vainn80
Well-Known Member
Here's my Japanese MURATA Type 18 1885 bolt action rifle chambered in 11mm black powder cartridge. It's named the Type 18 since it was first entered service in the 18th year of the reign of Emperor Meiji who ascended to the throne in 1867 (1885). If you look close you can make out the stamp below the Emperor's Chrysanthemum property stamp .Below the stamp
is a rather faint, larger marking. This is the kanji character hai(an obsolete version of the character listed as #1526 in the Nelson kanji dictionary). Literally this character means "obsolete", or "discarded". In this case it can be interpreted as "withdrawn from service". The Japanese characters on stock indicate that this rifle was used as a training rifle after it was withdrawn from service: 内日青校 Utsui Junior High School; in those days "youth schools" were the equivalent of our high school, and "high school" was the equivalent of college-prep/junior college.
is a rather faint, larger marking. This is the kanji character hai(an obsolete version of the character listed as #1526 in the Nelson kanji dictionary). Literally this character means "obsolete", or "discarded". In this case it can be interpreted as "withdrawn from service". The Japanese characters on stock indicate that this rifle was used as a training rifle after it was withdrawn from service: 内日青校 Utsui Junior High School; in those days "youth schools" were the equivalent of our high school, and "high school" was the equivalent of college-prep/junior college.