Japanese Type 38-based sniper variant rifle in 6.5x50 Arisaka, likely Type 97 pattern, sporterized from military configuration. Historic WWII rifle with collector interest. Read more.
The Japanese Type 97 sniper rifle is one of the more desirable Arisaka variants, built on the Type 38 action and chambered in 6.5x50 Arisaka. These rifles were purpose-built sniper arms and are notably scarcer than standard Type 38 infantry rifles. Examples on today’s collector market are routinely identified and sold specifically as Type 97 sniper rifles, not just ordinary Type 38s.
A rifle from Koishikawa adds interest because Koishikawa/Tokyo Arsenal Type 38-family rifles are recognized collector pieces in their own right. Original Type 38 Koishikawa rifles currently sell in the several-hundred-dollar range even without sniper configuration.
