WOLFY Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 Hi y’all, I thought that Miroku in Japan had been making lever actions for Browning & Winchester since the late 60’s. Now I realize that’s only true for Browning rimfire levers and certain shotguns. When did Miroku start making Browning B92 and Winchester 1892? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 They were making Browning in the '80s. My 95, in 30 US, is a Miroko Browning. So is my 53 in 32 Winchester Central Fire and 86 in 45/70 Government. All excellent guns. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Hair, SASS #29557 Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 I have an 1892 and an 1873 Winchesters made by Miroku. Real artists in wood and steel. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 According to this site Miroku started making Winchesters somewhere between 2006 & 2010 https://www.chuckhawks.com/win_lever_chronology.html This site says 2010 when 94’s were being made in Japan. https://www.winchesterguns.com/support/faq/historic-designs.html It baffles me how one cannot narrow things down in relation to the “When and Where” when it comes to guns in general. Sometimes when I am researching guns or info on guns I feel like I am talking to some hillbilly and have just asked directions on how to get somewhere. “Welp, I’ll tell ya…what kind of tires are those? Wail, anyway ya neeed ya go down this way (pointing yonder) then you’ll come to a general store. That store is owned by a grumpy old man, but his wife is reeal nice. The sell fresh popcorn, ya know. Anyway at the store you hang a right, but be careful. There’s a big pothole on the right side. The danged Dee Oooh Teee just won’t fix our potholes. I don’t know why, but they just won’t. I swear, if I were in charge there wouldn’t be any potholes. HeeHeeHeehee! Can you imagine? Me! A king?! Well I do declare that would be funny. Anyway you hang that right and go ‘til you see Mander’s Farm. You can’t miss it. Slow down a bit, they may be moving cows across the road. Wail, then ya keep going for a ways until you come to Roy’s Gas & Grease. They only sell gas. The grease is in the French fryer. Man, they got a deep fried bacon slab that’ll make yer mouth water… Where was I?..,” 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster Ron Wayne Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 All of the Browning 92's was made by Miroku in Japan . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 (edited) I have a 1886 and a 1895 Winchester rifle. Both are marked Made In Japan, but don't have any Miroku markings. I bought both in 2004 IIRC. They are marvelous guns and all I did to one (the '95) was to add a barrel band with a sling swivel and a Providence Tool Company side mount peep sight (which I later modified to take screw-in apertures). The '86 is as stock as a new born baby. The '86 is in .45-70...it's my Eleffo gun, (or maybe a Buffalant gun). The'95 is in .30 U.S. Krag and took me nearly a year to find one. My armory now has something for almost any target on Earth as long as I don't need a mouse gun. I sold my last .22 two years ago and haven't replaced it yet. Edited August 26 by Forty Rod SASS 3935 Can't spell. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 I have yet to see a Miroku firearm that wasn’t very nicely made. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Dan Dawkins Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 (edited) 5 hours ago, Pat Riot said: I have yet to see a Miroku firearm that wasn’t very nicely made. This is true. Also notable is Tim Sundles at Buffalo Bore Ammunition stated he has sold all his Winchester built 71s keeping his Miroku 71’s. Said they're better built and more accurate, though that is one man’s opinion Edited August 26 by Dirty Dan Dawkins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 58 minutes ago, Dirty Dan Dawkins said: sold all his Winchester built 71s for Miroku 71’s. Isn't/wasn't the 71 only available in 348? How many do you need? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgavin Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 2 hours ago, Pat Riot said: I have yet to see a Miroku firearm that wasn’t very nicely made. My Charles Daly SxS is a Miroku made shotgun. Superb fit and finish, both inside (unlike Stoeger) as well as outside. 100% delighted. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WOLFY Posted August 26 Author Share Posted August 26 Thanks everyone… so, late 70s for centerfire Brownings and mid 00s for Winchester. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Dan Dawkins Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 (edited) 4 hours ago, Alpo said: Isn't/wasn't the 71 only available in 348? How many do you need? Yes, from factory, on first question. The second question is just silly. Edited August 26 by Dirty Dan Dawkins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 6 minutes ago, Dirty Dan Dawkins said: Yes, on first question. The second question is just silly. I don't think so. Example - I have 92 Winchesters. I have some made by Browning and some made by Rossi and some made by Winchester. Have 16 inch carbine and 20-inch carbines and 24-inch rifles. Some have round barrels, some have octagonal. I have 32/20, 357, 38/40, 44/40, 44 Magnum and 45 Colt. I have blue and I have stainless. They are different. I have three 32 hand ejectors. One is blue, two are nickel. All three have different barrel lengths. They are different. But if they made one model and it only came in one chambering - it only came one way - why would you need more than one of them? It's like having a classic car collection. A 57 t-bird and a 63 split window vette and a 68 goat - that makes sense. But having five or six identical 57 T-Birds? Why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Dan Dawkins Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 (edited) 36 minutes ago, Alpo said: I don't think so. Example - I have 92 Winchesters. I have some made by Browning and some made by Rossi and some made by Winchester. Have 16 inch carbine and 20-inch carbines and 24-inch rifles. Some have round barrels, some have octagonal. I have 32/20, 357, 38/40, 44/40, 44 Magnum and 45 Colt. I have blue and I have stainless. They are different. I have three 32 hand ejectors. One is blue, two are nickel. All three have different barrel lengths. They are different. But if they made one model and it only came in one chambering - it only came one way - why would you need more than one of them? It's like having a classic car collection. A 57 t-bird and a 63 split window vette and a 68 goat - that makes sense. But having five or six identical 57 T-Birds? Why? Cause someone wants to. And there is a limited supply of them, compared to say 92's. There were options. Long tang, short tang, 20" and 24" barrel barrels, different sight options they could come with from Winchester (some of the original sights command a premium), engraved, checkered or not checkered. Deluxe models, some with premium wood. Some case colored. There's the Browning high grade with engraving and a coin finish that are just beautiful. Turnbull restorations has restored some to remarkable condition. And then there is collector value that just comes with them, and those with provenance. Many were rebored/rebarreled and rechambered to 450 Alaskan for the Alaskan bush as bear medicine, so there's that option. I have seen one rebarreled to 50-110. A side note: Herb Parsons used one in Winchester 73 to do the trick shots on the coins in the movie, yes, with a 348 Winchester. Many couldn't shoot well enough to consistently hit a stationary coin with lever 22 much less a tossed coin with the very powerful 348. It's in the Cody Firearms Museum. Wonder what that's worth as a piece of firearms and movie history? There's nothing particularly special about it as far as appearance. Looks like a slightly worn hunting arm. So, why not? Why have 5-6 identical '57 T-birds? Cause you can and to preserve history/legacy. Edited August 26 by Dirty Dan Dawkins 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted August 30 Share Posted August 30 On 8/25/2024 at 3:01 PM, Alpo said: Isn't/wasn't the 71 only available in 348? How many do you need? Why? Do you have some for sale? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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