Murata Rifles

Murata Rifles are the first domestically developed and manufactured rifles of Japan, introduced in 1880. The first model was named Murata Type 13, in reference to the 13th year of Emperor Meiji’s reign.

Murata Type 13 - Single Shot (Military Rifles)

This rifle marked the beginning of Japan’s domestic military arms industry, following a period during which the Imperial Japanese Army had relied on a variety of imported European firearms. The development of the Murata Rifle required the establishment of an industrial infrastructure in Japan.

Development of the Murata Rifle

The Murata rifle represented a critical step in Japan’s military modernization and industrialization. Following the Meiji Restoration, Japan rapidly turned to importing Western weaponry to match the technological superiority of Western nations. French Chassepot rifles, British Enfields, and American Rolling Block systems were among the models adopted. However, by the late 1870s, Japan began seeking to produce its own rifle. Tsuneyoshi Murata, a sharpshooter and military officer who studied European weapons systems, designed the first Japanese-made rifle inspired by the French Gras and Dutch Beaumont rifles. This design became the “Meiji 13 Murata”, adopted by the army in 1880.

Murata’s design was heavily influenced by modern Western firearms. Due to Japan’s still-developing industrial base, the production process involved support from the American Winchester company for machinery and ammunition. Initially, barrels were imported from Belgium, while other components were manufactured in Japan. The rifle’s most notable feature was its single-shot action, using metallic cartridges similar to the French Gras system. The rifle was further developed into the Type 18 model in 1885. Both models served as Japan’s main infantry weapons during the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895). As a symbol of Japan's transition from dependency to domestic production, the Murata Rifle played a key role in the country's technological and industrial transformation.

Murata Tsuneyoshi (National Diet Library)

Murata Rifle Models and Technical Evolution

The Murata Rifle was a single-shot, bolt-action weapon chambered in 11mm. Over time, design improvements led to the development of newer models:

• Murata Type 13 (1880): First model using 11x60mmR cartridges, single-shot.
• Murata Type 16 Carbine (1883): A shorter variant of the Type 13.
• Type 18 Rifle (1885): Improved ergonomics and internal mechanisms.
• Type 22 Repeating Rifle (1889): First Japanese repeating rifle with an 8-round tubular magazine, using smaller caliber ammunition.
• Type 22 Carbine (1889): A more compact version with a 5-round magazine.

Battlefield Use of the Murata Rifle

The Murata Rifle was the standard infantry weapon of the Imperial Japanese Army and was actively used in several major conflicts. Despite technical improvements, the Type 22 model was found lacking during combat in the First Sino-Japanese War, prompting its replacement by the more modern Arisaka Type 30 rifle in 1898. However, due to limited production, Murata rifles remained in service into the later stages of the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905).

Major Conflicts Involving Murata Rifles:

• Donghak Peasant Revolution (1864–1895)
• First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895)
• Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901)
• Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905)

Japanese Soldiers Using Murata Rifles in the First Sino-Japanese War - 1894-1895 (Rekishijin)

Murata rifles required frequent maintenance, particularly the bolt mechanism, due to the lack of high-strength alloy steels. As such, the rifle was sometimes nicknamed the "poor man’s Beaumont."

Civilian Use and International Influence

By 1918, the Murata Rifle had been retired from active military service. Many units were sold on the civilian market and repurposed as hunting rifles, often with modifications like removed bayonet lugs and de-rifled barrels. Some examples remained intact and continued to be used as civilian firearms, even today.

One of the most notable international episodes involving Murata Rifles occurred during the Philippine struggle for independence. Filipino revolutionaries attempted to procure Murata rifles from Japan.

Revolutionary leaders Andres Bonifacio and Mariano Ponce coordinated with Japanese forester Nakamura Yaroku to supply rifles to the Katipunan movement. However, this attempt failed when the ship Nunobiki Maru, carrying the weapons, sank in a typhoon off the coast of Taiwan.

Other Nations That Used Murata Rifles:

• Korean Empire: 200 Type 13 rifles were supplied to the 80-member Pyŏlgigun unit.
• Republic of China: Used by the pro-Japanese Fengtian Army.
• Manchukuo and Mengjiang: Used by second-line troops and local police forces.
• Russian White Movement: Japan is believed to have supplied limited numbers of Murata Rifles to anti-communist forces during the Russian Civil War.

As the first indigenous firearm of Japan, the Murata Rifle symbolizes the beginning of the country’s military independence and industrial modernization. First manufactured in the 13th year of the Meiji era, it became an enduring symbol of Japan’s technological transformation. While combat experiences exposed its technical weaknesses, the Murata Rifle nonetheless served as the main infantry weapon of the Japanese army in several major conflicts.