So just how did Miroku shotguns get here anyway?

[ninepointer]

Were the Charles Daly branded Mirokus were ever marketed in Canada? If not, was it was easier in the late 1960's and into the '70's to get a U.S gun into Canada? So what about the guns solely marked BC Miroku? They were (and still are) sold in Europe and elsewhere, but never in North America to my knowledge. Were they individually purchased abroad and brought into Canada by their owners in a time when the world was a simpler place?

 

[tiriaq]

Back in the '60s, I had a Miroku marked double; so did a friend. So, they were being marketed in Canada.
Also saw Charles Daly marked ones.

 

[ninepointer]

Now that you mention it, I recall someone else telling me about buying a Charles Daly Miroku here in the late 1960's. Didn't know they also once sold them here with the C.D. trade label. Thanks.

 

[gunsaholic]

I had a Charles Daly over/under from the 1960's. It was marked BC Miroku on the bottom of the action.

 

[beretta boy]

Were the Charles Daly branded Mirokus were ever marketed in Canada?

Yes. And right up until 2001 and all the changes after 9-11, it was a pretty simple matter to purchase a long gun in the States and bring it back.
I purchased a few on day trips to Ohio & Buffalo ... just declared the purchase at the border and paid the duty & GST. No sweat, no hassles.

 

[Claybuster]

The Mirokus I've seen in Canada were imported from the U.K. by individuals or small dealers.

 

[mkrnel]

Browning also sold Miroku shotguns under their trade name.

 

[ninepointer]

Browning also sold Miroku shotguns under their trade name.

Did or still do of course: BSS, BT99 and Citori.

Given that Mirokus seemed to have only been available in dribs & drabs, I think Claybuster got it; small batches might have been imported by individual dealers. I get the impression BC Miroku never had a distribution network here for their guns or for those branded Charles Daly. A bit before my time, but I doubt there was much, if any, promotion/advertising here of the Miroku brand. On the other hand, I've got a few European hunting magazines and its interesting to flip through the pages and see both Miroku ads and Browning ads.

 

[planemaker]

Charles Daly was importing the Miroku guns into North America. Many Miroku and other lessor known brands were brought back to the US by occupying and later Japan based servicemen. I think a fair number of these and other guns made thier way into Canada via the US, England and other European countries over the years. I once owned a BSA (Birmingham Small Arms) marked SKB 600 that most you see here were imported by Ithaca.

When Browning saw how well Miroku was making a simplified copy of the Browning Belgian made Superposed O/U's, Browning made a deal with Miroku to produce the Browning Citori for the North American market and let them mark basically the same gun as Miroku for the European market. Today, in England for example, both Browning and Miroku are marketed. Models are marketed there that do not get imported here like Sporting O/U's without the damn porting !