Post WWII Howa Parts

Charlie, Not sure about any small parts but stocks have been observed marked HML (Howa Machinery Ltd.)

http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_Howa.html

If it's of any value ....

Several books I have on post War Japan that discuss their industry during that time indicate for many years after the war the few companies allowed to make military type firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition for export were not allowed to put any markings on them that identified Japan as their point of origin. An example was the carbines Howa made for the Thai Police.

However, during the Occupation of Japan the Occupation laws and agreements forbid the manufacture of anything firearm related. Unless they were contracted to do so by U.S. Office of Military Government run by the U.S. Military. If a part was made for use by the U.S. military the company followed the guidelines of the U.S. Military. Which were sometimes altered slightly given the circumstances at the time.

What I've seen is items Howa made for the U.S. Military and NATO usually have markings on them in keeping with post WWII markings guidelines. Items made for use in Japan have whatever marking Japan dictated. Items made for commercial export for use in sporting or hunting have the Howa markings.

This can be seen on the three web pages we have on Howa's carbines. The sporterized carbine model they first came out with in 1960 is the one depicted on the web page. There is also info there on Howa trying to find a U.S. company to import them and sell them. Without success given the profit margin, prices the WWII GI carbines were being sold for here, and the profit margin for those who sold commercial U.S. made carbines.

Hope this helps.

Jim

Hello everyone!

New2brass wrote: Adam, absent any markings, what is it that you used to determine it was made by Howa? if only by the buttplate, did you also compare to the Israel Arms International buttplate that is lower down on the buttplate page? Some pictures of the stock and parts may be helpful

Charlie,

I'm sorry, I didn't see your 2019 post until today. I don't recall getting a notification for a new post to this list.

I haven't seen the HT marking on anything Howa. It's possible they were contracted by the U.S. military to make rotary safeties in 1963 but I haven't seen any variation of their name with the letter T. Those I've seen have been HML, HP, and/or the Howa three circle logo, and/or the Japan UN country code (60) absent the rest of the NSN part number.

Wish I could do a research trip to Japan. But a dozen other places too. For a short time we had a forum member located in Japan but he hasn't responded to my inquiries.

Jim

the 60s dated packaging I believe to be mostly, if not all, re-packaged items.  Refinished and repacked  with the possibility of NOS. Not enough info to say for sure, but I would not use the dates for manufacture time frame.

Adam, I also got a butt plate exactly like yours on a stock from J&G, think it came on a pot belly SA stock. Pictured in below thread.

Adam, can we please see a few pics of the area just forward of what's shown above? Showing the area 4' or 5" to either side of the M2 selector opening along with the inside of the stock at the front of the opening for the trigger housing.

Thanks much

Jim

I've got a few other stock photos that might show more detail on determining if it may be Howa or not. Again, I know nothing about the provenance of this stock other than from what I saw in photos - the buttplate matches the Howa example. This is an unissued unused stock. Devoid of any markings I can find.

sleeplessnashadow wrote: Adam I think it's a Howa stock. I wish I'd taken more detailed photos of every nook and cranny but I've seen enough to say I think it is. That wood, it's grain, and the almost like it wasn't sanded down properly (not sure how to describe it). Jim