This rifle is a 1903 Siam Mauser rifle as manufactured by the Tokyo Arsenal. In early 1900s the country of Siam (Thailand) contracted with Mauser to produce a bolt action rifle designed around the rimmed 8mm round for troop trials. The testing/troop trials were completed in 1902 and the rifle was adopted by the country of Siam as the Type 45 or Model 1903. Siam contracted with the Japanese to produce this rifle at the Tokyo Arsenal, so these rifles have both the outward appearance of a 98K Mauser style rifle but with the markings of the Japanese factory at the Tokyo Arsenal. The top of the receiver has the large "Charkra" over the model designation of 1903 and the rear receiver ring and upper and lower tangs are all marked in Siamese. The right side of the receiver is marked with the four intertwined cannon balls of the Tokyo Arsenal along with a Siamese acceptance proof. It has a unique action dust cover that slides forward over the front receiver ring and rear of the barrel to exposed the action. It has the typical Mauser 98K style shaped receiver and bolt with the typical two piece tang designs of the Japanese Type 38 rifles. It has a long tangent rear sight with an inverted "v" front sight. The stock is a full-length military style with finger grooves on the side with a short handguard on top. Most of these rifles were imported in the 1950s and 1960s and were sold for $10 each, with almost all of them being converted to fire the 45-70 cartridge because of the similar bolt faces. Consequently complete and all original example in a higher condition such as this one are fairly scarce today.

Excellent overall, with 95% of the arsenal blue finish with just minor edge and handling wear. The stock and handguard are both in excellent condition with a nice dark brown matching color on both items and just showing minor handling marks in some place with a clear and deep Siamese acceptance proof behind the trigger guard. There is old dried grease along the edges of the metal where it meet the stock with some old remnants around the barrel bands and bolt release etc.