I've got a 7.7 japanese arisaka, and as the title states, the bolt is stuck closed.  No round in the chamber (i've never had any ammo for it).  A friend was cycling the action, checking out the rifle, and suddenly the bolt wouldn't move.  Any ideas what might be wrong, how to release it?  Any help would be great.

Have you tried the safety. If it is on the bolt will not open.

Yes, safety is off, still stuck.

At least of the Type 38 Carbine there's a screw just behind the trigger guard that may interfere with the bolt/safety, loosen it.



If not you may have to remove the action from the stock and then remove the trigger.

This.





My 38 did this once when I was transitioning the safety or something.





I played some serious HELL trying to get it undone.





It's one of the oldest guns I own and one that I have owned for DECADES....never had a problem with it and then one day..."BOIK" it was stuck.





Has not happened since, either.



I do not exactly recall HOW I got it unstuck but I do believe I loosened or removed the action screws and, with the action out of the stock, I jiggled stuff around, held the trigger down, etc and all of the sudden..."un...BOIK" and it was ok again.