Longhorn Now Can Arm A Division Of Japanese Soldiers

[Longhorn789]

Here's my newest addition to my Rising Sun collection..

Type 38 smoothbore trainer. Made by Heirinkan Firearms KK. School marked "Chuoh Daigakko" meaning Chuoh (Central) University", located in Tokyo (or at least it was until we torched the city). With dust cover. All matching. Rack numbered. One piece stock.

Alright....Now I have to not only cool it for awhile....I probably ought to sell off a few less favored items. If I buy anything else, I will have to buy another doggone expensive gun safe, which I don't have room for anyway. I am not visiting any more "WTS" threads on any forums until I thin the heard a bit.. You guys will help me with that.....won't you?!??

Oh....Do you dig the Japanese trainer!?!

[omerta123]

i can help you by taking guns for free :)

[Rampager]

Very nice Longhorn! Looks to be in great shape. I have 2 Japanese rifles layed away at my favorite gunshop. One of them is a trainer, but isn't quite as nice as yours.

I know what you mean about needing to slow down on buying. I think for the next couple of months I'm going to have to slow down on purchases, maybe just buy some ammo when I can.

[okie shooter]

My friend that collected mausers, bought one of those at a auction I went to with him, he said the trainers like that were overlooked by guys bringing back rifles didnt get them as much due to the fact they were smooth boresm and generally battle type relics. Nice one there.

[SteelCore]

Me likey.

"You guys will help me with that.....won't you?!??"
-->Sure, man...what're friends for? :D

---ETA---

If you can supply the rifles, I can supply the blades!

[Norton]

Longhorn you make me feel like a moron for turning my nose up at Jap rifles. Now I wish I had kept my type 99 and bought one of those type 38 carbines back when they were plentiful. Those rifles looks so cool, I like the markings.

[cetme]

not bad at all. It's funny when I first got into guns you couldn't give away jap guns but now they do have a following.

[Longhorn789]

Yeah no kidding..

Not too long ago you could get great condition 99s and 38s for well under $100 all day. Sort of like many of the Russian bolt guns today.

They're still very affordable, usually around $200 to $250 in most cases. Go ahead and replenish your supply!!

[M1 Tanker]

Thats pretty damn nice longhorn, even for a Jap rifle ;)

So, as a trainer, what is the difference in it and an issue rifle?

[Longhorn789]

Thats pretty damn nice longhorn, even for a Jap rifle ;)

So, as a trainer, what is the difference in it and an issue rifle?

The main difference is that this "rifle" was SPECIFICALLY made as a firing trainer. So, they didn't bother rifling the bore. It's a smooth bore. Some have "Blank Ammunition Only" stamped on them. However the two I have appear to be fully functional and could fire regular ammo in a pinch. You know. A pinch sort of like "my entire country is on fire and these round-eyes are marching across it paying us back." You know...a pinch..:wink:

Then they made non-firing trainers that basically just make a clicking noise like a toy gun. Haven't found one of these yet. GI's didn't bother picking up too many of these.

They also made a VERY rare variant that is a 7/8 scale smooth bore Type 38 trainer made for training children. Also not brought back in any number by GIs.

Then they converted old regular Type 38s for training purposes. These are mumed, pre-WWII Jap milsup rifles that were decommissioned, then issued to Japanese schools. These are particularily cool because each school had it's own stamp that they would brand into the stock, just like the smoothbore trainer pictureed above. I have three of these and had the stamps translated. I even got a reply email from a law professor at the Nihon University College of Law in Tokyo that confirmed for me that my rifle was indeed issued to their school during WWII. Pretty cool ! !

As you can see....I dig it!

[Player]

some day man, i'm gonna get a Royal Hong Kong Police issued .38spl
but at the meantime, sweet rifle dude!

[Longhorn789]

some day man, i'm gonna get a Royal Hong Kong Police issued .38spl
but at the meantime, sweet rifle dude!

Thanks bro!

[texlurch]

Neat Longhorn...



So what's on the list to "thin"?? LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[okie shooter]

Longhorn, saw one of those trainers at the show today, what do they bring on the market, with finish about like the one you have pictured here?

[Longhorn789]

Longhorn, saw one of those trainers at the show today, what do they bring on the market, with finish about like the one you have pictured here?


Under $200 is about right.

I've bought them for as cheap as $140 in good condition.

[Longhorn789]

Neat Longhorn...



So what's on the list to "thin"?? LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Everytime I sit down to figure out what I'd like to sell in order to make space, I just find more space instead....:clapping:

[SteelCore]

"got a reply email from a law professor at the Nihon University College of Law in Tokyo that confirmed for me that my rifle was indeed issued to their school during WWII."

Cool, nice provenance to go with that. That stuff can really up the value of a collector's piece.