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Howa

Howa Machinery Company Ltd
Public (: )
Industry firearms
Founded February 9, 1907 (1907-02-09)
Headquarters Kiyosu, Aichi, Japan
Key people
Kazuhide banno
Products Military and Civilian firearms, industrial tools, construction vehicles
Revenue 25,309 million Japanese Yen (April 1, 2007 - March 31, 2008)
Total equity 32,016,008,004 Japanese Yen (March 31, 2008)
Number of employees
1,212 persons (As of March 31, 2008)
Divisions Chunichi Transportation Co., Ltd., Hoyu Co., Ltd., Hoen Co., Ltd., H.O. ENGINEERING CO., LTD., HOWA MACHINERY SINGAPORE PTE LTD.
Website http://www.howa.co.jp/

Howa Machinery Company Ltd (豊和工業株式会社 howa kogyo kabusiki-gaisya?) is a Japanese machinery manufacturer. The company is known internationally for their production of military and civilian firearms. However, they also manufacture products such as industrial tools, construction vehicles and windows and doors.

Since 1940 Howa has been heavily involved in the Japanese armaments industry. Many of their World War II-era weapons are highly sought after collector's items.

Howa was involved in manufacturing the famous Arisaka rifle series.

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, 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.

Howa has produced a long line of civilian hunting and target practice rifles in a range of calibers. Howa manufactures components for other firearm companies such as Mossberg, Smith & Wesson, and Weatherby.


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