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 is missing the bolt head, like most we see, but it does still have the front and rear sights. The magazine cutoff looks to be fully functional, but as there is no bolt head, the "door" does not get pushed down enough to lock in place.

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 10469 on the barrel, receiver, bayonet lug, trigger guard, magazine cutoff, and magazine floor plate. It is even present on the barrel band and rear sling swivel bolster! The bolt and firing pin retainer are not matching, which would indicate servicing at arsenal, or that they were swapped when the bolt head was removed.

This rifle still has the original KIKUMON (菊紋 - Chrysanthemum Seal) proof the Japanese Imperial Family visible, but it does have some characters stamped around it, and it looks like an attempt was made to overstamp it, however it is still mostly visible. These would often have the characters "Hai Ju" surrounding them, indicating that they were sold out of service / obsoleted.

Condition of the rifle is very good, and still shows much of the original checkering on the stock. There is even a faint arsenal proof on the right side of the butt stock. The metalwork shows a lovely aged patina, showing some past oxidation and peppering, now cleaned away. The small sliding door at the top of the butt plate is still functional. The bore of the barrel still shows clear rifling, but also fouling and oxidation, especially in the grooves. This rifle definitely saw a good amount of use, and was not properly cleaned afterwards. The bolt cycles correctly and dry fires, though as there is no bolt head, there is no way to test the magazine.

The included extremely rare type 22 bayonet is the first that we have ever had, and they are exceedingly rare on the market, much more so than the rifles! They were not needed for school / training use, and were disposed of. This example has a lovely patina, showing some past peppering and oxidation, now partly cleaned away. The wood is definitely worn, as one would expect, and the bayonet lock is still functional. It also has a FULLY INTACT KIKUMON (菊紋 - Chrysanthemum Seal), which were almost always removed or defaced.

A very rare Type 22 Japanese Infantry rifle that preceded the 1898 Arisaka, complete with the even rarer Type 22 Bayonet! 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

Specifications (Bayonet):-
Blade Length: 11"
Blade Style: Single Edge with Fuller
Overall length: 14 5/8“
Crossguard: 3 5/8”

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