Just to add but 深道鐵工所 means Fukamichi (or Fukado) Steel Works. The name comes from the owner rep 深道圓太郎 Fukamichi (or Fukado) Entaro

 

Many thanks 大佐江戸っ子! I updated the entry for 深道鐵工所 in post 15 above. I do update the older posts when mistakes are spotted or when new information comes in.

 

Pleasure is mine !

 

Here is another enigma. A Tōkyō City 東京市麹町區 store ran ads in an Army-Navy yearbook in 1937, 1938, 1940, and 1943. The 1937 ad seems to indicate the company name is Yorozuya Sakamoto Shōten 萬屋坂本商店. However, later ads have the first two characters half size which could indicate a different meaning. The first two characters can also be read as general store! Does anyone have a clue as to the proper reading of the characters?

 

Yep you nailed it. 萬屋 (Yorozuya) basically means "general store", so a translation of 萬屋坂本商店 would go something like "General store, Sakamoto Mercantile".

 

Ran across a small metal tag on buttstock of a training rifle. Looks to be an anchor within a cherry blossom on the receiver top. Just passing the information along.
https://simpsonltd.com/japanese-type-38-training-rifle-5/

 

That's going to be a property ownership designation, as opposed to a maker's label. To the best of my knowledge, Kaneyama was the only training rifle manufacturer that marked their products with buttstock tags.

C/

 

Kiipu,

Thank you for posting the Sakamoto Shop adverts. It's too bad the training rifle ad doesn't mention any specific brands.

C/

 

Japanese Training Rifle Markings

Below is a link to an online article about some of the markings found on trainers. The article was published in January 2015 and was posted online in May 2016.
"Japanese Training Rifle Markings"
http://www.banzaionline.com/Trainers/Trainers.htm#Top_trainer_markings

 

東京擬銃製作所 = Tōkyō Gijū Seisaku-Jo = Tōkyō Dummy Gun Manufacturing

The bad news is that I know little about this company other than a single 1931 magazine advertisement. The good news is that at least one dummy rifle still exists in Japan.

 

The bad news is that I know little about this company other than a single 1931 magazine advertisement. The good news is that at least one dummy rifle still exists in Japan.

Are any images of the Japanese rifle available?

C/

 

Do you have any information or perhaps a catalog for the company that made the trainers with the "武" inside the cherry blossom? The logo is the one shown in post #43.

C/

 

日本標的商會 = Nihon Hyōteki Shōkai = Japan Target Company

I have run into several advertisements for this Ōsaka City company during the 1926 to 1927 time frame offering training rifles for sale. For more information about this company, see the link below.

"Unique Japanese Rifle"
https://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?1004434-Unique-Japanese-Rifle

 

Thanks Kiipu. Sure wish I could locate another example for study.

C/

 

日本特殊鋼株式會社 = Nippon Tokushu-Kō KK = Japan Special Steel Co., Ltd.

Apparently Nippon Tokushu-Kō KK used the same logo before and during the war. This same logo or a simplified version of it also shows up on ordnance items made by them as well. This means the rifle markings "Misc./Other C." and "Misc./Other F." that appear on the Japanese Training Rifle Data Sheet were more than likely not made by them.

 

Nitppon Special Steel (日本特殊鋼株式會社) used a simplified logo on small arms which looks like three disks slightly overlapping one-another counterclockwise. This logo has been found on numerous items made by Nittoku during the war years.

 

Sure wish I could locate some original ads from this company. So far, the quest has been unsuccessful.

On a brighter note, that Tokyo Giju Seisakusho trainer (only known example) has finally made it to the U.S. and will be featured, either here or in a Banzai article, soon. Thanks Kiipu for the auction links.

C/

 

seinen
I enjoyed reading your recent Iwasaki article. I do not know who made these particular trainers but I may have a lead for you. I ran across a 1928 advertisement for an Iwasaki Store 岩崎商店 that was selling training related materials. Hope this helps in your search for the maker.

 

Thanks very much Kiipu for the new information. Will ad this to my files and hope something additional comes along. I forgot to add photos of the sole known example of a Tokyo Giju trainer. Here you go. When I get some free time, I'll try to write up something for Banzai.

C/

 

Thank you for the sneak preview!

 

Will be looking forward to the Banzai article. A very unique trainer!

 

Just purchased a Type 38 smoothbore trainer with matching serial on receiver side rail and bolt handle, Kanji characters on chamber breech that appear to be "Hayashi Shiki," and a school/training unit mark and numerals "199 67" on buttstock. I've inquired with banzaionline.com for assistance in deciphering the school/unit mark. I welcome your instructive comments. Thanks, Greg/Wisconsin

 

Hayashi Shiki 林式 Hayashi Type.
Tōkyō Kōtō Taiiku Gakkō 東京高等體育学校 Tōkyō High School of Physical Education.
Established in 1941 to train physical education (PE) teachers/instructors.
体育研究所

 

Thank you, Kiipu, for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Much appreciated. Greg

 

I just picked up this little guy. One lug bolt, smooth bore, one piece stock. PAX

 

The second character is indistinct; however, it is coming from a youth school.
佐？青年学校 = ?? Youth School.

 

The second character is indistinct; however, it is coming from a youth school.
佐？青年学校 = ?? Youth School.

Maybe 佐原 Sawara?

 

Many thanks Trystan. I think that is the character.
佐原青年学校 = Sawara Youth School.
Sawara, Chiba

 

Wonderful subject that needed covering....I will be posting pics of my trainers. As I know nothing about them. I welcome comments. I have more pictures of this one. God bless, David

God Bless, David