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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p><a href="/facts/Toyota_Industries/znRU2scW">Toyoda's Loom Works, Ltd.</a> (豊田式織機株式会社) was established by <a href="/facts/Sakichi_Toyoda/PwwxzSXz">Sakichi Toyoda</a> in February 1907.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> 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).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> The company was renamed to its current name at the end of <a href="/facts/World_War_II/2efV5L1U">World War II</a> and restarted manufacturing textile machinery. </p> <h3>Weapon manufacturing</h3> <h4>Military use</h4> <p>Toyoda's Loom Works began manufacturing armaments in 1932.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p> <h5>During World War II</h5> <p>Since 1940, Howa has been heavily involved in the Japanese armaments industry, and was involved in manufacturing the famous <a href="/facts/Arisaka/JKw1rrga">Arisaka</a> rifle series including <a href="/facts/Type_99_rifle/y3fA9F2l">Type 99 rifle</a>, parts of <a href="/facts/Type_38_rifle/ImkBUDSK">Type 38 rifle</a>, artillery pieces, airplane parts, and ammunition.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> Many of their World War II-era weapons are highly sought after collectors' items. </p> <h5>Post WWII</h5> <p>Howa created copies of the US <a href="/facts/M1_Garand_rifle/YW1RH1dC">M1 Garand</a> and the <a href="/facts/M1_carbine/6RFyhzED">M1 carbine</a> for the <a href="/facts/Japan_Self-Defense_Forces/teNPuETA">Japanese Self Defense Forces</a> during the early days of the Cold War.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p><p>Howa also designed and manufactured firearms for JGSDF use, including the following types (models): </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Howa_Type_64/RowrQLqq">Howa Type 64</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Howa_Type_89/a4PN3JW3">Howa Type 89</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/AR-18/z2b4zLTT">AR-18</a> (licensed production for Armalite Inc.)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Howa_Type_96/V2cVI1FX">Howa Type 96</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Howa_Type_20/85mhapF3">Howa Type 20</a></li> <li>Howa <a href="/facts/Carl_Gustav_recoilless_rifle/FRHUaIhG">84mm Recoilless Rifle</a> (licensed copy of the Swedish <a href="/facts/Carl_Gustaf_84mm_Anti-Armor_Weapon/FRHUaIhG">Carl Gustaf 84 mm Recoilless Rifle</a>)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a></li> <li>12.7mm Spotting rifle mount for <a href="/facts/Type_60_Self-propelled_106_mm_Recoilless_Gun/RSA2yJGn">Type 60 recoilless rifles</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a></li> <li>Mortar mount for <a href="/facts/Type_96_120_mm_self-propelled_mortar/d9rrrC38">Type 96 mortar carrier</a></li></ul> <p>During the early 1970s, Howa produced the <a href="/facts/Armalite_AR-18/z2b4zLTT">AR-18</a> and AR-180 5.56mm assault rifle as a license from Armalite Inc. of Costa Mesa, California,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> 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.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> </p> <h4>Civilian use</h4> <p>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 <a href="/facts/O.F._Mossberg_%2526_Sons/712WzXwS">Mossberg</a>, <a href="/facts/Smith_%2526_Wesson/KUKnKWP9">Smith & Wesson</a>, and <a href="/facts/Weatherby/MGr8YFrC">Weatherby</a>. The <a href="/facts/Smith_%2526_Wesson_Model_1000/Iu74s25X">Smith & Wesson Model 1000</a> shotgun of the 1970s and 1980s was designed and manufactured by Howa.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> </p> <ul><li>Howa M300: Based on the M1 / M2 carbine military automatic rifle designed in the United States, it was developed for hunting and sports. Produced between 1960-1996.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Howa_Golden_Bear/EHb5rXMg">Howa Golden Bear</a>: A bolt-action rifle that was once manufactured by Howa Industries between 1967-1979.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Howa_M1500/YL08nmQp">Howa M1500</a>: A <a href="/facts/Bolt-action/yEy9pnyG">bolt-action</a> rifle, is produced in <a href="/facts/Sport/0NazHJMC">sporting</a>, <a href="/facts/Varmint/S9G9NPdy">varmint</a> and heavy barrel configurations, which are sold in the U.S. via Legacy Sports International.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> In Canada, various retailers stock Howa rifles, including <a href="https://store.prophetriver.com/">Prophet River</a>, <a href="/facts/Cabela%2527s/pasR4cP2">Cabela's</a>, and North Pro Sports. In the United Kingdom, Highland Outdoors imports the Howa rifles.</li></ul> <h2 id="sources">Sources</h2> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> Wikimedia Commons has media related to Howa. <ul><li><a href="https://www.howa.co.jp/">Official website</a> </li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Stephen Martin (July 16, 2014). The Economics of Offsets: Defence Procurement and Coutertrade. Taylor & Francis. p. 192. ISBN 978-1-317-83665-0. <a href="978-1-317-83665-0" target="_blank">978-1-317-83665-0</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Company Profile". Nikkei Asian Review. Nikkei Inc. Archived from the original on May 28, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190528195850/https://asia.nikkei.com/Companies/Howa-Machinery-Ltd" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20190528195850/https://asia.nikkei.com/Companies/Howa-Machinery-Ltd</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION GLOBAL WEBSITE | 75 Years of TOYOTA | Part1 Chapter1 Section2 | Item 1. Establishment of Toyoda Loom Company". <a href="https://www.toyota-global.com/company/history_of_toyota/75years/text/taking_on_the_automotive_business/chapter1/section2/item1.html" target="_blank">https://www.toyota-global.com/company/history_of_toyota/75years/text/taking_on_the_automotive_business/chapter1/section2/item1.html</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Our History (Howa Machinery Firearms Dept.)". <a href="http://www.howa.co.jp/en/products/firer/history.html" target="_blank">http://www.howa.co.jp/en/products/firer/history.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"Our History (Howa Machinery Firearms Dept.)". <a href="http://www.howa.co.jp/en/products/firer/history.html" target="_blank">http://www.howa.co.jp/en/products/firer/history.html</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Our History (Howa Machinery Firearms Dept.)". <a href="http://www.howa.co.jp/en/products/firer/history.html" target="_blank">http://www.howa.co.jp/en/products/firer/history.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Howa Machinery LTD. M1 Carbine". <a href="http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_howa.html" target="_blank">http://www.m1carbinesinc.com/carbine_howa.html</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"The National Interest: Blog". <a href="https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/howa-1500-may-be-most-underrated-rifle-you%E2%80%99ve-never-heard-165775" target="_blank">https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/howa-1500-may-be-most-underrated-rifle-you%E2%80%99ve-never-heard-165775</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>David Westwood (2005). Rifles: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. ABC-CLIO. pp. 369–370. ISBN 978-1-85109-401-1. <a href="978-1-85109-401-1" target="_blank">978-1-85109-401-1</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Howa Type 64 7.62 mm automatic rifle (Japan), RIFLES". Archived from the original on September 16, 2008. Retrieved July 29, 2008. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080916185242/http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jiw/jiw_0395.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20080916185242/http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jiw/jiw_0395.html</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>David Westwood (2005). Rifles: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. ABC-CLIO. pp. 369–370. ISBN 978-1-85109-401-1. <a href="978-1-85109-401-1" target="_blank">978-1-85109-401-1</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"Howa Type 89 - Infantry Weapons". Retrieved July 29, 2008. <a href="http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=213" target="_blank">http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/detail.asp?smallarms_id=213</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>"Armalite AR-18". October 27, 2010. <a href="https://modernfirearms.net/en/assault-rifles/u-s-a-assault-rifles/armalite-ar-18-eng/" target="_blank">https://modernfirearms.net/en/assault-rifles/u-s-a-assault-rifles/armalite-ar-18-eng/</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>"Exhibision (sic) of Equipments". Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2012. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120313105118/http://www13.plala.or.jp/aconit/e-nerima_soubi.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120313105118/http://www13.plala.or.jp/aconit/e-nerima_soubi.html</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>"60式 106mm無反動砲". <a href="http://rightwing.sakura.ne.jp/equipment/jgsdf/firearms/type60-106mm-rcl/type60-106mm-rcl.html" target="_blank">http://rightwing.sakura.ne.jp/equipment/jgsdf/firearms/type60-106mm-rcl/type60-106mm-rcl.html</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>"The 5.56 X 45mm: 1967". Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2009. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081010203513/http://www.thegunzone.com/556dw-4.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20081010203513/http://www.thegunzone.com/556dw-4.html</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>"The 5.56 X 45mm: 1968-1969". Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2009. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081010201853/http://www.thegunzone.com/556dw-5.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20081010201853/http://www.thegunzone.com/556dw-5.html</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>"Smith & Wesson Model 1000 Shotgun". American Rifleman. July 19, 2010. Retrieved June 19, 2020. <a href="https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2010/7/19/smith-wesson-model-1000-shotgun/" target="_blank">https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2010/7/19/smith-wesson-model-1000-shotgun/</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>"Legacy Sports' Howa Page". Legacy Sports. Archived from the original on December 26, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2009. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081226213400/http://www.legacysports.com/products/howa/howa_baractions.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20081226213400/http://www.legacysports.com/products/howa/howa_baractions.html</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>