"Made in Japan", but...
- Thread starter Danny Creasy
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AlexanderA
Member
The irony is that their products are made exclusively for export. Firearms are a no-go in Japan.
vaupet
Member
So far I own 3 Miroku build rifles, 2 1892's in 44-40 and a t-bolt, all are wonderfull.
@ raindodger: my favorite knive is a Mcusta, damascus steel and rootwood, handmade in japan
http://www.soonerstateknives.com/MCU-16D.JPG
@ raindodger: my favorite knive is a Mcusta, damascus steel and rootwood, handmade in japan
http://www.soonerstateknives.com/MCU-16D.JPG
SSN Vet
Member
If one wants to feel nostalgically patriotic about the good old days of American pre-eminence in quality manufacturing, just look into the history of Dr. Walter Deming.
Then you'll understand why the highest quality award in Japanese manufacturing is named after an American.
Winchester's history is a sordid tail of the failure of American corporate management and organized labor to learn how to pull together and actually give a rip about the product and the customer.
And now the jobs have gone to Japan, and the profits to Belgium.
Then you'll understand why the highest quality award in Japanese manufacturing is named after an American.
Winchester's history is a sordid tail of the failure of American corporate management and organized labor to learn how to pull together and actually give a rip about the product and the customer.
And now the jobs have gone to Japan, and the profits to Belgium.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
This ain't 1980.
HoosierQ
Member
I have a Miroku Browning side by side beavertail fore end field grade. Flawless in every respect.
SwampWolf
Member
When the Asian Olin Kodensha-made Winchester Model 101 o/u shotgun came to these shores in 1963, during a time "when almost everything Japan turned out was of poor quality", the three little words "Made in Japan" was a phrase that by itself was enough "to make some shotgun men blanch and condemn the 101 without ever handling or even seeing the gun."
The 1968 edition of The Gun Digest included an interesting article penned by author Bill Resman titled "Browning versus Winchester; the Upstart Against the Veteran", where the "gold standard" of over/under shotguns at the time, the Browning Superposed, was compared with the new Model 101 in terms of finish, checkering, inletting, engraving and handling, among other things.
Wood to metal fit was considered to be equal between the two shotguns. The Browning, however, was deemed to have superior polishing, metal to metal fit and checkering while the Winchester was thought to have better engraving and handling qualities.
Author Resman concluded: "...What the comparison boils down to then is this: If you want a gun with top workmanship, an excellent bluing job, and glasslike stocks, the first choice is definitely the Browning. If, however, you are interested in a gun with very good workmanship, and perhaps better handling qualities than that found in the Superposed, you can save yourself about a hundred dollars by buying the Winchester 101."
Some things change and some things stay the same.
The 1968 edition of The Gun Digest included an interesting article penned by author Bill Resman titled "Browning versus Winchester; the Upstart Against the Veteran", where the "gold standard" of over/under shotguns at the time, the Browning Superposed, was compared with the new Model 101 in terms of finish, checkering, inletting, engraving and handling, among other things.
Wood to metal fit was considered to be equal between the two shotguns. The Browning, however, was deemed to have superior polishing, metal to metal fit and checkering while the Winchester was thought to have better engraving and handling qualities.
Author Resman concluded: "...What the comparison boils down to then is this: If you want a gun with top workmanship, an excellent bluing job, and glasslike stocks, the first choice is definitely the Browning. If, however, you are interested in a gun with very good workmanship, and perhaps better handling qualities than that found in the Superposed, you can save yourself about a hundred dollars by buying the Winchester 101."
Some things change and some things stay the same.
ChairborneRanger
Member
Nice gun! Miroku's quality is "top shelf" IMHO----kind of like Hondas and Toyotas, although a bit more expensive, they'll run just about forever.
35 Whelen
Member
I don't mind the Winchester 1873's being made in Japan and the high quality is obvious, I just wish they'd have made them look like original '73's! They made them look like imitations.
Don't discount for one minute a 125+ year old Winchester as being worn out and incapable of doing anything but gathering dust. This ol' girl is over 125 years old, still wears her original barrel and will put bullets on a 200 yd. target exactly where you want:
Her stable mate, two years older, heavily used (note the wear to the wood from being carried, at the rear of the forearm)and pretty beat up, but with her barrel lined:
35W
Don't discount for one minute a 125+ year old Winchester as being worn out and incapable of doing anything but gathering dust. This ol' girl is over 125 years old, still wears her original barrel and will put bullets on a 200 yd. target exactly where you want:
Her stable mate, two years older, heavily used (note the wear to the wood from being carried, at the rear of the forearm)and pretty beat up, but with her barrel lined:
35W
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Tommygunn
Member
Hmmmmm .... they look mysteriously like their original brethren to me ....
Oh yes I know the new ones have safeties the originals lacked .... a price we pay for tolerating a bazillion lawyers....
Sav .250
Member
" Made in japan" doesn`t mean what it did in the past!
Jim Watson
Member
Neither does Made in USA.
35 Whelen
Member
Hmmmmm .... they look mysteriously like their original brethren to me ....
Oh yes I know the new ones have safeties the originals lacked .... a price we pay for tolerating a bazillion lawyers....
I think "similar", at best. On some forum somewhere in the pas year, someone did a side-by-side physical comparison of the "new" 1873 Winchester and a Uberti 1873 (which for all practical purposes is identical to the original), complete with photos. There were some fairly striking differences, at least to me.
Too, for about the price of one of the new 1873's a person can get a pretty decent original although it won't be in .357 or 45 Colt. As can be seen, the originals are as good as money in the bank because they only appreciate in value!
All that said, to each his own!
35W
Don McDowell
Member
I just got one of the Winchester 73's in short rifle round barrel, 44-40, price with shipping and transfer fee's was a flat 1100. There is no safety on this rifle, and there is no mention of safety other than the regular ol notch in the hammer.
OP
OP
Danny Creasy
Member
Don is correct. The modern 1873 has no manual safety (like Rossi, Marlin, and modern Winchester Model 94s) other than the half-cock notch on the hammer. Miroku did add an inertial firing pin.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I think the Miroku `73's just look a little funny because many are full blue rather than color case hardened. The spiffed up version from Navy Arms is mouth watering!
Danny, that is a beautiful rifle sure to bring you much enjoyment!
Mine is a 'Plain Jane' Mikoru '73 short rifle (blued, round barrel, so/so walnut), but it is a working gun, and I love it. I have equipped it with the Marbles tang sight made especially for Mikoru's, as well as a flip down barrel sight for shorter range work. The tang sight really adds a whole new degree of fun (and practicality) to the rifle. I also added a finger lever wrap and stock cover just for fun, although I should add that the stock cover really holds the butt in your shoulder making repeat shots much easier. Also, I don't cringe when I set the rifle down when out and about the farm.
I have had two minor issues you may want to watch for with your rifle. First, the finger lever had more side-to-side play than I could abide, but Vance at triggershims.com (great guy - no affiliation) fixed me up with some shims which I installed between the finger and carrier levers. Worked beautifully. Second, and more importantly, the lever safety bar spring (which from the factory is a wire spring and not the traditional leaf spring) has a tendency to slip off the safety bar, thereby rendering it inoperable. This can allow out-of-battery firing in the event of poor trigger control. Removing the stock, I can easily return it to position with a dental pick, or any other thin pokey stick, but sooner than later I must remove the lower tang and try bending it to a better fit, or replacing it outright with an aftermarket spring. Jeff Quinn of Gunblast reported a similar issue in his review of the rifle. Although it does not seem to be a common problem, at least these are the only two instances I am aware of, you should be aware of the potential issue (and the fact that it is an easy fix).
Enjoy that jealousy-inducing beautiful rifle!
Mine is a 'Plain Jane' Mikoru '73 short rifle (blued, round barrel, so/so walnut), but it is a working gun, and I love it. I have equipped it with the Marbles tang sight made especially for Mikoru's, as well as a flip down barrel sight for shorter range work. The tang sight really adds a whole new degree of fun (and practicality) to the rifle. I also added a finger lever wrap and stock cover just for fun, although I should add that the stock cover really holds the butt in your shoulder making repeat shots much easier. Also, I don't cringe when I set the rifle down when out and about the farm.
I have had two minor issues you may want to watch for with your rifle. First, the finger lever had more side-to-side play than I could abide, but Vance at triggershims.com (great guy - no affiliation) fixed me up with some shims which I installed between the finger and carrier levers. Worked beautifully. Second, and more importantly, the lever safety bar spring (which from the factory is a wire spring and not the traditional leaf spring) has a tendency to slip off the safety bar, thereby rendering it inoperable. This can allow out-of-battery firing in the event of poor trigger control. Removing the stock, I can easily return it to position with a dental pick, or any other thin pokey stick, but sooner than later I must remove the lower tang and try bending it to a better fit, or replacing it outright with an aftermarket spring. Jeff Quinn of Gunblast reported a similar issue in his review of the rifle. Although it does not seem to be a common problem, at least these are the only two instances I am aware of, you should be aware of the potential issue (and the fact that it is an easy fix).
Enjoy that jealousy-inducing beautiful rifle!
Clark
Member
I bought another one.
OP
OP
Danny Creasy
Member
Clark, a truly beautiful, graceful, single shot rifle. Love it!
PX150, thanks for the tips and advice. Much appreciated ... especially when safety is involved.
I guess I took this centerfold shot after I started this thread. Enjoy:
PX150, thanks for the tips and advice. Much appreciated ... especially when safety is involved.
I guess I took this centerfold shot after I started this thread. Enjoy:
Sheepdog1968
Member
The Brownings and Winchesters made in Japan are very well done. Though I prefer made in the USA, I even more so prefer quality firearms.
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