Miroku side-by-side information?

[HistoricBore]

Just wondered what you chaps can tell me about the Miroku side-by-side boxlock 12 bore that was sold here by Parker Hale between about 1975 and 1990? They seem to have double triggers and 2.75" chambers, with fixed chokes.

I have not been able to find out how much they cost originally, or compare it with other guns of that era. Any comments about how well they work, or otherwise?

HB

 

[swagger700]

Be some on guntrader they made a sidelock as well

 

[Fosbery Holster]

@HistoricBore

I bought one brand new, l don’t quite remember what year it was and the price would have been probably around the £300 mark or less, silly me could have had a beautiful side by side Pape of Newcastle hammer gun in wonderful condition for similar money but the lure of a new gun got the better of me (foolishly).

The gun has long gone but your post reminded me that l still have the booklet (oil stained) that came with it, maybe a couple photos of it may help you with your questions.

Never had any problems with the gun at all, l seem to remember it designated the M S 150.

 

[enfieldspares]

Interestingly enough the choke markings with the * and - combinations are those used by FN Browning on the Auto 5.

 

[HistoricBore]

Hi Fosbery Holster,

Thanks very much for photographing your manual - very interesting. The beavertail fore-end looks like something from the American market, but Charles Daly sold the guns there mostly. Sometimes on the back page there is a printer's date code reference number?

HB (I have a Mk. VI Sam Browne in the loft somewhere from the old days...)

 

[Fosbery Holster]

Hi HistoricBore,

No problem, I’d forgotten about the manual until l read your post but l knew exactly where it was, think I’ve still got the cleaning stuff l bought including the old oil can.

The Miroku side by side l had didn’t have the beavertail fore end it had the English style.

I’ve photographed the back page for you, l hope it helps.

You mentioned your Sam Browne from the old days…..l presume you’re an ex classic pistol shooter, my forum name is a reminder of what we once had, it’s not to long ago since l sold my target Fosbery along with its relatively rare holster, l still have a drawer full of holsters for classic pistols both revolver and semi auto.

 

[HistoricBore]

Now you are talking!
I can't see any reference number there, so thanks for looking anyway.
A good pal of mine gave me for free a smart original leather holster for my .38 Enfield with hammer spur. So much better than webbing.

HB

 

[Fosbery Holster]

Never had an Enfield sorry to say l just had a small collection of Webley revolvers and semi auto all with leather holsters and accessories, oh l almost forgot a Smith & Wesson triple lock, sadly all sold now but still have lots of accessories in my collection of what a friend calls shite.

 

[HistoricBore]

Did you hear the true story about the London enthusiast who bought a job lot of leather revolver holsters from the Metropolitan Police? They had changed over to Glocks (I believe) and so cleared out all the old stock.
A few months later the pistol ban came in, and he sold them back to the Police for £5.00 each compensation money...

HB

 

[Bigstep]

First outing for my miroku sl120 today

 

[HistoricBore]

I suppose you have seen a similar shotgun advertised in Derbyshire on GunTrader? They do look very smart, and perhaps contributed to Webley's demise.

What barrel length and chokes is your sidelock, please?

 

[Bigstep]

I suppose you have seen a similar shotgun advertised in Derbyshire on GunTrader? They do look very smart, and perhaps contributed to Webley's demise.

What barrel length and chokes is your sidelock, please?

Yes I have seen the one on guntrader it looks in nice condition, my gun has 28" barrels and choked 1/2 & full

 

[HistoricBore]

Well after a small delay I collected my 'new' Miroku 150 boxlock 12 bore side by side yesterday. It was proofed in 1976, with BB2 inside a circle. The bluing on the barrels is a bit thin, but otherwise it seems to have been hardly used. The lock-up is really firm and the barrels are just like new. Chokes seem to be original at half and full. Woodwork is very shiny with no dents or scratches. So buying it sight unseen has worked this time - thanks to Dovey Valley in mid-Wales!

One interesting marking is on the barrels: " Made in Japan and Assembled in Korea" ! I didn't know that happened. I remember that some Brownings were made in Belgium and assembled in Portugal.

Now to try it out at the clays...

HB

 

[MarinePMI]

Brownings were made by Miroku during that timeframe IIRC, so the lock-up being firm is likely due to it having the same tapered pin design as a Citori, which wear in, rather than out.

 

[ridethenight88]

I’m going to jump in on here rather than start another thread. I was wondering if anyone could help identify my SxS? Age and model. I guess the chokes are full and improved? Looks like it’s been used a bit but it’s still tight.

 

[HistoricBore]

Very nice to see! From your serial number yours will be one of the only batch imported and sold here in the UK. I have seen serial numbers that vary between 452882 and 454750, so I guess that about three or four thousand were brought in in 1974.

Yours has the older Imperial proof marks stating 3 1/4" Tons per square inch, plus some later ones in metric, so it must have been reproved. On your Full choke barrel there is a circular mark furthest away from the breech which I cannot read, but it will have two letters like A B, with a number e.g. 1 or 2 under them. This is the date code system for the 1970s. If you can make it out let me know. From memory mine is AB2, for 1974. The 2 just means which Proof House employee stamped it. Perhaps someone else can interpret the new marks - might be for steel??

Good shooting.

HB

 

[ridethenight88]

I think it’s FB 1 what does that mean the year is?

 

[HistoricBore]

Yes, that is FB over 1, so dates to 1981. How is it shooting? I need to lengthen the stock on mine sometime.

HB

 

[ridethenight88]

Yes, that is FB over 1, so dates to 1981. How is it shooting? I need to lengthen the stock on mine sometime.

HB

it goes bang when I pull the trigger my ability to point it in the right direction is mostly the problem but I blame the fact that trigger one is the tightest choke available, its my first shotgun I'm more of a rifle shooter so not sure how it should shoot but its still tight when take it apart and reassemble to clean.

thank you for dating it for me

 

[HistoricBore]

I am primarily a pistol and rifle shooter; it took me about three years to learn to keep both eyes open, keep the muzzles well up and keep swinging smoothly.

But it is worth persevering!

HB