Later type .20 Sharp Innova from Japan

[jirushi]

I found this .20 caliber Sharp Innova on the website of a Japanese gunshop in May.
My Japanese contact organised an export license, and it arrived safely in Amsterdam last week, together with an original Sharp gunslip and a few tins of Japanese pellets.
I am trying to find out when it was made. Perhaps after the death of Sharp's founder and designer, Mr. Kensuke Chiba (2001).
Sharp only stopped production in 2014.
There is a lot of interesting info on this Japanese Wikipedia page (use Google Translate):
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82...2%AB%E3%83%BC)



This is an advert of this type of Innova. You can see that it was indeed made in 4,5 mm, 5 mm and 5,5 mm.
The price would have been about 400 GBP.
Not sure why it says "Since 1926" on the advert; usually it says "since 1952".

[wild dogman]

very nice thanks for sharing

[robs5230]

Another nice one for your collection
I never knew they were made in .20

Interesting Wiki page too, but I think they were overly kind to the Webley Rebel. What could have been a very well received rifle, was of terrible quality and only bore resemblance to the Innova in looks / design.

[AllanM]

Now that is one very classy looking rifle Louis -- those white spacers and tasteful chequering really make it stand out in the crowd.

Much more akin in looks to the Victory rather than the utilitarian Innova and great in .20 calibre -- a fabulous find!

[jirushi]

Thank you gents.
I agree with you Allan that this later type stock looks nicer, but I am a fan of utilistic designs.
@robs, indeed, way too much credit for the Chinese copies.

Here are a few Innova's together.
The top one is my first one, which I bought in 2019. I was hesitant to buy it, but after I held it for the first time ... magic.
The 8 pounds 4x20 scope works well on this gun.

[junglie]

A great find, wish we'd had those much nicer stocks here for innovas.

[ratbuster2240]

It has a much nicer stock, a great find especially in 5mm.

[jirushi]

I must say I prefer the old stock style.
Yesterday I took this early .177 to the field. 15 shots at 23 meters; they are simply good guns

[ratbuster2240]

You see a few innovas about that have had the forend block sanded. Nice shooting with the standard peep sight Louis.

[Geezer]

Very nice, and a new one on me.