Offered here is an original early-production Japanese Type 38 Arisaka service rifle, chambered in the historic 6.5×50mmSR Arisaka cartridge. Renowned for its exceptionally strong action, reliability, and accuracy, the Type 38 was one of the principal service rifles of the Imperial Japanese Army and remained in military use through the Second World War.
This example was manufactured by the Koishikawa (Tokyo) Artillery Arsenal and belongs to the early no-series production system, serial number 1498***. The receiver bears the distinctive stacked cannonball arsenal mark associated with Koishikawa production.
The rifle retains a highly desirable, honest military appearance, exhibiting decades of natural service and handling wear with no obvious signs of major refinishing or heavy restoration. The stock displays genuine handling marks, dings, and field wear consistent with its age and military use, while remaining structurally solid with no significant cracks or major repairs observed.
The metal finish retains a naturally aged military patina, preserving the rifle's historical character rather than the appearance of an aggressively refinished example. The bore remains strong with well-defined rifling, and the action cycles smoothly. The rifle retains its full-length military configuration and original military ladder rear sight, and is fitted with an original Type 38 dust cover.
Overall, this is a very attractive early Koishikawa (Tokyo) Arsenal Type 38 Arisaka, retaining much of its original military character and classic service-rifle configuration. Its honest service wear and period components make it a desirable representative example for a Japanese military firearms collection.
