POTD: A Rare Japanese Firearms Owner's "Wives"
Kuma sent us a photo of his uncle’s hunting rifles that feature handmade fully customized stocks.
These are my uncle’s rifle. He use this rifle as a hunting guide in Hokkaido, Japan.
Above
Action and barrel:SAKO
Caliber:.308
Stock:Maple wood(Custom)
Scope:LeupoldBellow
Action and barrel:Sauet
Caliber:.30-06
Stock:Plywood(Custom)
Scope:Carl zeissHe spent ¥2 million($16,000) each rifle.
Both stocks cost him ¥1.5 million($12,000) !He call them “Another wives”.
Very few Japanese are allowed to own firearms so it is interesting to see firearms owned by a Japanese hunter. The laws banning weapons date back to the days when Japanese government decided to extinguish the Samurai.
UPDATE: Kuma wrote …
After submission, my uncle told me some information.
In japan, it is almost impossible to get new permission of rifles or shotguns with thmb hole stock now.
All firearms with pistol grip is inhibitted substantially.
And new permission for rifle is limited for person that own shotgun more than 10 years.
His rifle is exceptional permission for continued use.
(All rifles and shotguns are required to get permission every three years.)
I founded TFB in 2007 and over 10 years worked tirelessly, with the help of my team, to build it up into the largest gun blog online. I retired as Editor in Chief in 2017. During my decade at TFB I was fortunate to work with the most amazing talented writers and genuinely good people!
More by Steve Johnson
![[SHOT 2026] OK, Boomer: Charter Arms Whips Out New Wheelguns](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2026/01/22/03471/post.jpg?size=350x220)
![[SHOT 2026] Armasight PRO Series Of Thermal Optics](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2026/01/23/21561/post.jpg?size=350x220)
![[SHOT 2026] Rugged Sub9 Suppressor - Built for PCCs and Subguns](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2026/01/31/17561/post.jpg?size=350x220)
![[SHOT 2026] The OG Bushmaster—the Gwinn Assault Rifle—Is Back](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2026/01/27/18101/post.jpg?size=350x220)
![[SHOT 2026] Franklin Armory x Angstadt Arms F22-V](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2026/01/23/02551/post.jpg?size=350x220)
Comments
Join the conversation
Now that's what I call a dedicated gun owner. To navigate Japan's Byzantine gun laws and invest that much money into rifles that could be seized at any time. I call that dedication
I believe the term you're looking for is "raifu".