It was produced in large numbers and was still in production in the early years of World War Two.

[5] The Type 44 entered production in 1911 and entered service in 1912 (the 44th year of the Meiji period, hence "Type 44"),[6] and served on until the end of the Second World War in 1945, production of the rifle ran until three years prior to the end of the Second World War; 1942.

[7] After the war, the Type 44 continued to be used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army and Navy.

[11] The Type 44 also included a compartment in the buttstock for which to store a unique two-piece cleaning rod.

The Type 44 was briefly used to experiment on using the 7.7×58mm Arisaka before it was dropped due to problems regarding recoil.