Thread: Arisaka 6.5 Type 38

Originally Posted by Frogfeatures

So, my son has just bought one from Gun City
Unusual replacement for a AK, but whatever
Where can he source parts ?
Barrel bands, top wood, rear sight ?
Cheers

The T38 is as fine a rifle as any AK, certainly better made. 150,000 were in brief British service early WW1. Great youtube vid on the T38 by the C&Rsenal team.

If he needs that many spare parts, better get a poor condition T38 from Gun City as a parts donor. Getting that many individual spares is just in the too hard, too expensive basket.



Some pointers:

- If he has matching bolt use that, as they are individually fitted to the gun, even if you have a nicer one lying about.

- PPU 6.5x51 Japanese cases $80 for 50 from Gunworks in Chch, they sell dies too.

- stripper clips: 6.5x55 swede stripper clips will do (though curved, not straight), as will 7x57 mauser stripper clips (identical to the Nipponese ones)

- the T38 rifling looks worn but is not necessarily worn, just looks that way because it's Metford / Polygonal rifling with no clear sharp edges.

- stick a round into the muzzle, many have worn crowns from steel rod cleaning and will benefit from counterboring, or alternatively get a gunsmith to swap the barrel over from the poorer spares donor if that has the tighter muzzle..