Japanese Imported Arms of the Early Meiji era

This 210-page book is the result of research originated many years ago by Doss White, Editor of Banzai. While attending guns shows around the country, Doss noted some pre-1900 rifles and carbines with unusual Japanese markings which were not covered in existing publications and was fortunate to be able to purchase several of them for study. While simple translations of some of the markings were available, this information was insufficient to obtain a complete picture of the foreign weapons brought into Japan. Doss enlisted the help of Frank Allan, Chip Goddard, Takehito Jimbo and Dr. Stanley Zielinski to assist in researching the subject of weapons imported into Japan and often copied there during the approximate period of 1850 through 1900. During many years of research the authors cataloged observed and reported examples of weapons which fell into the stated category. Further, the research was expanded to include handguns from the same approximate timeframe, as many surviving pistols and revolvers with Japanese provenance had also surfaced. Recorded data was analyzed and a nearly complete understanding has been obtained of the Meiji Era registration process. This requirement resulted in most of the Japanese markings appearing on weapons under study. The book contains what is most likely the only detailed analysis of this process in print. The book contains a brief history of firearms use in Japan up to the visit of Commodore Perry’s U.S. Naval Squadron in 1854, continuing in more detail through approximately 1900. Covered weapons include Enfield Rifles & Carbines, as well as their various cartridge conversions, Springfield Trapdoors, Remington Rolling Block Rifles, Henry Rifles, Winchester Carbines, and many other long guns. Pistols and revolvers include various percussion weapons, Sharps Derringers, Hopkins & Allen revolvers and especially several models of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The S&W Model 2 was the first revolver purchased by the Japanese government in quantity, but it was the S&W Model 3, in four basic variations, that became the first officially adopted handguns in Japanese military service. The study of these revolvers began as far back as 1984 by Frank Allan and much additional information has surfaced since a brief overview was first presented in that year in the Banzai newsletter. 210pp.