JackFrost

KFC also produced multiple hunting shotguns variations that used the Murata style bolt actions with the more original Tanegashima style stocks. Can included a translated blurb I got from a fellow collector friend, the focus is more on the Murata's themselves but include some insight to the KFC made guns as well. I sadly do not have the source on me from where he got it. "Here is a blurb on the Muratas converted to shotguns. From a Japanese source so English is not perfect. Need to do a little research on dates of restricting ownership of certain weapons. The 13-year and 18-year Murata rifles, which were retired from the Japanese military, were converted into shotguns and released to civilians under the pretense of hunting shotguns. In addition to the Type 13/Type 18 shotguns using 28, 30, and 36 gauge ammunition produced based on the existing 11×60mmR ammunition, numerous gun companies and workshops, including KFC (Kawaguchiya Firearms Company), produced 8 rifles modeled after Murata. Murata-type shotguns were made in a wide range of calibers, from large-gauge pellets to small-gauge 7.6mm pellets. Additionally, shotguns were made by transplanting the barrel and operating parts of the Murata shotgun into the body of the Tanegashima . These Murata shotguns (both modified Type 13/18 and newly produced Murata-type shotguns) can use only black powder brass cartridges in common, so the misfire rate is high. The disadvantage of shotgun ammunition with plastic casings widely used in modern times is that they cannot be used unless they are separately modified. Shell casings and handloading tools for the Murata shotgun were produced until the 1990s. If you look at the anecdotes of hunters who were active in Joseon during the Japanese colonial period, there are many records that rich hunters buy American Winchesters or European firearms, and poor hunters use Murata rifles. In addition, many hunters in Japan also used these shotguns, and in particular, in Japanese films about the hunters of the Tohoku region, Matagi, they appear as almost essential elements along with the Tanegashima rifle. At the end of World War II, the Japanese military conscripted even the Murata shotgun that was released to the civilian population and put it into the mainland defense force. These are the variety of calibers/gauges the shotguns were produced in: 8-gauge, 10-gauge, 12-gauge, 16-gauge, 20-gauge, 24-gauge, 28-gauge, 30-gauge, 36-gauge, 40-gauge, and 7.6mm pellets. "

I'm interested but would like to see some better pictures of the hamon if possible. Also do you have any pictures that show the crack you've described in the sheath? Also is this the same sword you had posted back in this thread, If so what happened to the original Silk surrender cloth that originally came with it?

I was able to get it off, sadly it looks like what ever was once there is long gone due to rust. What a shame.

Yeah I had tried before in the past to get the barrel off, but the ram rod is completely stuck within the stock last I tried, I had gotten all the pins out without any issue though. I have considered being a bit more persuasive given the stock is already broken, but have not had the courage to yet undertake it. If I attempt it again I will be sure to share if it has a Mei chiseled under the barrel!

Thank you so much, absolutely grateful for any additional info you can supply on this gun and more than willing to take some more pictures as needed. (My files seem to big for this forums format) For the split under the barrel, I had simply meant a crack has formed and the stock is split all the way down the stock. It does not seem like the normal deliberate splits you would typically see on most Tanegashima style guns I had seen in the past.

First time posting, and figured a good way to introduce myself is sharing one of the rifles from my collection. I have been a long time Japanese small arms collector and wanted to for awhile get into Nihonto. Figured I could start by sharing my Percussion Chosu gun from Bakumatsu. I only know this because I had found a similar one posted long ago on this very board and will link it below. I have not been able to get the barrel out of the stock to check for the stamp underneath it. And sadly the stock is split underneath as is too common with these rifles. It also seems one of its prior owners put a rather gross lacquer over the wood. Thank you for taking a look.