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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,174
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,174 |
Nice looking double. I've heard that Hamada finished Miroku-built guns. It would be interesting to see if that was true... or maybe they built guns from the ground up? Keep us updated on what you find. As you well know, there isn't much info on the history of gunmaking in Japan. Here's another Hamada SLE with Woodward style arcaded fences.  Thanks! Adam
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 142
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 142 |
Adam,
I've seen that same picture on Hamada's web site - under the link for the Company's History. The writing is all in Japanese, so I can't read it, but I hope to speak more with Kawaguchi on the company and find out what guns it made, when, etc. Do you know of any other companies to look for (besides Miroku, Nikko, SKB, KFC, Fuji)?
Your earlier posts - with the Hamada and copies of Westley Richards has really sparked my interest. Thanks.
Sincerely, Patrick
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,038
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,038 |
Wow, my taste in Japanese guns just keeps getting stronger. I love this gun.
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,174
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,174 |
Patrick, glad I could help! I think you pretty much got all the major makers... at least the ones I am interested in. I am curious how, if all at, the different makers are connected.
Please post what you find!
Adam
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,737
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,737 |
Wow.....This is a perfect example of the adage "Buy the gun, not the name".
Very nice, very solid looking gun. I like it.
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,475 Likes: 54
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,475 Likes: 54 |
Wasn't Nikko just a brand name for guns coming out of the Olin Kodensha plant, now defunct? I thought Nikko was the Euro version of the Win 101.
Wasn't KFC just an early name for the Miroku gun works?
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,475 Likes: 54
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,475 Likes: 54 |
What about Miida, imported by Marubeni America Corp.?
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 142
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 142 |
Replacement,
Your comments are partially correct.
Nikko was the trade name for Olin Kodensha Co, up in Tochigi, Nikko Prefecture, Japan. Nikko was in a partnership with Winchester, and was known to have saved the best wood for its own Nikko guns. The factory burned down in the 80's and most of its records were lost. Nikko made guns for Winchester (such as the 101 I have) and also sold like guns under the Nikko name, as well as its own guns. I have a Nikko Shadow and Nikko NTG - both are lovely.
KFC (Kawaguchia Firearms Company) was the parent company of Miroku. I'm not sure of their relationship now, but will try to find out. All of the KFC guns that I've seen are older - nothing newer than the 80s, maybe 70s, but are nice solid guns.
Miroku is the only Japanese company still making guns, since SKB recently closed. Mirokus are popular in England and Europe, but not so much in the US. They do make Guns for Charles Daly and Winchester.
Fuji - I have a Fuji super Auto 2000 and have seen several Fuji autos, but have found no info on the brand.
Miida - I've not heard of it but will see what I can find out.
I'm quite found of Nikkos and SKBs and have a few of each - mostly O/Us, but am now trying to locate older, higher level Japanese SxSs.
When I get more info on Hamada, I will post it.
Sincerely, Patrick
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,573 Likes: 165
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,573 Likes: 165 |
Patrick, that just means you can write the book on japanese doubles and become the expert. Start with a couple "look what I found and what I found out about it" articles for DGJ, sign a book a deal, and suddenly you will have double gun fame. It's all wine and roses from there, just ask Larry Brown. Ha! Good one, ghostdog. I've had people suggest--since I speak French and know a bit about shotguns--that I should do a book on French doubles. My response was that I'd have to go to France and do significant research, which I would be willing to undertake if I could find a few "sponsors". They would be repaid based on the profits from the book. Patrick has an advantage since he's already "boots on the ground" in Japan. But he's found out the same thing a lot of people learn fairly quickly, when it comes to foreign doubles: not only is a decent knowledge of the language important, but you also need to know "gun Japanese". I probably should add that I never found any sponsors.
Last edited by L. Brown; 04/12/12 08:08 AM.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,573 Likes: 165
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,573 Likes: 165 |
Nikko was the trade name for Olin Kodensha Co, up in Tochigi, Nikko Prefecture, Japan. Nikko was in a partnership with Winchester, and was known to have saved the best wood for its own Nikko guns. The factory burned down in the 80's and most of its records were lost. Nikko made guns for Winchester (such as the 101 I have) and also sold like guns under the Nikko name, as well as its own guns. I have a Nikko Shadow and Nikko NTG - both are lovely.
Patrick, are you sure about the factory burning down? It was certainly in business through the Parker Reproduction years, which lasted until early 1989. Also through the period during which Classic Doubles took over importation of the 101, and switched from the sxs Model 23 to the Model 201. It was my understanding that the factory either closed or was converted to other purposes.
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