This is a rare example of what is commonly called by collectors a Type 38 folding stock paratrooper carbine. These were actually produced by the Nagoya Arsenal for a short time using the standard type 38 carbine. (Much information about this is on pages 138-139 of Miliatry Rifles of Japan by Honeycutt/Anthony - 2nd Edition. Serial number 5110 is photographed on page 139, 88 numbers from this example.) Nagoya just pulled completed carbines from stock and modified them by cutting off the buttstock and adapting it by adding a door-hinge type mechanism at the rear of the receiver. The right side of the stock has the simple hinge like mechanism with the sock swinging to the right for storage and then it has a simple locking latch on the left side to secure the stock in the open/locked position. The whole assembly proved to be a terrible design, as it was very weak and fragile with the stock usually split up the middle behind the receiver, rendering the carbine useless. It was soon dropped from production after a few thousand were made. The receiver has the Royal Chrysanthemum intact over the kana markings for type 38. The side wall has an unreadable series mark next to the serial number and the Nagoya Arsenal mark. It has a blue straight plum shaped bolt handle with the short staff, type 38 rear sight and inverted "v" front sight. The hinge mechanism and buttplate are crudely stamped with "A A 17". It has a two-piece stock with finger grooves on the sides with a full length handguard and a cupped buttplate. It is complete with an original canvas sling and cleaning rod.

Very fine with 80% of the blue finish overall with wear on the exposed metal surfaces with finish loss on the front barrel band and trigger guard assembly. The stock and handguard are also in very good condition with numerous handling marks and light pressure dents on the sides in some areas with the top rear portion of the handguard having been reduced. The bolt assembly is matching. The hinge assembly black has mostly flaked off with 40% finish remaining. An unusual and highly desirable example of a folding stock carbine.