The product of a 1937 agreement between the Axis powers led to the manufacture of the Type I rifle in Italy for Japanese use. A hybrid of Japanese and Italian design, the Type I is essentially a Japanese Type 38 rifle built around a Model 91 Carcano bolt and action. The barrel is fitted with an inverted V frontsight and a folding elevator rear sight. The receiver is unmarked aside from the serial number, and the bolt is marked with a few small proofs. Stock is laminated with the lower piece of lighter wood. The handguard matches the upper half of the stock. The milled trigger guard is very large. The stock is equipped with Japanese style bayonet lug, sling swivels, finger grooves, and buttplate.

Excellent, with 95% of the bright original blue finish. There are a few light handling marks, and the bolt has started to fade to a mottled blue and gray patina. The stock is also excellent, with a number of chips and scratches, and some light varnish loss. The action is excellent.