This is a rare example of an early Japanese prototype rifle as manufactured Tokyo Gas and Electric Co. (TG&E). After WWI there were many countries looking to update/upgrade their aging bolt action service rifles by replacing them with new semi-automatic rifle designs. In June of 1931, the Imperial Japanese Ministry issued a contract to the Nambu Arms Manufacturing Co. for the development of a new semi-automatic rifle. The Japanese Ministry continued to test the Nambu rifle design, but over the next 13-15 months it kept failing. So in July of 1932, the Japanese ministry invited both the Nippon Special Steel Company and the TG&E Co. to develop their own prototype rifles for testing. Both were shown the American Pederson and the Czech ZH-29 semi-auto rifles. While Nippon Special Steel went with the Pederson rifle design, the TG&E based their design on the Czech ZH-29 rifle, an almost exact copy in 6.5 Japanese. Additionally tests were conducted in both 1933 and 1935, and although TGE's performance in the 1933 trials is unknown, the Nambu Arms Manufacturing Company dropped out immediately afterward. Based on that, the Japanese Army Ordinance Department submitted its own prototype design based on the Pederson rifle manufactured by the Koshikawa (Tokyo) Army Arsenal. At the 1935 trials, both the Nippon Special Steel Company and the Koshikawa (Tokyo) Army Arsenal designs passed the various tests; however, the TG&E designed rifle was considered the least accurate of the three, and they withdrew from the competition. The TG&E Co. only manufactured approximately 12 prototype rifles for testing and evaluation with an unknown total number actually produced; probably not more than 15-25 were manufactured in total with only a handful of these rare prototype test rifle captured after the end of the war. There are actually no factory markings or proofs except for the serial number "3" stamped on top of the rear of the rifle. This were a very close copy of the ZH-29 with various modifications, specifically the sights are offset to the left side, and it has a fluted fairly lightweight barrel that is fitted with a bayonet lug on the underside. It currently has a hand checkered forearm and a smooth pistol grip stock with ribbed metal buttplate. There is a small safety switch on the lower right side. Originally, it was fed via a detachable box magazine which is absent.

Fine with 75% of the original blue finish remaining on the exposed metal parts with honest wear and handling overall. The internal parts are still in the white from the factory. The stock and forend are both in good condition showing numerous heavy scratches and handling marks on the sides overall. The forend has a crack that runs the full-length on both sides and is a little loose. The top portion of the pistol grip (directly behind the receiver) has a small piece that has been reglued back in place. This is a very rare prototype Japanese semi-automatic rifle.