Miroku is Manufacturing plant for Winchester

[crs]

I just read this on another forum; posted by the moderator of the lever action rifle forum in response to a shooter not liking the Winchester brand on a rifle made out of country:
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If it'll make you feel any better, Winchester owns Miroku through Winchester's owner - Fabrique Nationale (FN) - why Miroku can stamp "Winchester" on the guns.

FWIW- the fit & finish of Winchester/Miroku's is as good, if not better, than what once came out of the old Winchester Custom Shop in New Haven.

The only thing I have against the Winchester/Miroku's are the lawyer tang safeties that Winchester mandated for copies of Winchester leverguns.

The earlier Browning/Miroku's leverguns, however, have no such issues.

[Bill in Oregon]

Thanks Charles. I did not know of the FN connection, but can attest to the very high quality of Miroku guns.

[Pisgah]

I just read this on another forum; posted by the moderator of the lever action rifle forum in response to a shooter not liking the Winchester brand on a rifle made out of country:
==================================================================================

If it'll make you feel any better, Winchester owns Miroku through Winchester's owner - Fabrique Nationale (FN) - why Miroku can stamp "Winchester" on the guns.

Actually, Miroku and FN jointly bought out the Browning stock in 1977, and the Winchester name (owned by FN) and Browning shotguns are licensed to Miroku.

[Old Savage]

Well crs I am sure you know some of the old designs are unlikely to exist in today's environment.

[marlinman93]

I'd disagree about one point. The fit and finish being equal to the old Custom Shop in New Haven is a bit f an exaggeration. I've seen a number of modern built Miroku High Walls with the corners rounded over on octagon barrels. Something you would never see on a older Winchester from their custom shop. The modern ones appear to be polished on a machine, and machine buffed prior to bluing. All had procedures back in the day.

[ndcowboy]

My Miroku 1873 is an excellent built rifle. Zero complaints.

[Sixgun]

I'd disagree about one point. The fit and finish being equal to the old Custom Shop in New Haven is a bit f an exaggeration. I've seen a number of modern built Miroku High Walls with the corners rounded over on octagon barrels. Something you would never see on a older Winchester from their custom shop. The modern ones appear to be polished on a machine, and machine buffed prior to bluing. All had procedures back in the day.

Lord...I'll second that. Anyone who can't tell the difference does not know what real wood to metal fit is. Standard everyday guns coming out of Winchester, Colt, and Marlin up until about WW1 beats everything made in the last fifty years except custom stock makers or very high end guns.----6

[rbertalotto]

Just to bring everyone up to date:

On August 15, 2006, Olin Corporation, owner of the Winchester trademarks, announced that it had entered into a new license agreement with Browning[9] to make Winchester brand rifles and shotguns, though not at the closed Winchester plant in New Haven. The production of Model 1885 falling block action, Model 1892 and Model 1886 lever action rifles are produced under licensed agreement by Miroku Corp. of Japan and imported back to the United States by Browning.[10]

In 2008, Fabrique Nationale announced that it would produce Model 70 rifles at its plant in Columbia, South Carolina. In 2013, assembly was moved to Portugal[11]

In the summer of 2010, Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal (FN) resumed production of the Winchester model 1894 and the evolution of the Winchester 1300, now called the Winchester SXP.[12][13]

A number of gun cleaning kits, Chinese folding knives,[14] tools, and other accessories are also now sold under the Winchester trademark

From Wikpedia

[HawkCreek]

I like the Miroku's better than the originals.