Arisaka Type 30 Rifle………… (F 1262)

Arisaka Type 30 Infantry Rifle by Tokyo

Adopted in 1897 as successor to the Murrata Type 22; this was the Type 30, so named as it was produced in the 30th year of the Meiji Emperor’s reign.  However, the Russo-Japanese war gave strong hints that it was not really up to the job.  However, it is an important rifle in the developement into the Arisaka era.  It seeded some of the basics that the Arisaka eventually held as standards.  It was a strange merging of Mauser and Mannlicher design features.  The main mechanism was that of a turn-bolt system, with a straight bolt arm, an internal box magazine and a safety at the rear of the bolt.  Most noticeable, visually, was the “hook Safety” which lies in a horizontal position. To all other intents and purposes, it looks like a regular long barrelled infantry rifle of the era.  It even has the familiar long finger grooves in each side of the forend.

The Mannlicher influence was the inclusion of a seperate bolt head and an extractor mounted on the same.  Otherwise many early and there-after permanent Arisaka features are visible.  The buttstock is constructed using two pieces of timber, dovetailed together lengthways.  This was an ingenious way to save timber in the initial stages of manufacture.  The rest of the stock is highly conventional with a long main piece and a handguard over the barrel.

Chambered in 6.5 x 50mm with a 5-shot internal magazine.  Clip loaded from above through groove in front of rear action bridge.  The rifle measures 50″ overall.  The round blued barrel is nearly 31″ long and the trigger Pull to centre is 13″. The crest of the reciver is clearly marked with the Imperial Chrysanthemum, with the model designation running vertically below in Kanji script.  Either side of these are the gas escape holes.  Close inspection of the Chrysanthemum shows the later addition of small circles, stamped into its perimeter.  This usually means the rifle went to a civilian training establishment like a school or college after service use.

On the action outerwall LHS is a later, overstamped circle ( educational ) adjacent to the serial number ” 8229 ” followed by the manufacturers mark for Tokyo /  two other script markings;- meaning currently unknown. Bolt release catch to rear of LHS of action.  Unfortunately, the bolt does not match as it has the numerals “13” on the root of the arm.  Although very tall, the ladder sight only carries the graduations of 300 to 1500 meters.  Bolt and magazine follower finished in the white, the balance originally blued.  Most main components have retained a very good degree of blueing, the balance changing from greys, through to plumb brown.  Action smooth.  Barrel dark – would benefit from the enthusiasium of a new owner…..

Once again a rare item for the collector and an important step in Japanese rifle development.

FAC Required.  –  Stock No’ F 1262

(Rifle is awaiting proof before release.)

£ 1495.

 

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