Time to defend my thinking.
I have received two emails questioning my statement that these guns were not fake Westley Richards guns.
Here goes.
The Japanese have an ancient history in armament making. SKB is the second longest continuing armaments producer in the world, following Beretta by some fifty years.
As the Anson and Deeley boxlock is and was recognized, by most, as the finest boxlock design,of that time, it logically follows that these makers would follow the rest of the world's makers in using it as a base.
These fellows were not flighty businessmen either. As astute as others, they went with the flow.
The difference must be that they were independent, thus the need to produce quality to remain in business. Money talked then as now and if a product were not of a stated quality, then out of business went the inferior maker.
As we know, it is in the Japanese psyche to be self effacing. It would be unseemly to put ones name on a gun just as it would be to put it on any other product that was bespoke.
Having seen the guts of my two, I can attest that they are not the same as a Richards. Therefore, think that they were not knockoffs.
Best,
John
