Original Item: Only One Available. The Murata rifle (村田銃 Murata jū) was the first indigenously produced Japanese service rifle adopted in 1880 as the Meiji Type 13 Murata single-shot rifle. The 13 referred to the adoption date, the year 13 in the Meiji period according to the Japanese calendar. Later revisions including a tubular magazine, and a reduced caliber, led to the introduction of the Type 22 in 1889, the 22nd year of the Meiji calendar.

Development

The development of the weapon was lengthy as it involved the establishment of an adequate industrial structure to support it. Before producing local weapons, the early Imperial Japan Army had been relying on various imports since the time of the Boshin War, and especially on the French Chassepot, the British Snider-Enfield and the Spencer repeating rifle. This was about 300 years after Japan developed its first guns, derived from Portuguese matchlock designs, the Tanegashima or "Nanban guns".

The combat experience of the Boshin War emphasized the need for a standardized design, and the Japanese Army was impressed with the metallic-cartridge design of the French Gras rifle. The design was invented by Major Murata Tsuneyoshi, an infantry officer in the Japanese Imperial Army. Adopted in Emperor Meiji's thirteenth year of reign, the rifle was designated as the model 13 and went into production as the 11-millimeter Type 13 single-shot, bolt-action rifle in 1880.

Superficial improvements such as components, bayonet lugs, and minor configurations led to the redesignation of the Type 13 to the Type 18 rifle in 1885. Further modifications in the same year involving both tubular and box magazines led to the Type 22 rifle, which used a tubular magazine and was reduced to caliber 8mm. The Type 22 was the first Japanese military rifle to utilize smokeless powder and entered military service in 1889, the 22nd year of the Meiji calendar.

Usage

The Murata rifle was the standard infantry weapon of the Imperial Japanese Army during the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) and in the Boxer Rebellion. The Imperial Japanese Army was quick to recognize that the design of even the improved Type 22 version of the Murata rifle had many technical issues and flaws. Following the combat experience of the First Sino-Japanese War, a decision was made to replace it with the Arisaka Type 30 rifle, which had been designed in 1898, and which also used the more modern smokeless powder. The rifle performed well in any situation and terrain. However, due to insufficient production, many of the reserve infantry units sent to the front-lines during the latter stages of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905 continued to be equipped with the Murata Type 22 rifle.

When the Murata rifle was equipped and sold of the Philippines from Japan and used by the Katipunero forces from 1896 to 1897 and later the Filipino troops under the Philippine Revolutionary Army was fought against the Spanish Colonial forces during the Philippine Revolution of 1896 to 1898 and the Spanish-American War of 1898 and among the battle against the American colonial forces during the Philippine-American War of 1899 to 1901

This Example

Murata rifles are extremely rare, as once the Arisaka rifle was adopted the Murata was then designated and re-issued for training purposes at which time all the bolt heads were officially removed. Once declared as obsolete and available for sale as surplus, being unusable due to the lack of the bolt heads, most were scrapped for the steel content. This Murata 8mm magazine rifle however still retains the bolt head with a functional extractor! The magazine cutoff lever moves, and the feed ramp correctly moves up and down, though we have no way to check to see if it still can feed..

The right side of the receiver above the magazine cutoff is marked correctly with 明 治 二 十 二 年 制 定, which is read Meiji (current reigning emperor) Ni-Juu Ni Nen (22nd Year of Reign - 1889) Sei Tei (enacted / adopted). This indicates it is a Model adopted in the 22nd year (1889) of the Reign of Emperor Meiji, the Type 22. The other side of the receiver bears markings indicating manufacture at Tokyo arsenal, as well as other manufacturing information. The rifle bears matching serial number 111245 on the barrel, while the receiver and other components like the trigger guard and bayonet are not marked, possibly having lost them due to oxidation. The bolt has markings, but it is with assembly number ヒ101 (HI 101). It is possible that by this high serial number they had stopped stamping the other parts, and added assembly numbers to the bolt components.

This rifle still has the original KIKUMON (菊紋 - Chrysanthemum Seal) proof the Japanese Imperial Family present on top of the barrel, with no attempts we can see to deface it. However the original Murata KAKIHAN (書き判) stylized signature stamp is missing, and above the "mum" is a partial stamp of the character 廃, while below it is a partial 銃 character, which put together read HAI-JUU, meaning "Withdrawn / Discarded Rifle". That means it was withdrawn from service however we do not see any signs that it was sold into school service. There is also still a fully intact and crisp stock cartouche on the right butt stock, which indicates it is a type 22 made by the “Tokyo Artillery Arsenal Small Arms Factory”.

Condition of the rifle is very good, and still shows much of the original checkering on the stock. The metalwork shows a lovely aged patina, showing past oxidation and peppering, now cleaned away. The small sliding door at the top of the butt plate is still present, but we cannot get it to open. The bore of the barrel still shows clear rifling, but also fouling and oxidation, especially in the grooves, and is overall dark. This rifle definitely saw a good amount of use, and was not properly cleaned afterwards. The bolt cycles correctly and dry fires, and the magazine cutoff is fully functional. Both sling swivels are still present, and the front and rear sights are present as well, with the rear sight functional but not able to lie flat anymore.

A very rare Type 22 Japanese Infantry rifle that preceded the 1898 Arisaka, with an intact Chrysanthemum Crest and Stock Cartouche! As they are such an early design these are very difficult to find on the collector’s market today. Ready to research and display!

Specifications (Rifle):-

Years of Manufacture: 1889-1897
Caliber: 8×53mmR Murata
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 29 Inches
Overall Length: 47 1/2 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: 8 round tube magazine

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IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

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Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.