I have a chance to buy these.

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I saw these two at a gun store. The made in Japan was 150 and the springfield 1863 was 450. He said he would deal. Been in the possession of a re-enactor. Any input on what the Japanese rifle is. (I could not get a bore scope in it but did see some fuzziness all the way down the bore with a fishing light; pitting in grooves of springfield.) Any input on what they are worth and/or should I spend money on them? First 5 are the springfield, others are the japanese model.except for the last one which was labeled 1863 .58 springfield..
springfield 1.jpg
japan 1.jpg
springfield 2.jpg
springfield 3.jpg
italia rifle 1.jpg
japan rifle 1.jpg
japan 1.jpg
japan 2.jpg
japan body.jpg
 

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I’d pass on the musket and hard pass on the Japan. The musket may clean up and be serviceable if you work at it. How low he would go and how hard you want to work is the question.
 
The Springfield is ok but it all depends on the bore. It looks rough in the pic. Might be able to refresh. Hard to tell. Price is a bit high.
 
If the lock on the .58 was in good enough shape I'd get it for 200 or walk. If I got it for 200 I'd have a .458 or .510 bore diameter liner and trigger job, then shoot either 45-70 or 50-70 rifle molds out of it, have a barrel of fun with a homemade incarnation of a "Volunteer".
 
Just to correct the record here, the Miroku Springfield is NOT a bottom tier gun. Like any rifle musket shooting minies, it has to be handled correctly for best accuracy. If the bore is decent, and by decent I don't mean pristine perfect, odds on, it'll be a great shooter.

The "bad" reputation of any minie gun often stems from operator error/ignorance of how to get a minie rifle to shoot.
 
That Jap rifle is not worth even $50. The 1863 has been "road hard and put away wet" and is overpriced. If it was me and I REALLY wanted it I would offer $150 then send it off to Bobby Hoyt to see if he can do anything with it. If you keep an eye out you can find these for the $450 price in much better shape. My 2 cents worth :ThankYou:
 
Thanks again for all the input. I am going to pass on these. I got a great 1853 3 band enfield and a new pennsylvania flintlock. to cover the revolution and the civil war. I don't have enough info on the pictured guns to be confident about either one of them. Love this forum.
 
Just to correct the record here, the Miroku Springfield is NOT a bottom tier gun. Like any rifle musket shooting minies, it has to be handled correctly for best accuracy. If the bore is decent, and by decent I don't mean pristine perfect, odds on, it'll be a great shooter.

The "bad" reputation of any minie gun often stems from operator error/ignorance of how to get a minie rifle to shoot.
Wasn't the Springfield made in Italy?
 
The Italian made is being identified as a springfield with 1863 stamped on the lock. The Japanese has a band 1/2 between lock and end of barrel about 3.5 inches in width. I apologize if I got the pictures mixed up. I wasn't sure if the store would allow me to take pics. No label on the Japanese.
 
I saw these two at a gun store. The made in Japan was 150 and the springfield 1863 was 450. He said he would deal. Been in the possession of a re-enactor. Any input on what the Japanese rifle is. (I could not get a bore scope in it but did see some fuzziness all the way down the bore with a fishing light; pitting in grooves of springfield.) Any input on what they are worth and/or should I spend money on them? First 5 are the springfield, others are the japanese model.except for the last one which was labeled 1863 .58 springfield..
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What is the one made in Italy? I thought it was the Springfield?
 
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