Charles Daly / BC Miroku 28″ O/U 20 Gauge Full/IM 3” Shotgun 1963-75 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,300.00
LSB#: LSB250825JP048
Make: Charles Daly Mfg. by Miroku
Model: Field Grade
Serial Number: 525649
Year of Manufacture: 1963-1975 (no letters in S/N denote pre-1975)
Caliber: 20 Gauge 3” Shells
Markings: The receiver is fully engraved with scroll engraving. The left side of the barrel is marked “CHARLES DALY 20 GA. 3“ The right side of the barrel is stamped “MIROKU FIREARMS MFG. CO. KOCHI, JAPAN”. The under barrel is marked “AERO DISTRIBUTORS CORP. / SEATTLE, WASH. – IMPORTED”. The underside of the receiver is marked “B.C. MIROKU”. The bottom tang is marked with the serial number “525649”. The underside of the breech block is marked “525649”. The Barrels are marked “+” and “+-” near the breech for Full and Improved Cylinder chokes. The forearm is marked with the serial number. The breech block is also marked with a circled “SP” “NP” “20”, and 70 m/m” along with other proof marks.
Action Type: Over / Under Shotgun, with Single Selective Inertial Trigger & Ejectors
Barrel Length: 28” Ribbed Barrel
Choke: This shotgun has fixed chokes. Full and Improved Modified
Sights / Optics: There is a white bead at the front of the rib. There is a small white bead halfway down the barrel. The top of the rib is finely checkered for the purpose of reducing glare.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The furniture set is a two piece configured checkered walnut. The stock is a fluted straight comb with a capped pistol grip, and BC MIROKU hard plastic buttpad. The checkering on this gun is very sharp. The LOP measures approximately 14” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttpad. The stock has a neutral cast. The wood shows just a few minor scattered scratches and compressions. There are no chips or cracks. Overall the furniture set is in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blued & Gold Toned Trigger
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bores are mirror bright with no erosion. There is some stubborn fouling inside each bore. In this writer’s opinion the bores rate 9.5/10.
Overall Condition: This gun retains about 99% of its metal finish. The barrel shows just a few tiny handling marks. The upper tang shows the usual rub wear from the safety. The markings are clear, the screw heads are sharp, and the pins un-marred. Overall this shotgun is in Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The shotgun features a single selective trigger and auto ejectors. The barrels lock up solidly with no play. The safety engages automatically when the action is opened and does function properly when engaged manually. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This shotgun includes a padded case and a cleaning kit.
Our Assessment: This shotgun was imported by Charles Daly in a time where American markets were experimenting with adopting Japanese shotguns. A precursor to the Browning Citori, this ‘Field Grade’ was manufactured by B. C. Miroku sometime between 1963 and 1975 (the original Miroku factory was mostly destroyed by a typhoon in 1971, and seemingly, all production records were destroyed, so a specific year is hard to pin down.) However, Miroku added letters to the serial numbers in 1975 to denote the year of manufacture so any serial number without letters is pre-1975.
The Miroku-made shotguns were so impressive that they caught the attention of Browning. Browning, facing increasing production costs in Belgium, signed an exclusive manufacturing deal with Miroku in 1966. This effectively ended the Charles Daly partnership, though some Miroku-made Charles Daly guns were sold until the mid-1970s.
Today, Miroku shotguns are highly regarded for their sturdy construction and fine engraving. The Miroku name is gradually gaining a collectable status in the US as Miroku is no longer imported domestically.
This particular shotgun is in Excellent overall condition. It feels tight light a new gun. This writer does not believe this gun has ever seen the field. It would be an excellent grouse or quail gun. Please see our high quality photos of this really nice shotgun. -C.B.
