[funhurts]

I have a single barrel shotgun I inherited from my great unce who served in the Pacific during WW2. The gun is nicely engraved with some gold inlay. The only identifying markings I could find were under the barrel, which must be removed to see. They look like Japanese characters, but I could be wrong. *See pics*.Does anyone know what I have here?Thanks!!

 

[PAPA G]

it may be Japanese, or Chinese or some other country. trouble is AFAIK, that Pacific Asian made sporting arms, seems to be no one is doing any research or published any info.

still its an interesting piece, any idea on its gauge?

 

[neophyte]

Dagnabit

funhurts: Sir, dagnabit: I wasn't Sucessfull searching.

 

[funhurts]

Thanks for responding! I am just guessing the characters are Japanese, but you guys are right, it could be Chinese or any other Asian markings. I think it is a 4/10 guage, I don't have any shells to test,but it is definitely smaller than a 20ga.

 

[mouser868]

DO you have a way to measure the bore, it could be a 32 or 24 gauge

 

[99dragon99]

A couple of "macro" shots to help identify the characters would help. My son has some experience with Japanese and I have a colleague with a Chinese wife. Might be able to get a general direction if the characters are clear.

 

[Tha Dave]

In Japan long barreled shotguns are pretty much the only type of firearm people are allowed to have. And even those are very tightly regulated. This could have been from the war or could have been from after. I would guess it was a post war gun since they didn't engrave shotguns very often during the war, but afterward had a lot of GI s that wanted something nice to take home.


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[PAPA G]

i beleive it would be pre-war. WWII would have taken up all manufacturing for war weapons. i am thinking some where between 1900-1930's.