Japanese Reproductions

[Steve Martin]

Ultra-Hi guns were NOT made by Miroku. There were a LOT of small companies making poor quality stuff back in the 1970's and '80s. Miroku has been in high demand for the past twenty years or more due to the high quality and workmanship. I got into a pretty stiff bidding war to finally get mine back several years ago because the Brown Bess they made rarely ever comes on the Market any more. I have flintlocks from several other manufacturers including Pedersoli, Centermark (long out of business) Sitting Fox etc. but my Miroku is probably the finest in overall quality of any of them. Honda or Toyota - anyone?

 

[Steel Hayes]

Ultra-Hi guns were NOT made by Miroku

I have 2 Ultra-HI’s that the barrels are stamped Miroku and a 3rd Ultra-Hi that is stamped Spain.
I’m not sure if Miroku manufactured just the barrel and lock or if they manufactured the complete rifle?

 

[muzzlecap]

There was an Ultra Hi Kentucky style rifle that just sold on one of our Canadian sites. It said made for Ultra Hi by Miroku Japan. It had a one piece stock. Was a very nice looking rifle and I was very tempted but alas I was too late!

 

[oreclan]

So I’ve been reading about the Japanese muzzleloaders that started coming over in the 60’s thru 80’s. Like Miroku for instance. I haven’t read anything about them that wasn’t negative. Just out of curiosity, has anybody had a positive experience with them?

I bought a "Used" Miroku short land model British musket kit from Log Cabin Sport Shop in 1974. I used it throughout the Bicentenial and after. It shot round ball well and was very reliable. I sold it some years ago, but wished I had it back.

 

[Col. Batguano]

It's very ironic that a country that makes some of the very best civilian firearms doesn't allow their populace to own them.

 

[rkg1]

Brother-in-law had a Japanese smoothbore ugliest gun I ever saw don't know who made it but it would shoot 3 inch groups all day long.

 

[The Damned Yankee]

If you know anything about Japanese culture, they would not put out questionable products. Just cursory research on Miroku will show they have a long history and very reputable.
Got my Miroku Brown Bess on here from tooroosters not long ago.

 

[Horse]

Two Dixie Gun Works Tennessee Mountain rifles, a 50 and a 32. Good results with both and no problems.

 

[user 54762]

If you know anything about Japanese culture, they would not put out questionable products. Just cursory research on Miroku will show they have a long history and very reputable.
Got my Miroku Brown Bess on here from tooroosters not long ago.

I used the search bar within this forum, and I used search bars within Facebook groups I belong to. I’d say 9 out of 10 statements I came across were negative. But after seeing one in person I just couldn’t believe they were that bad, hence why I asked for peoples opinion in this thread.

 

[longtoothpard]

So I’ve been reading about the Japanese muzzleloaders that started coming over in the 60’s thru 80’s. Like Miroku for instance. I haven’t read anything about them that wasn’t negative. Just out of curiosity, has anybody had a positive experience with them?

I've owned 4 of their Charlevilles over the years. They are light weight and reliable. Stocks are not walnut and are two-piece. I actually prefer the Miruko over the Pedersoli. Pedersoli is too heavy. I got one of their 1795s and did not keep it. Had to beat the barrel bands off the musket when I first got it so I sanded it down. The furniture was thick and heavy. I ended up selling it and replaced it eventually with a Miroku Charleville, which I much prefer. To make it a 1795 replace the Charleville markings with Springfield and US markings, and replace the trumpet rammer with a button head rammer.

 

[sturmkatze]

I had a Lyman Bess. Said it was miroku. I had it defarbed. Nice gun sort of, but I thought it janky. Sold to a friend who then passed.

Have 2 Dixie TN Mt rifles 1 serial apart. I like them. A little heavy.

 

[buckleymarka56]

Is there somewhere I can get info on these guna?
A friend of mine has a brown, I believe was made by them

 

[springfield art]

So I’ve been reading about the Japanese muzzleloaders that started coming over in the 60’s thru 80’s. Like Miroku for instance. I haven’t read anything about them that wasn’t negative. Just out of curiosity, has anybody had a positive experience with them?

Miroku is a high-quality factory! Made the excellent modern Browning rifles; they made high quality repros of the 1861 Springfield muskets; the flash channels were better than the Italian-made ones. Miroku also made some less-than-authentic muzzle loaders, like the 1970's Sears/Miroku frontier rifle. Overall, Miroku is very high quality, just keep in mind they made some lesser-grade guns depending upon the terms of the importer's contract. Any manufacturer can only build to the specs of what is called for. Miroku made Charleville musket repros, I have one, very nice. Research, you'll find it's a great company.

 

[Hatman/2nd line]

So I’ve been reading about the Japanese muzzleloaders that started coming over in the 60’s thru 80’s. Like Miroku for instance. I haven’t read anything about them that wasn’t negative. Just out of curiosity, has anybody had a positive experience with them?

I had one during the Bicentennial that never gave me any serious trouble for at least 8 years. I thinned the stock down to make it more rounded but other than that A ok!

 

[buckleymarka56]

Miroku is a high-quality factory! Made the excellent modern Browning rifles; they made high quality repros of the 1861 Springfield muskets; the flash channels were better than the Italian-made ones. Miroku also made some less-than-authentic muzzle loaders, like the 1970's Sears/Miroku frontier rifle. Overall, Miroku is very high quality, just keep in mind they made some lesser-grade guns depending upon the terms of the importer's contract. Any manufacturer can only build to the specs of what is called for. Miroku made Charleville musket repros, I have one, very nice. Research, you'll find it's a great company.

I did but no where to email them.
Snail mail and numbers is all I could find

 

[bajabuc]

There was the Japanese ‘ultra High’ I think was the name. A .66 caliber smoothbore with a round barrel screwed into a octagon sleeve, fitted with a two piece random wood stock, a lock trigger and trigger guard based on a harpers ferry 1803 and a fat numeric patch box, they called it ‘brown Bess’ and sold them cheap around the bicentennial.
As much manure as they were they shot pretty well

I have one...

 

[Commodore Swab]

So I’ve been reading about the Japanese muzzleloaders that started coming over in the 60’s thru 80’s. Like Miroku for instance. I haven’t read anything about them that wasn’t negative. Just out of curiosity, has anybody had a positive experience with them?

The "tower" pistols of that era are junk. I have handled a great many and some can be made to work. Typically these ran $50-80 but recently have been fetching 200-800. Everyone selling one describes them as a great gun.