more versatile in close combat situations. The bayonet was attached to the barrel and could be folded back along the length of the rifle when not in use. This made the rifle easier to carry and handle, and it also made it less likely that the bayonet would be damaged during transport. Another feature of the Type 44 was its internal magazine, which could hold five rounds of 6.5x50mm Arisaka ammunition. The rifle was loaded using a stripper clip, which could be quickly inserted into the magazine. This made the rifle faster to reload than the Type 38, which had a fixed magazine that required individual rounds to be loaded manually. The Type 44 was also lighter and shorter than the Type 38, which made it more maneuverable in combat. It had an overall length of 1,150mm and a weight of 3.8kg, compared to the Type 38's length of 1,300mm and weight of 4.2kg.

The Type 44 saw widespread use during World War II, and it was used by Japanese troops in China, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific theater. It was generally well-regarded by soldiers for its reliability and ease of use, although some criticize its accuracy at longer ranges.  This is because the bullet had a relatively low ballistic coefficient, which caused it to drop more quickly and lose velocity at longer distances. This made it less effective for engaging targets at extended ranges compared to cartridges like the American .30-06 or the German 7.92x57mm Mauser.

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This specific rifle has an  "X" mark over the chrysanthemum, also known as the "mum," on the rifle's receiver as a symbol of the defacement of the Imperial Seal of Japan. The chrysanthemum, or "kiku" in Japanese, has been used as a symbol of the Japanese imperial family for centuries. The Imperial Seal of Japan, which features a stylized chrysanthemum flower, was used to mark official government property, including military equipment. During the Allied occupation of Japan after World War II, the practice of defacing the Imperial Seal was implemented to symbolize the disbandment of the Japanese military and the end of the imperial system's militaristic era. The intent was to remove symbols associated with Japan's wartime aggression and foster a new era of democracy and peace.

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

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