T38 sling translation

[Milton]

Hello folks. Was wondering if anyone here can take a stab at translating the Kanji on this T38 sling? I'm especially curious about the figure to the far-left as it appears to be more of a symbol than Kanji *but what do I know?? Also, there's a nice early muzzle cover on this one. Thx for any help.

[Papa Nambu]

My x-ray vision doesn't seem to be working so I'm having trouble seeing through the top strap of the sling.
But it looks like is says 彳兵隊? and then (blob of white paint)

彳 is "stop/stand"
兵隊 can mean either soldier or sailor
? means a partially covered and faded kanji under the strap that I can't read.
(blob of white paint) means a pair of parentheses with something inside, but they used too much paint and it's a blob and you probably would have a hard time reading it even if it were in English. Your only hope is to get a better photo that might just show it clear enough for a guess, or that someone may have seen this mark before and know it from it's basic shape.

Just a guess but could mean the rifle was used at a guard post rather than assigned to an individual. Or maybe the mystery kanji might be the answer.

[Jareth]

Always check ALL type 38 rifles for possible navy anchor stamp underneath stock behind trigger guard tang

[Milton]

Thanks gents, and yes, good point Jareth, I forgot about the anchor stamp. Sorry for the top strap somewhat obscuring the symbols, I'd hoped it'd be clear enough (with the possible exception of the very last one before the strange marking (but it's quite faded and very hard to see even in person). The last symbol looks more like a symbol of sorts than Kanji, as the rest of it is so well executed, but I may just never know. I will try and re-post w/ better pix in the near future. Thank to both of you for your help!

[Nick Komiya]

彳is a component of Kanji that froms the left side as in 行（to go). This component has the meaning of walking (歩）and Walking Soldier (歩兵）is Japanese for Infantry. So what we see there can be reread as　歩兵隊、meaning Infantry Unit. Kanji with many strokes often have unofficial abbreviated forms. Although I have never encountered "歩", abbreviated in this manner, that is the only sensible way to read this in my opinion.