It's an Arisaka Type 38 training rifle. The stock has been cut down and the bolt has been heated and bent. The trainers had a hardwood stock, no chrysanthemum or Type 38 marking on the top of the receiver and usually did not have any rifling in the barrel. Real type 38 battle rifles had a two piece butt stock that you usually see on Arisaka rifles and had a chrysanthemum and Japanese characters that translate to "38 Type" on the top of the receiver. These rifles were chambered to fire the 6.5X50 Jap round. T38 trainer receiver: Type 38 receiver: Trainer stock: Type 38 two piece stock: Unlike the actual Type 38 battle rifle that had the strongest receiver of any bolt action rifle made during the time, the Type 38 training rifle is extremely dangerous to shoot live ammo through. These were designed to be dry fired or to shoot blank ammo. Shoot a live round of 6.5X50 through it and the guys at the morgue will have a hell of a time trying to make you look good enough for an open casket ceremony. the receiver (which is made of cast iron) could explode or the bolt could recoil back into the shooter's face. Why someone would have "sporterized" a trainer is beyond me. Better a $100.00 training rifle than a $2500.00 paratrooper rifle though.
