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Can anyone ID this rifle?
- Thread starter Rex Feral
- Start date
It is a Japanese Type I (that is "I" for Italy, not a 1) rifle. These were made in Italy by Beretta (PB = Pietro Beretta) and others for Japan. They have a Mannlicher-Carcano type action with a Mauser type magazine. The butt stock is in two pieces, like other Japanese rifles, but unlike them it does not have the chrysanthemum on the receiver.
These are not especially rare (about 60,000 were made) but are uncommon in good condition.
Caliber is 6.5 Japanese, and they use the standard Japanese rifle clip.
Jim
These are not especially rare (about 60,000 were made) but are uncommon in good condition.
Caliber is 6.5 Japanese, and they use the standard Japanese rifle clip.
Jim
At first I thought it was a Swedish M96 Mauser, but the bolt handle is ahead of the rear receiver bridge. That knocked out any bolt action Mauser I'm aware of.
I considered the Italian Carcanos, but the magazine well appears to be flush with the stock. About the only gun which is left is the Japanese 6.5 mm Type "I" rifle which features a Mannlicher-Carcano type action combined with the flush magazine of the Mauser. These rifles were made in Italy for Japan and features a two piece stock with the lower half of the butt and pistol grip being glued and pinned to the upper half of the stock.
I considered the Italian Carcanos, but the magazine well appears to be flush with the stock. About the only gun which is left is the Japanese 6.5 mm Type "I" rifle which features a Mannlicher-Carcano type action combined with the flush magazine of the Mauser. These rifles were made in Italy for Japan and features a two piece stock with the lower half of the butt and pistol grip being glued and pinned to the upper half of the stock.
A little more information on the Type I. The rifles were made in 1938-1939 under an agreement between the government of Japan and its Axis ally, Italy. It is not clear why these were bought, since Japanese rifle production appears to have been adequate at the time, even for Japan's expanding military.
Some information indicates they were made for the Japanese Navy, which had a need for rifles (the so-called "Japanese Imperial Marines" were really Navy landing parties - Japan never had a Marine Corps as we understand the term). Further, the Navy would not be as inconvenienced by a non-standard rifle as the Army would, with its greater numbers.
In addition to Beretta, Type I rifles were made by the Regia Sezione Fabbrica D'Armi Esercito (RSFAE - Royal Army Arms Factory Department), and Fabbrica Nazionale D'Armi Brescia (FNA). The Regia Fabbrica D'Armi (Royal Arms Factory) at Terni did the design work and made the barrels.
HTH
Jim
Some information indicates they were made for the Japanese Navy, which had a need for rifles (the so-called "Japanese Imperial Marines" were really Navy landing parties - Japan never had a Marine Corps as we understand the term). Further, the Navy would not be as inconvenienced by a non-standard rifle as the Army would, with its greater numbers.
In addition to Beretta, Type I rifles were made by the Regia Sezione Fabbrica D'Armi Esercito (RSFAE - Royal Army Arms Factory Department), and Fabbrica Nazionale D'Armi Brescia (FNA). The Regia Fabbrica D'Armi (Royal Arms Factory) at Terni did the design work and made the barrels.
HTH
Jim