In excellent condition we have a Japanese Navy SNLF issued Italian Made Type I Service Rifle. The rifle can be identified as an actual SNLF issued weapon by the fact that the buttstock has been shortened to facilitate use by soldiers of short stature and it is Naval rack numbered.
Prior to the outbreak of WWII in Europe, fighting in Asia had begun in the mid 1930’s with Japanese intervention in Manchuria and China. The Japanese Kwantung Army had priority in supply of weapons and consumed all domestic Japanese small arms production, leaving the Navy to seek it’s arms from outside sources. In the late 1930’s Contracts were procured with the Italian Government to produce a modified Carcano/Arisaka Rifle in 6.5mm. This rifle was known as the Type I and was a very successful effort that combined the Carcano action with the Mauser type Arisaka magazine. These rifles did see a considerable amount of combat and know Japanese Rifle collection should be without at least one example.
