Post by Garyforce Hello
Ok here’s Gary’s next review from the handgun series
next up....
KOKUSAI’S M36 .38 CHIEFS SPECIAL
(pictured below)
Specs Length: 16.5 cms / 6 1/2" (muzzle to butt)
Barrel: 5 cm / 2" (closed)
Weight: 545g (approx)
Materials: Metal
Grip: Plastic (wood grips are available)
Comments Ok this revolver has a good weight to it and is rock solid full metal version (which means it has a blocked barrel)
. still that’s no worry’s really! The markings on the revolver are excellent quality.
Loading Loading the M36 is similar to loading the bisley. The cartridges are .38 revolver carts taking a 5mm cap face up in the end. Having primed your six cartridges you push the cylinder release catch forward which allows the cylinder to swing open to the left. Holding the gun in your right hand you can then slide the cartridges into the cylinder with the right, or ! if you have a ‘speedloader’ you can just use that as easily. Next swing the cylinder back so its closed again and your ready.
Firing Now ..... here you don’t need to do anything … thats right you heard me ! .....nothing ….. just pull the trigger
This revolver (unlike the Bisley model I reviewed) is ….well you could say semi automatic in the sense that you can just keep pulling the trigger and the cylinder will automatically rotate until all 6 rounds are spent. Depending on how quickly you pull the trigger the whole process can be over in about 6 seconds
There is no chance of jamming here ! … and if you do for some unfathomable reason have a misfire it wont spoil your day because just keep pulling that trigger and you move to the next round.
Now its with this gun that I’ve come to appreciate the MARUSHIN P.F.C caps over the M.G caps and the reason being is not for the sparks (which is pretty pointless on a closed barrel gun :s ) but let me just put it this way. Load her with M.G caps and pull the trigger and it goes ‘pop’ ..load with MARUSHIN P.F.C caps and you get ‘BANG !!!’ and a damn loud bang at that
(the ringing in my ears lasted quite a wee while while I can tell you …. I would not recommend firing this indoors if you can help it
heheh)
Cleaning Now there’s two ways you can clean this gun. The ‘easy way’ and the ‘thorough way’
First the easy way.
Ok … open up the cylinder, remove the spent carts and clean them as you would normally. Then grab your self a handful of cotton buds dipped in your cleaning solution and clean out the cylinder. That’s it ….. simple init !
No need to clean the barrel as there isn’t 1 ! and unless you’re throwing the gun around in the mud theres little need to do much else.
The thorough way though involves you striping the gun down.
A single screw releases the grip. 3 screws then allow you to remove the plate that houses the mechanism. Again iv’e said it before and I’m saying it again as you remove the hammer & trigger its important (if not refering to instructions) to make note of how the parts of the hammer & trigger fit together ! and be warned ... putting them back together is a fiddley business
Next, clean and oil the gun using whatever cleaning solution / oil you prefer. (i recommend marks cleaning technique of hot water, baking soda & vinegar)
Then once we are cleaned and oiled .... put it all back together ....and that’s that ! you don’t need to clean this revolver that thoroughly that often unless your firing it a lot that is !
Over all so …. There you have it ….. possibly the simplest gun I own
… loads easily. fires great (and loud :lol ) and is ridiculously easy to clean and maintain.
If your model doesn’t have wooden grips I do recommend investing in them as it just finishes the gun off ! (this model DOES have wooden grips by the way
) …. However ! …. The grip is a personal gripe of mine ! …I don’t like this style of handle personally …. I’m an old fashioned kinda guy ! …. I prefer the ‘square’ fuller grip and I just cant bring myself to like the butt of this revolver. :s I personally find it an ‘uncomfortable grip and a bit ‘unbalanced’ as a result.
But hey …… that’s just me
….. if you like these type of grips then this is an excellent revolver ! I would give this a 9/10 (it could only be a perfect 10 with an open barrel but that isn’t going to happen with an all metal version
……mores the pity! )
But ! ….. because I don’t like the grip on this … I’m only giving it an 8/10 …. So it’s a personal preference thing … 8/10 if your as fussy about your grips as I am
…. 9/10 if you couldn’t care less
Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:10 pm
