Rare Gun Question
I wondered if someone might be able to point me in the right direction. My father recently passed away, leaving behind a few firearms. We are able to identify and value all of them except for one that Dad sent back from World War 2 in about 1944 or 1945 when he was fighting in the Philippines. He called it a mountain rifle and it is unlike any other rifle we have ever seen. You may view a number of photos of the rifle by entering the following URL in your web browser (http://www.ucrhr.com/Daves/CarlRoseRifle/)and then viewing the images from the Photo Index.
As you will see, the firearm was designed to be fired from the hip, appears to be a large bore (see photo 9282) and has no lettering or names on the rifle. There are a couple of faint designs on the bolt (9286) and trigger guard (9288). The stock is made of an ornate wood and there is inlaid silver plating on the stock (see photos 9287 & 9293).
Any help you can provide in pointing us to someone that may help us identify and possibly value the firearm would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave Rose
As you will see, the firearm was designed to be fired from the hip, appears to be a large bore (see photo 9282) and has no lettering or names on the rifle. There are a couple of faint designs on the bolt (9286) and trigger guard (9288). The stock is made of an ornate wood and there is inlaid silver plating on the stock (see photos 9287 & 9293).
Any help you can provide in pointing us to someone that may help us identify and possibly value the firearm would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave Rose
0
-
The bolt action appears to be a Japanese Murata.
http://www.militaryrifles.com/japan/Murata13.htm
The stock is of the Japanese Tanegashima style, meant to be fired with a cheekweld but no shoulder support, not from the hip. The type goes back to the matchlock era of the 17th century.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Japanese_matchlock_butt_Asian_Art_Museum_SF.JPG
http://www.japaneseweapons.net/hinawajyu/english.htm
All I can speculate is that somebody in the Orient wanted to maintain the traditional style with a "modern" breechloading action.
Detailed identification is going to take a real specialist.
Value is as a novelty item, you are not going to see another like it any time soon.0 -
Thanks for the information about this rifle. I do remember Dad telling us that the mountain soldiers could fire cartridges or black powder loads with these rifles. I don't know how the powder would have been ignited in firing as a black powder load? There are some similarities to the rifles you mentioned. Thanks for your help. 0 -
I suspect that your rifle (?) was made by indigenous personnel in the Philippines - possibly using an earlir captured or found Japanese action Hawke indicated as a starting point. I have several such guns that my grandfather confiscated from the locals in the early 1900's. Mine will all "chamber" a 12ga shotgun shell and are slam fired.[:p]
Its a neat looking thing in any case!0 -
Dave,
I sent you an email suggesting you edit your profile to remove all the personal contact information from your profile.
Doing so is "retroactive" and all your previous topic listings and replies will be updated.0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
4 comments