During the War, however, they were two of the most popular Japanese infantry weapons around. Arisaka Type 99Īpproximately 3.5 million units were constructed during that 6-year period, and at the end of the war, both the Type 38 and Type 99 were taken out of service. Even though the Japanese wanted to replace the Type 38 with the 99, the outbreak of the War in the Pacific caused their plans to change. Both Types would go on to be used during WWII. The Type 38 was being phased out in favor of its successor, the Type 99. Different calibers and cartridges were being used by enemy forces, and this made the Japanese rethink their standard issue infantry service rifle.
Arisaka Type 38Īction: bolt-action, magazine-fed (5 rounds)īy 1939, the Japanese understood that the long-used Type 38 rifle had been outmatched and outdone by technological advancement in the battlefield. The bayonet was grooved and rather thin, and it could be used mounted or unmounted. Like the Type 30 which came before it, and the Type 99 which followed it, the Type 38 could be fitted with a Type 30 Bayonet, which was designed to give the relatively short Japanese infantryman a better chance against cavalry and enemy infantry. The build was of wood and metal, like the others in the series. The Japanese built approximately 3.4 million of them during that time, with the common variants being a carbine and cavalry carbine. You may also enjoy our Asian Firearms Overview Arisaka Type 30 SpecsĪction: bolt-action, magazine-fed (internal, 5 rounds)Ĭaliber: 6.5mm (supporting the 6.5x50mm Arisaka cartridge)ĭesigned in 1905 and immediately put into service, the Type 38 was in use by the Japanese forces until 1945. Over the years, over half a million units of the Type 30 were built, and it spawned many variants. Both were put into service in 1899, as a standard issue for infantry, and both were phased out after WWII. The new cartridge was adopted right along with the new rifle. The 6.5x50mm cartridge was new and was designed for use specifically with the Arisaka Type 30. It sported a 5-round internal-magazine-fed system and was chambered in 6.5x50mm SR (semi-rimmed) Type 30. The original rifle (Type 30) was designed by Arisaka Nariakira and Nambu Kijirō, in 1897. Altogether, there were about 10 models (or ‘types’) within the Arisaka service rifle series. The 38 and 99 were two of the most commonly-used Japanese rifles during the Second World War. The two most popular models of the rifle were the Type 99 and Type 38, and we will discuss those two a bit more at length in this post. At the height of its popularity, the rifle was used by forces all over the world. The Japanese produced and used the Arisaka bolt-action rifle from the very end of the 19th century to the end of the Second World War (1897 – 1945). Today we venture into hallowed antiquity….