I removed the Scope and here is the top front of the receiver.
This is a close up of the Japanese Letters (pictographs) -
of course one of the scope mount holes is right in the middle of it...
Anyone have any idea what this says ? Did I show it upside-down ?
The Chrysanthemum has been ground off - if it ever had one (?).
I think there is a 'series five' mark right next to the right side of the
serial number. A "K" with a horizontal line thru it. Should be on the left side (?) !
http://www.radix.net/~bbrown/japanese_markings.html
The whole serial number is 5002581 then Mukden Arsenal (Manchuria)
symbol then the crossed out 'K'.
The bolt has the number 581 on the top of the bolt handle where it is 90° angled
and a series 26 mark (slash) followed by a "3" - same 'slash 3' on the extractor's side.
So...now I am confused because the Mukden Arsenal did not have a series 5 run...
The barrel has no front sight and is 22.75 inches from the front to
where it screws into the receiver.
DoctorBill