Need help identifying mystery rifle

[brokedownbiker]

I was at the gun shop today and a kid walked in with a rifle that his father had left him when he passed away. He knew nothing about the gun. It is a bolt action rifle in a non-original stock with what appears to be a 5 round internal magazine. It looks to have stripper clip slots in the receiver (pic #2). The only marking I could find was a letter followed by 4 digits on the left side of the chamber just aft of the rear sight (pic #3). I was only able to get 5 pix of the action.

Any ideas? I'd appreciate any clues you might be able to offer.

[MustangGal]

DH says it looks like a K98 Mauser 8mm.

[rice paddy daddy]

Nope, not a Mauser. I don't know WHAt it is, though. It's not an Arisaka either. Maybe italian? They made some strange looking rifles.
If you've got some time, and you think it's military, you could always try to match it with pictures from

http://www.carbinesforcollectors.com/

[TyrannyUnleashed]

Any clue what caliber this is? At first I thought it was a Mosin Nagant. But the bottom around the trigger was not right. Any other information would be helpful. This could be a custom made rifle (for hunting), and that would be real special, for someone if it was.

[sabretech2001]

It looks like a military training rifle of some sort. At first I thought it was Chinese, but now I'm not so sure....

[oldsoldier]

Without seeing the rest of the rifle I'd hazard to guess its a.303 british. Looks like the one I had for years.

[Spock]

http://world.guns.ru/rifle/repeating...-and-99-e.html

its an Arisaka. its been sportized probably back in the 1960s. the bolt shroud is gone and the bold handle has been cut off and a new one welded on INFRONT of where the bolt handle goes.

see that notch in the stock above the trigger? yeah thats where the orginal bolt handle was

[brokedownbiker]

Thanks for all the input, I just found the rifle on a WWII related website. Spock was closest- the rifle is a Nambu Type ; also known as a Japanese Carcano. It is very similar to the Type 38 Arisaka. The rifle the kid has has been sporterized. If anyone is interested, here is the link- the page illustrates the differences between the Type 38 and the Nambu Type 1.

http://members.shaw.ca/nambuworld/typeipix.htm

Thanks again!!!!