Hamilton
I believe the 027 was the Japanese knock-off of the Hamilton 27
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I doubt very much the Japanese made a knock off o the Hamilton Model 27. The Hamilton Model 27 was first produced in 1906 while the Model 027 was introduced 1908. The difference between the two was that the 027 had a walnut stock. 0 -
The original Model 027 was made in Plymouth, Michigan:
http://home.comcast.net/~jimringbauer/model027.html
There was also a Japanese version of the 027 made in the 1960's:
http://home.comcast.net/~jimringbauer/japmodel027.html0 -
Spider
Thanks for that correction. The reference I looked in "The 20098 Standard Catalog of Firearms" made no mention of the Japanese knockoff.0 -
Jim Perkins' 1948 book American Boys' Rifles 1890-1945 has a good deal of info on the Japanese clone of the Hamilton 027. Here's one I picked up not long ago, still with its original box. 
Starting in 1965 three US importers offered them but sales were lousy and all three importers ceased ordering them after importing just a few hundred. First mention was approximately 250 imported by American Import Co. of San Francisco 1965. There was also Cascade Firearms Corp. of Pasadena, CA, unknown quantity imported, estimated to be very few. And finally, Sierra Arms Co. of Los Angeles, CA, unknown quantity imported, also estimated to be very few.
Note that the triggerguard is brass, it has a "stepped" barrel, it wears a "Monte Carlo" style stock with a rubber buttplate, and a beaded front sight. The serial number 001205 is stamped on left side of receiver with the words MADE IN JAPAN.
Other than missing it's rear sight and some wear marks on the butt stock,this little guy would grade about NRA VG. In talking with "Wes," the collector who furnished the gun pics for the Hamilton website, he was astonished that an original box still existed. This is the only one I've ever seen offered, and have only seen ONE other clone ever offered for sale.
Best regards ~ ~ ~ Shansei450
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