Japanese-Italian might sound like a surprising fusion restaurant, but today’s exploration of Japanese-Italian relations focuses on a rifle: the Type I rifle, which was used by the Japanese military. It’s not just a rare, somewhat odd rifle, but it’s probably the only Carcano variant that commands a high price. Let’s delve into the Type I rifle and discuss its origins, purpose, and what became of it.
The Type I: A Japanese Carcano
It was the late 1930s, and Nazi Germany was on the rise. The world had become a bit less stable, and the thunder of war could be heard in the distance. Japan and Italy had joined Hitler’s Germany to form the Axis powers. This alliance created interesting relations between three very different cultures.
In 1937, Japan invaded China. Like most countries that invade other countries, they were taken by surprise! Not China, but Japan, because even though they launched the invasion, they didn’t have enough rifles to support it. It’s odd how this seems to be a constant theme of invasions.
Anyway, the Japanese couldn’t produce enough rifles, so they began purchasing foreign guns. This included Vz. 24s and Kar 98Ks. This reliance on foreign rifles created logistical issues, and a desire to maintain a single caliber and rifle design led the Japanese to contract the Italians to produce rifles for the Japanese military.
The Italians produced the Type I rifle using a Carcano action but incorporated design cues from the Japanese Type 38 rifles. The Type I used a Carcano action but featured a Type 38-style stock, sights, and magazine. They chambered the 6.5x50mmSR Arisaka cartridge and used the staggered Arisaka/Mauser-type magazine rather than the single-stack Carcano magazines.
Japan named it the Type I, because “I” stood for Italian, which was fitting. The rifles featured 31.4-inch barrels and weighed 8 pounds 11 ounces. They could be easily mistaken for a Type 38 unless you paid close attention to the bolt design, which is as Italian as lasagna (and as surprisingly good as Ricotta cheese in it).
The Type I in Service
Roughly 120,000 Type I rifles were produced for the Japanese military. The rifles were manufactured by a mix of Beretta, Fabbrica Nazionale d’Armi (FNA), and the state armory in Gardone Val Trompia.
The Type I wasn’t primarily intended for the mainland Japanese Army but rather to supplement forces less likely to see frontline combat. They were frequently used by the Japanese Navy, which freed up Type 38 rifles for the Army conducting the invasion. The Type I rifles were also issued to Japan’s allies in China.
“Allies” in this context meant puppet regimes, including the Mengjiang National Army and the Collaborationist Chinese Army.
There doesn’t seem to be any evidence that there was anything inherently wrong with these rifles or that they failed in one way or another. As much as we poke fun at the Carcano, its action is not weak. Most Carcano complaints focus on the ammunition and the en-bloc clip system. The Type I, however, used the Japanese cartridge and magazine design.
It might arguably be the best Carcano design, though I’m certainly no Carcano expert.
Modern Collectors
The Type I doesn’t have the same widespread adoration as other military rifles, but they are quite rare, and their price is increasing rapidly. It doesn’t seem like anyone bought and imported a huge quantity of Type I rifles en masse. Rather, Type I rifles were primarily “bring-backs” from servicemen, which contributes to their greater rarity compared to other Japanese rifles.
I only learned of the Type I when I acquired one. Sort of. Mine was a “bubba hack job” that had been sporterized and even converted to .223 Remington. I’d much prefer an unmolested Type I. Type I rifles are still being sold and traded for less than a thousand dollars, and I believe they are destined to become some of the rarest firearms to come out of World War II.
As such, if you’re a collector, snatch them up now. They will likely increase rapidly in value. I’m keeping my eyes open for one of these fascinating rifles.
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