Type I Rifle

• Name — Type I rifle • Origin — Japan/Italy • Type — Bolt-action rifle • Is Ranged — yes • Service — 1938–1945 • Used By — See Users • Wars — World War II • Designer — Fabbrica d'Armi Terni • Design Date — 1938 • Manufacturer — Beretta Fabbrica Nazionale d'Armi Sezione Fabbrica d'Armi Regio Esercito • Production Date — 1938–1939 • Number — 120,000 • Weight — 3.95 kg • Length — 1285 mm • Part Length — 797 mm • Cartridge — 6.5×50mmSR Arisaka • Action — Bolt action • Velocity — 765 m/s • Max Range — 2400 m • Feed — 5-round internal box magazine, loaded with 5-round stripper clips • Sights — Open sights

After the Second Sino-Japanese War began, Japan's domestic rifle production could not keep pace with wartime demands. This necessitated the purchase of foreign rifles such as the Karabiner 98k and Vz. 24. Unlike those, the Type I was designed from the ground up for Japanese forces. It was based on the Type 38 rifle and utilized a Carcano action, but retained the Arisaka/Mauser type 5-round box magazine. It was chambered for the 6.5 x 50 mm cartridge. Approximately 120,000 Type I rifles were produced in 1938 and 1939, with 30,000 each manufactured by Beretta and Fabbrica Nazionale d'Armi, and 60,000 manufactured by the state arsenal in Gardone Val Trompia. The final shipment reached Japan on 28 December 1939. The Imperial Japanese Navy was the primary user of the Type I. While typically used for training to free up more Type 38 rifles for frontline usage, they would periodically be fielded by the Special Naval Landing Forces. Some rifles were given to Japan's puppet regimes in China and used by garrison units of the Imperial Japanese Army until the conclusion of hostilities. On the collector market in the United States, the Type I rifle is uncommon and not particularly popular among collectors. Since the heritage of the Type I rifle is both Japanese and Italian, it tends to be shunned by collectors of Japanese focus. The Type I never had the Japanese Imperial Chrysanthemum markings, or other markings that typically interest collectors of Japanese militaria. Many Type I rifles brought back to the United States as war trophies were reportedly captured at Kwajalein Atoll, the Philippines, or from Japan at the conclusion of hostilities.

• Japanese Empire: Used by Imperial Japanese Navy in addition to rear line units of the Imperial Japanese Army. • Flag of the Republic of China-Nanjing (Peace, National Construction).svg Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China: At least 2,000 sent to Collaborationist Chinese Army • Mengjiang: 1,000 sent to Mengjiang National Army