^Lot 2469 IWO JIMA BRINGBACK T38 ARISAKA BOLT ACTION RIFLE

GROUPING.
Please note that, as of 7/22/26, this item description has been updated. Please revisit this description and contact us with any questions.
Cal. 6.5 Jap. S# 2029048. Bbl. 31 1/2". Blade front sight. Ladder rear sight graduated to 2400m. Matching numbers on receiver & bayonet lug. Bolt handle is numbered "040". Early "No-series" Nagoya T38 rifle with 00 prefix. Receiver ring has mum with Nagoya overstamp. This rifle was taken from a dead Japanese infantryman at Kitano Point airstrip on Iwo Jima by John Desaulniers a US Marine. Amongst WW2 Pacific battles none is more well known than Iwo Jima. This rifle & grouping represents a great opportunity for the advanced Pacific or military collector to acquire a piece of history tied to a very famous WW2 battle with provenance. Blued finish. Asian hardwood stock set with two piece butt & bottom mounted sling swivels. Right side of butt has "48" painted rack number. Cleaning rod present. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: bottle of black sand from Iwo Jima, a hardcover copy of Fred Honeycutt's book "Military Rifles of Japan", a Japanese compass, several pieces of Japanese "Invasion" paper money, some Chinese paper money, a T30 bayonet made by National Denki under Kokura supervision with scabbard & frog. Also most notably included are a Japanese meatball flag with writing that translates to "Death to the British" & "Death to the Americans" & a 1994 dated notarized letter from John Desaulniers. The letter tells the story of how he picked up the rifle, flag, money, compass & bayonet. The flag was supposed to be magical & protect the Japanese soldier, but it bears blood stains & damage from a bayonet which killed him. The letter does not specify that John Desaulniers himself picked this rifle off of Iwo Jima. It is worthy of noting he was in basic training in July 1945. So, he could not have picked this rifle up himself. CONDITION: stock set shows scattered dings, handling marks & scratches all consistent with combat usage. Metal retains 50% original blue with overall fading to gray, light oxidation, edge wear & handling marks. Action functions properly when hand cycled. Bore is a bit dark with strong rifling & perhaps some frosting. PROVENANCE: Military Museum Collection of Shooters Outpost, Hooksett NH. (26-1990/MJC). CURIO. $4000-6000.