Howa

Howa Machinery, Ltd. (豊和工業株式会社, Hōwa Kōgyō Kabushiki-gaisha) is a Japanese machinery manufacturer. The company is known internationally for their production of military and civilian firearms.[4] However, they also manufacture products such as machine tools, sweeping vehicles and windows and doors.[3]

Howa Machinery, Ltd.
Native name
豊和工業株式会社
TypePublic (K.K)
TYO: 6203
NAG: 6203
ISINJP3840600005
IndustryMachinery
FoundedFebruary 9, 1907 (1907-02-09)
Headquarters
Kiyosu city, Aichi Prefecture 452-8601
,
Japan
Key people
Takahiro Tsukamoto
(President)
Products
Revenue JPY 22.3 billion (FY 2018)
(US$ 202 million)
JPY 1.1 billion (FY 2018)
(US$ 10 million)
Number of employees
849 (consolidated, as of March 31, 2019)
WebsiteOfficial website
Footnotes / references
[1][2][3]

History
Howa N-Type power loom on display at Tokyo Institute of Technology' museum

The Toyoda's Loom Works, Ltd. (豊田式織機株式会社) was established by Sakichi Toyoda in February, 1907. In 1941, Toyoda's Loom Works merged with Showa Heavy Industries (昭和重工業株式会社, established in 1936 to produce rifles, artillery shells and airplane parts) and was renamed Howa Heavy Industries, Ltd. (豊和重工業株式会社).[5] The company was renamed to its current name at the end of World War II and restarted manufacturing textile machinery.

Weapon manufacturing

Military use

Toyoda's Loom Works began manufacturing armaments in 1932.[5]

During World War II

Since 1940, Howa has been heavily involved in the Japanese armaments industry, and was involved in manufacturing the famous Arisaka rifle series including Type 99 rifle, parts of Type 38 rifle, artillery pieces, airplane parts, and ammunition.[5] Many of their World War II-era weapons are highly sought after collectors' items.

Post WWII

Howa created a copy of the US M1 Garand and the M1 carbine for the Japanese Self Defense Forces during the early days of the Cold War, with the following manufactured for JGSDF use:

During the early 1970s, Howa produced the AR-18 and AR-180 5.56mm assault rifle as a license from Armalite Inc. of Costa Mesa, California,[11] which marketed the rifle to various military forces. Japanese government restrictions on the sales of military small arms to foreign countries eventually forced Howa to cease production of the AR-18/AR-180, moving production back to Armalite.[12]

Civilian use

Howa has produced a long line of civilian hunting and target practice rifles in a range of calibers. Howa has also manufactured products or components for other firearm companies, such as Mossberg, Smith & Wesson, and Weatherby. The Smith & Wesson Model 1000 shotgun of the 1970s and 1980s was designed and manufactured by Howa.[13]

Howa M300

The Howa M300 is a small automatic rifle for consumer use (carbine) developed by Howa Industries. Also known as Howa Carbine. Based on the M1 / M2 carbine military automatic rifle designed in the United States, it has been improved for hunting and sports. Produced between 1960-1996.

Howa Golden Bear

Howa Golden Bear is a bolt-action rifle that was once manufactured by Howa Industries between 1967-1979.

Howa M1500

The Howa M1500, a bolt-action rifle, is produced in sporting, varmint and heavy barrel configurations, which are sold in the U.S. via Legacy Sports International.[14] In Canada, various retailers stock Howa rifles, including Prophet River, Cabela's, and North Pro Sports. In the United Kingdom, Highland Outdoors imports the Howa rifles.

See also

Sources
  1. "Company Information". Howa Machinery. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  2. "About the company". Financial Times. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  3. "Company Profile". Nikkei Asian Review. Nikkei Inc. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  4. Stephen Martin (July 16, 2014). The Economics of Offsets: Defence Procurement and Coutertrade. Taylor & Francis. p. 192. ISBN 978-1-317-83665-0.
  5. "Our History (Howa Machinery Firearms Dept.)".
  6. David Westwood (2005). Rifles: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. ABC-CLIO. pp. 369–370. ISBN 978-1-85109-401-1.
  7. "Howa Type 64 7.62 mm automatic rifle (Japan), RIFLES". Archived from the original on September 16, 2008. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  8. "Howa Type 89 - Infantry Weapons". Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  9. "Exhibision (sic) of Equipments". Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  10. http://rightwing.sakura.ne.jp/equipment/jgsdf/firearms/type60-106mm-rcl/type60-106mm-rcl.html
  11. "The 5.56 X 45mm: 1967". Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
  12. "The 5.56 X 45mm: 1968-1969". Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
  13. "Smith & Wesson Model 1000 Shotgun". American Rifleman. July 19, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  14. "Legacy Sports' Howa Page". Legacy Sports. Archived from the original on December 26, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
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