VERY RARE**EARLY VARIANT**WW2 Era Imperial Japanese Army Kokura Arsenal Arisaka Type 98 6.5mm Calibre Cavalry & Artillery Carbine With Early Breech Dust Cover (Post War Re-designated Type 91 & Issued To Royal Thai National Police )**UK 2012 DEACTIVATION** Sn 21216:5 Bolt Action None 0 Rifles

**VERY RARE**EARLY VARIANT**WW2 Era Imperial Japanese Army Kokura Arsenal Arisaka Type 98 6.5mm Calibre Cavalry & Artillery Carbine With Early Breech Dust Cover (Post War Re-designated Type 91 & Issued To Royal Thai National Police )**UK 2012 DEACTIVATION - 21216:5

The Arisaka Rifle/ Carbine was designed by Colonel Nariakira Arisaka 1852–1915. The bolt action rifle weapons were used heavily everywhere the Imperial Japanese Army fought. The Arisaka Type 38 Rifle & Carbine entered service in 1905 and was used until the end of WWII. It was the main battle rifle of the imperial Japanese forces and was used in Mongolia and China, as well as fighting the allies during WWII. The rifles were the longest bolt action rifle in service during the war and was nearly as tall as the troops who used it. The carbine version were used by cavalry units, engineers and artillerymen. Post war testing showed that the Type 38 had one of the strongest actions of all the in service rifles at the time. This, Japanese Arisaka Type 38 carbine was originally issued to the Imperial Japanese Army during WWII whilst they fought against the allies. Post WW2 it was modified for use by the RTNP (Royal Thai National Police) and re-designated as the Type 91, the receiver was marked with the Royal Thai Police Chakra crest along with a Thai serial number. Barrel and sights were left original, stock was modified and lightened, and an M1 carbine sling slot added in the buttstock. A side mount swivel was also added to the forward band to accommodate the M1 carbine slings. It still bears the original WWII Japanese serial number and Kokura arsenal mark, which is found on Thai police issued Type 91s. Only a few thousand of these Thai police carbines were ever produced, with even fewer, less than a thousand, possible just a few hundred of these fitted with a drop down bolt lever. Incredibly this one still has its scarce bolt dust cover. It is also worth noting that these carbines were all modified by hand and are seriously rare and unique. It has all original woodwork which has period, stable battle damage that can be seen in the images. The all original metal work has even aged patina. It is complete with flip up ladder rear sight, winged fore sight, steel butt plate, side mounted sling swivel and stock slotted for sling anchor. Our example has its original early variant drop down bolt & dust cover. The left side of the breech is stamped with serial number 16877, inspection marks & a Kokura 1935- 1945 Arsenal mark (all illustrated). The breech has Thai script & very faint RTNP (Royal Thai National Police) chakra crest. Deactivated to UK specification in 2012 the carbine cocks & dry fires. The price for this very rare carbine includes deactivation certificate and UK delivery. Sn 21216:5

£875.00