Howa Machinery Ltd—Model 1500 Stainless Steel Rifles. Date published. Product description. Howa Model 1500 stainless steel rifles. Identifying features. Refer to attached list of serial numbers. What are the defects?
I have a Howa 1500 with a serial number - B 0433XX - which falls well outside the range for the recall. However, when consulting with a gunsmith at Sports World, a firm mentioned in the recall notice, about another Howa rifle, he told me that the 'good bolts' all have notched shrouds that have clear squared-off projections at 12 and 9 o'clock. He said the defective, unmodified bolts are those with uniformly smooth bolt shrouds. My rifle - B 0433xx - has such a smooth shroud. He recommended I contact Legacy Sports. the current importer, to arrange for recall or to obtain the new type of shroud to install myself. Legacy would not help me, saying my rifle fell outside the official recall range, so end of discussion. Does anyone have knowledge or experience with this problem? Since my rifle is a good bit, but not that far beyond the recall cut-off, I'm wondering if they made the internal change before they changed the outside appearance. Or maybe the recall list isn't accurate. The gunsmith assured me the safety problem was only with the shrouds.
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In the December 2002 issue of the American Rifleman (p. 85) is an Important Safety Notice concerning Howa rifles made between 1970 and 1993.
I just read it last night, while perusing the magazine.
Anyway ...
'Howa Machinery Ltd. of Japan is performing a safety upgrade on all Model 1500, 1550 and 1700LS series rifles manufactured between 1970 and 1993.
'The affected rifles bear serial numbers from one of the following series on the receiver: PN00010 through PN87159, LS00001 through LS05150, M000001 through M020422, LS10001 through LS10309, B000001 through B028450.
'The safety upgrade will replace the bolt sleeve to prevent misassembly of the bolt, which might occur on affected rifles. Such misassembly might result in a hazardous condition in which the rifle can be accidentally discharged without the bolt being fully engaged, causing severe injury.
'These rifles were distributed by Smith & Wesson, O.F. Mossberg and Sons and Interarms. These rifles may bear the distributor trademark.
'Stop using your rifle immediately and visit our website at www.regen.com/howa or call Howa at 1-800-456-5131 to receive a Bolt Return Kit.
'Only the bolt sleeve is being upgraded. Your bolt will be returned to you after the upgrade.
'NO OTHER HOWA RIFLES ARE AFFECTED. CHECK YOUR SERIAL NUMBER
I just read it last night, while perusing the magazine.
Anyway ...
'Howa Machinery Ltd. of Japan is performing a safety upgrade on all Model 1500, 1550 and 1700LS series rifles manufactured between 1970 and 1993.
'The affected rifles bear serial numbers from one of the following series on the receiver: PN00010 through PN87159, LS00001 through LS05150, M000001 through M020422, LS10001 through LS10309, B000001 through B028450.
'The safety upgrade will replace the bolt sleeve to prevent misassembly of the bolt, which might occur on affected rifles. Such misassembly might result in a hazardous condition in which the rifle can be accidentally discharged without the bolt being fully engaged, causing severe injury.
'These rifles were distributed by Smith & Wesson, O.F. Mossberg and Sons and Interarms. These rifles may bear the distributor trademark.
'Stop using your rifle immediately and visit our website at www.regen.com/howa or call Howa at 1-800-456-5131 to receive a Bolt Return Kit.
'Only the bolt sleeve is being upgraded. Your bolt will be returned to you after the upgrade.
'NO OTHER HOWA RIFLES ARE AFFECTED. CHECK YOUR SERIAL NUMBER