What is the story on this Arisaka action?

[corbinace]

They are calling it a Type 38. I have not seen one like this before. The safety is totally different than any I have seen.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

I've never seen one like yours. It may be a Type 30. If so, the zig-zag magazine follower spring should be made of round wire rather than flat spring stock.

[bouncer50]

Yes, Its a hook safety model type 30. Not very common to find anymore.

[Earlwb]

Yes it is a type 30.
Many of the type 30's were converted into training rifles designed to fire blanks only too. They bore out the rifling in the barrel making it a smoothbore. Sometimes they removed one of the bolt lugs too. if it has these characters on the top of the receiver, then it is a training rifle for firing blanks only. Actually the Japanese words are "For blanks only" on top of the receiver.

Attachment 177643

[bouncer50]

Yes it is a type 30.
Many of the type 30's were converted into training rifles designed to fire blanks only too. They bore out the rifling in the barrel making it a smoothbore. Sometimes they removed one of the bolt lugs too. if it has these characters on the top of the receiver, then it is a training rifle for firing blanks only. Actually the Japanese words are "For blanks only" on top of the receiver.

Attachment 177643

I have a trainer that how i know what it was. They also Japanese letter in red on the butt stock. Do fire it with live ammo if it trainer.

[Texas by God]

A buddy had a duffle cut one. I guess his was not a training rifle as he sportered it into a .257 Bob. Forty years ago but I remember the hook safety. Best, Thomas.

[Earlwb]

I have a trainer that how i know what it was. They also Japanese letter in red on the butt stock. Do fire it with live ammo if it trainer.

They did cut or remove one of the bolt lugs off the trainer rifles. So one would not want to fire live ammo in the ones with the missing bolt lug.
if a person has one with the bolt lugs, etc intact they could rebarrel it and fire a regular cartridge of some caliber if they like.
I do like the pinkish color paper bullet blanks they used to use in them though.
They did a decent write up here about them too
http://members.shaw.ca/nambuworld/t30trainerpix.htm