Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! The Type 18 Murata represents a pivotal moment in Japanese military history as one of the earliest indigenous rifle designs produced by the Empire of Japan. Introduced in 1885 as an improvement over the original Type 13 model, this 11mm single-shot bolt-action rifle was manufactured at the Koishikawa Arsenal during the Meiji period. Designed by Major Murata Tsuneyoshi, an infantry officer who had survived the Boshin War and subsequently studied firearms technology in Europe, the Type 18 featured refinements to the internal mechanisms and ergonomics of the original Type 13 design while maintaining the same 11x60mmR cartridge. The Type 18 featured a distinctive 32-inch barrel and blued finish typical of military arms of the period. Though mechanically reliable and reasonably accurate, these rifles suffered from relatively soft steel of mediocre quality that necessitated frequent maintenance. Contemporary military observers sometimes unfavorably described it as a “poor man’s Beaumont.” Despite its limitations, the Type 18 Murata saw active service during the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), where combat experience revealed its shortcomings. This led to its eventual replacement by the improved Arisaka Type 30 rifle in 1898. After military service, many Type 18 rifles were sold onto the civilian market as hunting weapons, where some examples were converted into shotguns by removing the rifling. Today, surviving specimens in original military configuration like this example are sought-after collector’s items that represent Japan’s early steps toward becoming a modern military power.
“Japanese Koishikawa Arsenal Type 18 Murata Bolt Action Rifle.” Rock Island Auction Company, https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/5007/450/japanese-koishikawa-arsenal-type-18-murata-bolt-action-rifle. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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