Overview of the Type "I" Rifle (イ式小銃) - The Japanese Carcano/Italian Arisaka

We're taking a look at the Type "I" Rifle (イ式小銃), also known as the Japanese Carcano or the Italian Arisaka. The Type “I” was manufactured in Italy and used by the Japanese Imperial Army & Navy during WWII. The “I” standing for “Italian”. What makes this rifle interesting is that it basically has the body of a Japanese Type 38 and the action of a Carcano Model 91.
The Type “I” is chambered in the 6.5x50 Japanese cartridge, is just under 51 inches in total length, has a 30 inch barrel, and weighs about 9.3 lbs unloaded. Additionally, it has a straight bolt handle, a bayonet lug fitted for a Type 30 Japanese sword bayonet, a rear sight ladder that graduates from 500 to 2,400 meters with a 400 meter battle sight, and is fed using a 5 round stripper clip.
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Sources:
“The Model 1891 Carcano Rifle: A Detailed Development & Production History” by Giovanni Chegia & Alberto Simonelli
Japanese Rifles of WWII by Duncan McCollum
Military Rifles of Japan by Fred Honeycutt Jr.
www.jacar.go.jp/english/
timesmachine.nytimes.com/time...
mausercn.blogspot.com/2020/09...
www.gunboards.com/threads/loo...
www.gunboards.com/threads/usa...
en.rikusentai.net/
www.jacar.archives.go.jp/aj/m...
www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/...
smallarmsreview.com/the-type-...
www.nambuworld.com/typeipix.htm
www.exordinanza.net/schede/Typ...[2]
www.exordinanza.net/foto/Type-...
www.exordinanza.net/reprint/Ty...
www.exordinanza.net/schede/Typ...
Trystan - Gunboards Member

[@Definitely_not_Andrew_Yoshiaki]

I'm definitely a bit late but wow this is one of the most well researched academic video of the rifle I could possibly imagine. As a Japanese national living over here in Tokyo its quite difficult to even source these kinds of info and even translate (The kanji used in these documents are more old school and obscure by modern Japanese standards as well). Amazing work. I was especially impressed with how you were able to translate the document from 1942 on 11:09, there's nothing off and the translation is 100% accurate by my understanding. I am curious though, that specific document is kinda interesting, because instead of specifying the specific type of ammo like "6.5 Japanese semi-rimmed cartridges," it specifically asked for イ式小銃弾薬 "Italian type rifle bullets." I know supply chain and standardization of ammo was an issue for the Imperial Japanese so maybe they wanted to make sure they got exactly what they needed? I know that the US would've just used ".30-06" and then specified what type of rounds? Just thought that was interesting.

[@GarandGuy2553]

Thank you for your kind words and I’m glad you liked it! I certainly had a lot of help from other researchers translating the text. The Japanese Center for Asian Historical Records was an extremely helpful tool when searching for references about the Type I. I felt that their is a lot of misinformation out there about the rifle and I wanted to go straight to the source documents. I’m sure I missed a lot of details though and hopefully somebody else out there can dig up more.

[@GarandGuy2553]

I will also be in Tokyo this September so if you have recommendations for military museums or historical landmarks, I welcome suggestions!

[@Whofan91]

A beautiful rifle that, quite frankly, doesn't get enough love and attention despite its intriguing history. My compliments to you sir😁 P.S. That example you're holding is immaculate😎

[@GarandGuy2553]

Thanks! I’m surprised their weren’t more videos/presentations on it. It is indeed a beautiful rifle!

[@brucermarino]

Excellent research and presentation on a fascinating n rifle. Thank you!

[@GarandGuy2553]

Thanks for watching!

[@beezowdoo-doozopittybop-bo9127]

Excellent video. The amount of research you did is incredible. This is probably one of the best videos on the type I on the internet.

[@GarandGuy2553]

Haha thanks! I know their is info missing but I learned a lot.

[@edwardsawyer4081]

Very Good job !!!! I saw one at a gun show recently and you can imagine my surprise having heard of them but never holding one . Well she came home with me and at a reasonable price, The one thing that stands out is the smooth bolt operation and accuracy heck the bolt is much smoother than any Carcano with en bloc system

[@GarandGuy2553]

I honestly like the Mauser style internal magazine paired with a carcano bolt. It makes for a nice combo in my opinion.

[@abbhamster]

Im inheriting some of my uncles old rifles and was trying to figure out what the Japanese rifle was. Turns out its a Type I and this is probably the best video on it out there and right on time for me. Awesome to use this video to find which factory made it etc. Thanks!

[@GarandGuy2553]

Thanks for watching! I’m sure I’m missing some details but they have a really interesting background. I hope you get a chance to shoot it.

[@abbhamster]

@@GarandGuy2553 you bet! Gonna get a gunsmith to look it over then it's tike to hit the range. Glad to know the history of it.

[@augustomotolo2172]

In 2020 I wrote an article in the "armi e tiro" magazine in which I quoted the contract documents but your work is much more detailed, congratulations

[@GarandGuy2553]

Ahh could you send me the link to your article? I’d love to read it!

[@augustomotolo2172]

​@@GarandGuy2553 the article is on paper I should scan it for you give me your email and I'll send it to you, it's written in Italian

[@GarandGuy2553]

@@augustomotolo2172 I see! I wouldn’t be able to read it unless someone translated it unfortunately. If the text is in a Microsoft word document I can drop it into google translate but I’m not sure how accurate it will be.

[@augustomotolo2172]

i try many time to give you the link but you any time cancel it really i'm disappointed of your attitude @@GarandGuy2553

[@manualofarms01]

Phenomenal video! Your setup and the research done for this video is something to look up to!

[@GarandGuy2553]

I appreciate the support!

[@DelGTAGrndrs]

One of the rarer Japanese/Italian rifles out there. Magnifico

[@GarandGuy2553]

Thanks for watching!

[@PrebleStreetRecords]

This is a fantastically well-researched video!

[@GarandGuy2553]

Thanks for watching!

[@sniperbandit2095]

You should be proud of this video man, very well done and put together.

[@GarandGuy2553]

Thanks! It was definitely a journey trying to find information about the Type I. I ended up re-writing a lot of stuff because I kept finding new details.

[@sniperbandit2095]

@@GarandGuy2553 I just got one of my own that’s what made me watch!

[@kawashimaarisaka2682]

So professional 👍

[@GarandGuy2553]

Thanks!

[@theblindsniper9130]

My my my, that is probably my favorite version of the carcano haha excellent grab

[@GarandGuy2553]

Yeah, they’re neat!

[@josephgonzales4802]

Thank you for this video. I have this same rifle for 30 years. I had purchased it in the early 90s for $90.00 . The Japanese beyonet l bought for it cost me about $125.00 at the same time. It was missing the cleaning rod, follow er and follower spring. I have recently replaced these items. Before viewing your video I did not have much knowledge of my rifle. Could you please do one on disassemble of this rifle. Again thank you! 😊

[@novauviolon]

Question on the documents showing Type I rifles being issued to the Wang Jingwei and Mengjiang collaborationist governments: by "Italian Type" rifles, is it possible this is referring to M1891 Carcano rifles captured from the Nationalist Chinese during the war? China imported 94,000 M1891 Carcano rifles in the 1920s, many of which were captured by the Japanese and issued to the Wang Jingwei troops. If the caliber is specified or the bayonet is specifically noted as the Type 30, then it would definitely be Type I rifles, but if not, I wonder if "Italian Type" could have been used as a generic term for Carcanos.

[@GarandGuy2553]

I didn’t realize that Chinese had acquired M1891’s at any point but that would certainly be interesting. Mind pointing me in the right direction of where I could find that info? I do know the Japanese were pretty keen on keeping supply logistics uniform and I’m not sure how many 6.5 carcano cartridges they had on hand by the point. But anything is possible. According to the documentation, the Type I’s were specifically sent to Manchuria so we know they were in that theater. It would be interesting to find out they were there alongside some M1891’s.

[@novauviolon]

The info comes from Bin Shih's book, "China's Small Arms of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)." Wikipedia also has a brief blurb (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Chinese_military_equipment_in_World_War_II ) stating that, "In 1941, Japan sold 15,000 of these captured weapons to the collaborationist Nanjing Army," with the source being Philip S. Jowett's "Rays of the Rising Sun: Armed Forces of Japan's Asian Allies 1931-45: Volume 1: China and Manchukuo" (I haven't looked at Jowett's book though).

[@GarandGuy2553]

@@novauviolon I’ll have to do some digging! Thanks for the tip!

[@italianduded1161]

So beautiful🇮🇹

[@GarandGuy2553]

Thanks!

[@italianduded1161]

@@GarandGuy2553 no problem man, thank you for your content 👍

[@slowhand1198]

Interesting to see the Naval separate sourcing myth debunked. Thanks.

[@GarandGuy2553]

I’m sure their is a great deal of information waiting to be uncovered but they did indeed end up in the hands of some army units.

[@mannequinfukr]

I wonder how effective using an average rifle was when it came to AA use. Either one taking a pot shot or volley fire at a low flying aircraft

[@GarandGuy2553]

Lots of militaries of the time had exercises with volley fire at aircraft. Russia, for example, also trained their units to do this. Again, I’m not sure how effective it was.

[@jason200912]

It was supposed to be for shooting down 1930/1920s paper biplanes. It did okay and a volley was basically like shooting a canister shot kinda like a shotgun. It's not necessary to shoot st the same time though since that was an old world thing back when blackpowder would fog up the entire area, forcing the line of troops to move

[@JDaVaporPhonkGuy03]

i wish i could get one but never seen one soo far in italy for sale

[@GarandGuy2553]

Yeah, unfortunately all of them went to Japan during the war and then were taken to the US as souvenirs. I’d guess they only a few examples exist in museums in Italy but let me know if you run into one!

[@JDaVaporPhonkGuy03]

@@GarandGuy2553 highly doubt not that many people have one here in Italy the only "common" japanese rifle is the type 38 besides find a type i or a type 99 is impossible

[@GarandGuy2553]

@@JDaVaporPhonkGuy03 I have no idea on if Italy imported any at any point. Good luck on your search!

[@JDaVaporPhonkGuy03]

@@GarandGuy2553 my guess is someone with some money put a part buy one from the US than imported here and did a lot of paper work is also because i find a type 100 paratrooper arisaka and grandpa nambu on italian gun sites soo must be the only reason

[@JDaVaporPhonkGuy03]

14:28 i would be curious to see if the front sight shield of the type 38,the AA sights and the monopod can be fitted on the Type I

[@GarandGuy2553]

I think it was just the Type 99 that had the monopod and the AA sights. You have to make a modified mid barrel band with a hole for the monopod.

[@JDaVaporPhonkGuy03]

@@GarandGuy2553 I've always learn from a particular videogame and in general from the infos that early production type 38 use to have those features

[@jacobackley502]

I’ve heard it uses the same metford type rifling as the 38, but never heard whether they used the 0.264 bore diameter of standard 6.5 cartridges or the Italian 0.268 bore diameter of the Carcano.

[@GarandGuy2553]

I will check and get back to you!

[@jason200912]

To prolong barrel life it's best to go smaller diameter. If it keyhole then you'll want to go a little bigger. Quick research says .2675 is what you want. But .268 will work safely but you'll wear out the barrel faster. And of course go .264 if it's cheaper or if you're shooting less than 100 yards and don't care about accuracy.

[@jacobackley502]

@@jason200912 I took it out over the weekend and shot some Prvi 156gr soft points through it, which mic at about 264. It did really well at 50yds, especially for the coarse iron sights. I was actually shocked since these were just some random reloads with what I just happen to have on hand and it did really well

[@arisukak]

Good video, but the two piece buttstock is to strengthen the toe of the stock not to conserve wood. If you look at the grain at the bottom piece it points toward the toe. You can find lots of military guns with replaced toes on stocks because of rifles being dropped and chipping off the short grain. The myth of Japan having to conserve wood clearly came from someone who hasn't visited Japan. I also used to own one of the rifles that the Japanese cut down. I think there are also ones that Italy made with shorter stocks too. Not positive on that tho.

[@GarandGuy2553]

Oh true! I’m sure the Japanese still required the two piece buttstock on the Type I’s for continuity reasons. I wonder why more nations didn’t do this.

[@arisukak]

@@GarandGuy2553 I would imagine it would be cost and that militaries had armorers. I know that Finland did it on some of their rifles and I'm sure that they got the inspiration from Arisakas they inherited from the Russians. Another thing to also consider is that arsenals would have stock blanks made years in advance as the wood needs to be dry before it can be made into stocks.

[@jason200912]

It did both actually. Helps you save from getting a single wasteful chunk of wood and you also get a nice strong stock. Win both. It's not a myth for the wood either, it's a real thing The 99 arisaka used Japanese walnut or katsura. Its is known for being a soft and weaker wood when compared to European and American walnut