Type 38 rifle

This rifle was established by the Imperial Japanese Army in 1905 (Meiji 38) after the war, as an improvement on the Type 30 rifle, which had been used in the Russo-Japanese War and suffered from many malfunctions. It was officially called the Type 38 rifle. It had a caliber of 6.5 mm, a maximum sight of 2,400 meters, a bolt action, and five shots. Since its establishment, it was used for military and school training until the end of the Pacific War, making it the longest-used military rifle in Japan. In the military, the chrysanthemum crest was stamped on the top of the chamber as a sign of respect for the weapon. Later, the short-barreled Type 38 rifle was also established for cavalry and artillery use. Overseas, it is called the Arisaka rifle, named after Lieutenant General Nariakira Arisaka, the head of the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal who was in charge of developing the rifle.

[Yoshio Kobashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日露戦争に使用して故障が多かった三十年式歩兵銃を改良して、戦後の1905年（明治38）に制定された旧日本陸軍の小銃。制式には三十八年式歩兵銃という。口径6.5ミリ、最大照尺2400メートル、槓桿(こうかん)式（ボルトアクション）、5連発。制定以来、太平洋戦争終期まで軍用または学校教練用に使われたので、日本の軍用小銃のなかではもっとも採用期間が長い。軍隊内では兵器尊重の意味から薬室上部に菊花紋が打刻されていた。のち騎・砲兵用に短銃身の三八式騎銃も制定された。海外では、同銃の開発を担当した東京砲兵工廠(こうしょう)長、有坂成章(なりあきら)中将にちなんでアリサカライフルという。

［小橋良夫］

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