This carbine is pictured on page 68 of the fourth edition of "Military Rifles of Japan" by Honeycutt and Anthony. Production of Type 38 rifles and carbines started circa 1906 by the Tokyo Arsenal. In 1911, the Imperial Japanese Army adopted the Type 44 carbine for use by their calvary units. Given this and the serial number, this prototype carbine was probably manufactured in 1910. It is clearly a prototype model, and has several unique features. The top of the receiver ring is marked with the Kana markings for "Type 38". The left rear side of the barrel is stamped with the early small Kana barrel proofmark followed by a circular triangle proof, and the same proof is on top of the rear receiver ring, typical of early Tokyo arsenal produced/modified weapons. The receiver sidewall is stamped with serial number followed by the Tokyo Arsenal intertwined cannon ball symbol. It is fitted with the early prototype, very short folding bayonet attachment without reinforcing screws on the sides and is correctly serial numbered "23" on the underside. The 16 inch bayonet has a single push-button latch and locks onto the side of the stud mounted under the barrel and not on the rear like later Type 44 carbines. It has an early unnumbered straight handled bolt and cocking knob, the firing pin stamped "3," and the extractor numbered "25." The bolt assembly remains in its original factory "in the white" polished finish. The dust cover is unnumbered. The barrel is fitted with the short Type 38 folding rear sight calibrated 4-20 (400-200 meters) and inverted "v" front sight with short guards. It has an all milled, unnumbered trigger guard and floor plate, original short two-piece stock, and a Type 38 one-piece handguard. The bayonet cutout area on the underside of the forend almost completely covers the sides of the bayonet. This necessitated the addition of two small grasping cutouts on each side of the bayonet, so the user could grab it to extend the blade. The later Type 44 carbines have a shallower bayonet recessed area and thus did not require the small finger cutouts. The stock is fitted with a set of side mounted sling swivels and has an early/prototype buttplate that has a small push button on top of the heel that pushes and rotates to open a small oval slot on the face of where the included cleaning rod is stored. The consignor noted that this carbine was captured on Okinawa, but there are no supporting documents.

Fair with 50% of the original blue finish remaining mostly in the protected areas and patches of very deep pitting, which might validate that it was used in combat and captured on Okinawa. The wood is in good condition and shows considerable use, light sanding, very dark areas, and an extra coat of protective varnish overall. The buttstock is starting to show some separation of the wood in the butt area. The overall condition is consistent with hard service use for 30-40 years with the Japanese Army/Calvary. It remains a very rare early Type 38/44 prototype carbine. No other examples are known to the writer.