Type 38 Carbine

[randy langford]

Picked this one up on Thursday for $280. The bolt is not matching and had a crack at the front barrel band but mum is untouched and bore is very good. I don't know how rare these are but the are around here. The serial number puts it being made late 1940.
2997229973

[dave]

Certainly rarer then the long rifles but not really "rare". See a lot with unground crest, maybe carbines were easy for GI's to smuggle and/or mail home? I have one also, unground with m/m parts. You got a good price.

[bruce]

Excellent!

[randy langford]

That makes sense shorter=easier to get in the bag if the weather will ever thaw out I will get it to the range

[dave]

Yes, and grinding crests did not happen till after the war, in Japan. I do not know if there was much opportunity to mail home packages during the island hopping campaigns.