So I was browsing a gun show today, and saw a Japanese Type 38 with a sporterized stock. I was thinking it might be a fun project to make a new stock for it to get it to look like it is suppose to ( Recently did a little bit of wood working which reminded me how much I use to love it) Something than caught my eye, the rear of the bolt (the safety switch I believe, I am not sure the technical term for it) was smooth and I am 99% sure that all Type 38's had that spiral pattern. I know on the "last ditch" rifles they did not waste the time creating that but, I thought that they had stopped making type 38's by 1941 so there wouldn't be any "last ditch" Type 38's. So am I wrong were they still making type 38's at the end of the war? Did not all the Type 38's get that design on the safety selector for some reason? Could the bolt perhaps have come from a Type 99? (I would not think so because they shoot two different cartridges, but the semi rimmed 6.5 base actually appears to be the same size as the base of the rimless 7.7 so it might be possible they are interchangeable)

 

I am thinking it might actually have been a Type 99 instead of a Type 38.

If I remember right the type 99 safety was used as a replacement on type 38's as long as a type 99 firing pin was used.  If you got it and are looking for the wood give me a shout.  I have a donor Jap that I can part with. 

I don't have it. I usually go to a gun show the first day to see what they have and than think it over that night to figure out what I really want to buy the next day. If I do end up buying it, I might take you up on that offer. There was also a "Japanese Type 1 Carcano" that I saw that was interesting. It's in quotes because I am not sure its actually a Japanese Type 1. The profile was all wrong for a Type 1, the barrel was too short, and the stock was the wrong shape (it did have more of a military look to it as apposed to a sporterized stock). According to the guy selling, It was a "Type 1 Carbine" and the only one he has ever seen. As far as I know though there is no such thing.