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November 7, 2015
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KP said
I am looking for a new Miroku-Winchester. I don’t really want someone else’s old beat up Winchester.
If you’re looking for a Miroku go to a big box store. They’re some of the best guns made today. Stay away from my old beat up Winchesters until you learn to appreciate them. Come back then and we’ll talk.
Mike
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I collect and appreciate the old original Winchester firearms, and I have quite a few. In fact, I think that there’s only one model I don’t have.
However, I also can appreciate the quality reproductions of Winchesters and other firearms, because sometimes I’m not able to find or afford an original.
I actually have a couple of the Miroku Winchester reproduction models, and they appear to be of good quality. They might overdo it a little bit on their wood finishing however.
My preference is original Winchesters but, as I mentioned earlier, I own one of the Browning limited edition 1886 saddle ring carbines (made in the Miroku factory). If I’m moose hunting in northern Ontario in the rain and mud, then I take the Browning. I literally had my SRC submerged completely under muddy water for about half an hour, which had filled the scabbard on my four wheeler (due to an unfortunate incident, miles from nowhere which I had to get out of alone). I was very glad it was not one of my collectable original Winchesters as I stuck the garden hose in the open breech to flush out the fine clay mud from inside the receiver and bore, once I got back to camp.
I think there may be some confusion about Miroku-made Brownings and Winchesters …. Miroku did not, on their own, decide to make reproductions. Instead, it is Browning and Winchester that have contracted some of their models to be built in the Miroku factory in Japan.
If you want to avoid the tang safeties, get one of the Browning “Winchesters” (e.g., 1886 SRC 45-70) made in the 80’s and 90’s. They made some pretty nice ones, including a gorgeous Model 53 32-20, a Model 71 carbine, a Model 1895, the 1886 SRC, and an 1886 octagon rifle 45-70, as well as a beauty of a Model 65 218 Bee. None of them have tang safeties and all of them have excellent fit and finish.
Here’s my Browning, Miroku-built 1886 SRC 45-70, along with another photo of a Montana Vintage Arms tang site I mounted (I am rather proud to mention that after I had finished drilling and tapping the forward tang sight hole, it was so bang on, I didn’t not even need any shims) …
supergimp said
Miroku makes some respectable firearms, but they ain’t no Winchester. Plus that damn safety.Steve
Yeah – that damn safety. 🙁
I have a Miroku 1894 in 38-55, and bought it for the express purpose of shooting silhouette with it. Maybe it isn’t a “real” Winchester, but the fit and finish is pretty nice.
I figured that I would just mount my usual tang safety on it when it arrived, but failed to do my homework…….. the safety is in the way. Does anyone know of a way to remove the safety slide and install the tang safety, or maybe point me to a gunsmith that has experience doing this? Or an I limited to a Williams FP receiver sight?
Replace the hammer and trigger if you want half-cock. You can weld the hole for the tang safety or bridge it with the new tang sight.
I don’t care for rebounding hammers either.
i bought three of the repo 85 carbines, 30-40 krag-38-55-45-70 to hunt and shoot and that they do. they are not Winchesters by a long shot, but where are you going to find original carbines in factory new condition and if you did how much would they cost and would you hunt and shoot them? if I had originals in new condition I sure would not shoot them. the repo,s let a shooter-hunter use them while not destroying history.
First the aside, Hi eastbank & welcome! Always enjoy your GB Threads & Posts!
Moving on. To me, this Forum properly hosting a wide variety of opinions. Making the Forum stronger and more open to contrasting views. That said, one clearly disparaging comment in this Thread, unwelcome. Analogy of going to someone’s home with apparent purpose only to criticize in rude, inflammatory manner; not ‘protected speech’ to be accorded respect or place in this Forum. A now dated take concerning ‘old news’ but getting the matter of my chest as noting.
I’m of the opinion and practice, to enjoy the ‘original Winchesters’ and particularly those within ‘affordable range’. As eastbank and others here, I wouldn’t take a nice collector piece into the field without conditions highly favorable to preservation. I’m also with a Browning Miroku 1886 Carbine, of the group made in 1991/92 as I recall. It’s quite nice. I like it, for what it is. Not for what, if original era Winchester, it ‘could be’ and thus unaffordable in personal grand scheme! My several ’86 rifles, all .33 Winchester. Common & less favored chambering. Such making them also affordable and to enjoy them for what they are. Not lamenting what they aren’t.
I’m a relative newcomer to this Forum, but if with a vote, it seems to me there’s room for accommodating fellow gun enthusiast opinions as gentlemanly portrayed. A matter of “civility”. Also, as other good Forums are sinking into the sunset, perhaps time to welcome, rather than ‘tolerate’, the wider discussion of “Winchesters” (and yes, under license they are literally) of the new era.
Just another wordy take. This is a great Forum with great expertise reflected. Sometimes to bend in uncomfortable ways to ‘accommodate’ wider-like interests!
John
Hmmm. I went back and re-read the thread. I did not see a clearly disparaging comment designed only to criticize, that was rude or inflammatory.
The comments all seemed to be simple fact, or subjective, reasonable opinion, calling for no thick skin. Maybe I missed the bad one. Oh well, won’t be the first time.
Huck, from 14 June past, “KP”, Guest contributor: “I am looking for a new Miroku-Winchester. I don’t really want someone else’s old beat up Winchester.”
Many inferences. Just didn’t feel the tone appropriate in a Forum of Winchester collectors. Perhaps interpretation my ‘bad’! 🙂
Now, just…
Best!
John
iskra said
Huck, from 14 June past, “KP”, Guest contributor: “I am looking for a new Miroku-Winchester. I don’t really want someone else’s old beat up Winchester.”
Many inferences. Just didn’t feel the tone appropriate in a Forum of Winchester collectors. Perhaps interpretation my ‘bad’! 🙂Now, just…
Best!
John
That’s my bust. 
I missed that one. I thought you were talking about someone bashing Miroku so I wasn’t looking for a bash on Winchester. I also probably missed it because I really like old beat up Winchesters so I’m always glad when someone doesn’t want them. 
Okay, I’ll bash Miroku. Why buy this junk when you can have an original Winchester?
I wouldn’t buy one either and most on this site wouldn’t. But, not all people like the same thing. The Miroku would look pretty.
Really, just “different strokes for different folks”. I only have the one Miroku, ’86 carbine, acquired NIB. A very nice gun I enjoy owning. And… “emulation”, it’s said, “the finest form of flattery!”
May I stir things up a bit more! 🙂 If previously mentioned in this Thread, I didn’t notice.
The whole Marlin series of lever rifles. History, definitely. Quality workmanship, definitely. A sleeper compared to Winchester for decades, definitely. The “other gun”. As Winchester flamed-out in ’64 and the bumpy landing achieved – kind of – to ‘try again’. Some rough years, for sure. The finish of such as the levers, exemplary and the loss of the ‘pre Model 70…
All the while, Marlin – the little engine that could – compared to historic Winchester, kept chugging! Into the “safety era” of the eighties, fundamental turning point for my tastes/interests. Plenty of Marlin’s own “pre crossbolt models” at reasonable prices! I now have perhaps high teens number, including several great Model 1895 45-70 editions. No Winchester ’86 pretenders in that stretched 336 series. The Marlins never had and never will have the historic reputation tied to their levers. But also to enjoy very nice, quality rifles in their own right and I do enjoy them. Apples & Oranges, Marlin just avoiding the “blight era” of those almost mid sixties to almost mid eighties where most of my modest collection of them repose.
Honorable mention and plus one re above notation, to the Winchester 88. My couple, low SN and first year of the Carbine. Both in pedestrian 308 Win. The Carbine plain stock without the damned pressed checkering and small ‘bugs’ long settled; really nice!
Whew! Another dissertation and… 🙂 🙂 🙂
Just my take
Marlin rifles produced late 19th and early 20th Centuries are of the same quality as Winchester. They can be had for a fraction of the cost as a comparable Winchester. It’s unfortunate they are not regarded as highly as Winchesters, and it’s a popularity contest, not a workmanship one.
mrcvs said
Marlin rifles produced late 19th and early 20th Centuries are of the same quality as Winchester. They can be had for a fraction of the cost as a comparable Winchester. It’s unfortunate they are not regarded as highly as Winchesters, and it’s a popularity contest, not a workmanship one.
I agree with this statement 100%. However, popularity can be based on aesthetics and not simply marketing. In fact, I would take an OBFMCB Marlin over a non-OBFMCB Winchester. And when it comes to models, it would take a very long and heavy barrel indeed to smooth out what I perceive to be the bulky look of a Winchester 76.
Little things, like the shape of the loading ports and side of the receivers, ejection ports, etc. can throw off my eye. Don’t ask me why. Marlin has some of these deficits.
Even within Winchester, it took decades for me to appreciate the 73. But I finally came around. My eye started with the 94, moved to the 86 and finally settled on the 73. I really like them now.
There is also a historical element within brands. For instance, recently my eye has traveled from the 73 back to the 94 somewhat, but it’s hard to get passed the fact that, in my mind, the west was dead and gone by 1894. Thus, although beautiful, a 94 is “cheating” my sense of authenticity.
I think the only reasonable response to these conundrums is to own them all. You know, just in case.
Winchester vs Marlin. Much of it has to do with Hollywood.
One can get some incredible Marlin rifles, antique, with condition and many special order features that don’t break the bank. The same cannot be said of Winchester. I would collect these except they are “dead” money. Again, usually not the same with Winchester.
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