( OSE
7983
is a Japanese firearms manufacturer located in Nankoku,

Kōchi Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku. Kōchi Prefecture has a population of 757,914 (1 December 2011) and has a geographic area of 7,103 km2 (2,742 sq mi). Kōchi Prefecture borders Ehime Prefecture to the northwest and ...

. Their products include shotguns produced for Browning Arms Company and rifles licensed by Winchester Firearms. In European markets, these products are sold under both the Miroku and Browning brand names. Modern history of the company began in 1946 as

harpoon cannon A harpoon cannon is a whaling implement developed in the late 19th century and most used in the 20th century. It would be mounted on the bow of a whale catcher, where it could be easily aimed with a wide field of view at the target. Powered by b ...

producer for the recovering Japanese whaling industry, expanding into firearms after the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1951. Charles Daly Firearms of the United States imported Miroku over/under shotguns throughout the 1960s to early 1970s. Afterwards, Miroku found a new outlet for the over/under models under Browning, explaining the similarities from late models imported by Daly to early Browning Citori Type 1 models. This also coincides with FN and Miroku's joint buyout of Brownings stock in 1977. Miroku manufactured a few different models of handguns between the 1962 to 1968, though these were not widely distributed. Among the most common is the "Liberty Chief" model,

.38 .38 caliber is a frequently used name for the caliber of firearm A firearm is any type of gun designed to be readily carried and used by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see Legal definitions). Th ...

caliber revolver. They briefly manufactured copies of the Browning BL22, a

.22 .22 caliber, or 5.6 mm caliber, refers to a common firearms bore diameter of 0.22 inch (5.6 mm). Cartridges in this caliber include the very widely used .22 Long Rifle and .223 Remington / 5.56×45mm NATO. .22 inch is also a popular ...

lever-action The toggle-link action used in the iconic Winchester Model 1873 rifle, one of the most famous lever-action firearms Lever-action is a type of action for repeating firearms that uses a manually operated cocking handle located around the trigger g ...

rifle, under the name of Miroku ML22. This model was popular with Australian rabbit

hunters Hunting is the human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/hide (skin), hide, ...

due to its low price and a high magazine capacity of 15 rounds. Miroku's guns manufactured for Browning are sold in markets where Browning-branded counterparts are scant or unavailable. Miroku also produce, under license through

Olin Corporation Olin Corporation is an American manufacturer of ammunition, chlorine, and sodium hydroxide. The company traces its roots to two companies, both founded in 1892: Franklin W. Olin's Equitable Powder Company and the Mathieson Alkali Works. Olin che ...

and Browning, the Winchester's famed lever-action and falling-block action rifles. The company's flagship product, the MK38 Teague, has features such as a back-bored barrel and an extended choke associated with shotguns in the Browning and Beretta product lines. Miroku products are usually well-regarded by shooters for their quality fit and finish.

References

External links

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Miroku Firearms Mfg.

Miroku International
Manufacturing companies established in 1893 Japanese companies established in 1894 Firearm manufacturers of Japan Manufacturing companies of Japan {{Firearm-manufacturer-stub