redhugster

Hi Piers, Sadly only one of the Teppo in the picture is mine, the others are from 5 other members of the association who shot that day... Including John H-S who is the current MLAIC World Champion. The target under the Teppo was shot by my friend Paul. I shot in Portugal at the World Champs a few years ago... I did rather well with my .577 Original Enfield Rifle in the free rifle (Vetterli) class. I shot a 96 and came 7th. The four above me also scored 96, but with purpose made arms for that class (with adjustable sights). The Enfield is of course a military arm with fixed iron sights, I'd have liked a medal and if I had shot that the day before in the Military Rifle Competition, I would have taken a silver. This years competition is again in Portugal in Braga... Its a brilliant range in a lovely area. Jon

Hi Piers Thank you for comming back to me. No need to appologise! Understood with the Pistols, They do come up here in the UK from time to time. I'll just have to be patient and one will find me in due course if it is meant to be! Cord wise I'm pretty proficient (as are others here in the UK) at producing the finished and treated cord, but the quality of the untreated cord is obviously important. I have made enquiries and a friend in trying to contact the previous cord supplier in Japan to see if he is still making / supplying it (in 300m rolls). I will update you in due course as it would seem that this is topic comes at a good time for you too. I shoot with the MLAGB in competition at Warwick (Midlands UK) and when I can, internationally for GB. A well treated and good quality cord is or paramount importance as you know for consistant and quick ignition. I know others here on this forum shoot in the MLAIC competitions and in their home nations. The below are a few of the Teppo that were used in a competition here last summer. Best Jon

Hello All, This questions are for someone based in Japan. 1. A friend of mine bought ALOT of match cord in Japan some years ago - We in the UK who shoot on the international team have been using this cord with quite some success. However, it looks like this has nearly all come to an end and one or two suppliers are using a more locally available cord. I'd like to know if anyone can recommend a match cord supplier in Japan?... The stuff we have been using is blue.... I can then have it shipped over here (to the UK), if there is a 'specific' supplier. 2, I'm thinking of getting a matchlock pistol. I only shoot original Black Powder arms and was wondering what the availability or antique arms is like in Japan? are they prohibited / difficult to buy?,,, I think I remember seeing a post on here some time ago about arms being on Yahoo auctions? I have a a friend visiting Japan for a few weeks so was wondering if the above was easy to sort out, or not! Thanks in advance!

Sorry, Would help ... see attached.

Hi Piers (and anyone else who has a thought on this)... Do you think the rifle was 'decorated' during its service in Japan or was this done after its service / for export? Best Jon

Brilliant thank you so much for your help Piers, Have a good weekend. Best Jon

Thank you Mark.

Good evening, I wonder if anyone can help me please. The following text is on a Liege (Belgium) made Enfield Pattern 1858 Naval rifle. The rifle is currently in Sweden and I have been sent the pictures from its owner. Can anyone tell me what the text says... I'm not sure the photos are good enough to get a full translation, but any help would be greatfully received. Best, Jon

Hi all, Sorry a bit late into the conversation. I shoot an original Teppo in competition here in the UK. Most of us here shoot originals as they are well built and nicely proportioned. Below is my target from last weekends National competition at Wedgnock Ranges in Warwickshire. 50m Off Hand. This scores as a 91. Best Jon

Hi Ian and Piers, Thank you for your thoughts and replies. Its an interesting gun and actually quite enjoyable to use. I think I was fortunate to be able to buy it. Interesting to know about the long range ladder for the rear sight as this is far more than a 'well crafted piece of bamboo' that I have seen other examples of. Best Jon

Hi Piers, Many thanks for your help and thoughts. Is it possible to put a rough date on it or is it just 'edo period'? Best Jon

A few months ago I purchased another Tanegashima with great shooting provenance - I shoot a variety of BP muskets and rifles so wanted something with good history. The below pictured gun crossed my path so I purchased it. I've been speaking to Arthur Goetz on his Facebook page 'Japanses Matchlock Study Group' so some of the detail but thought it would be nice to post here to see what you Gents thought. Weight: 3.8kg Total length: 55" (139.7cm) Barrel Length: 41.5" (105.4cm) Bore: .509" I shoot it with a 10though patched .49" ball and 56 grns of Swiss 2...... It is a very accurate Teppo, winning many medals with its pervious owner - but I'm still getting to 'grips' with it so have only managed a few silver medals and a clutch of Bronzes. Translations from under the barrel: 二重巻張（niju-makibari＝Double wrapped）　 山中　鉄之助　金次 （Yamanaka Tetunosuke kanetugu =Gunsmith's name） 作（saku=made by) - Apparently the gunsmith is from Mino (in the Southern Gifu Prefecture). Arthur thinks this is gun made for 'Tsuda-ryu techniques' though to be honest I'm not sure what this means.... It does of course have a number of replacement parts such as the external main spring. Thoughts and comment appreciated!

Now that Anthony is a nice gun. Exellent find! :0)

Sorry - I've joined in a little late I'm afraid..I can't translate Japanese, but I do know quite a lot about Enfield Rifles - Patterns 1853 to 1865. From the photos you have given of the lock and side of the barrel your gun was made in Leige, Belgium - a major european manufacturing area at the time. (The ELG stamp tells me this as does the 'Pillar' stamp just infront of the nipple). The Crown is of course not the British Crown of Queen Victoria either. If you (carefully) take the barrel off there will also be manfacturing marks on the underside of the barrel. It is unlikly this gun was owned by the British Government as it is a contract piece without any British proof marks. Best Jon

I know we are a little way away but I know an exellent gunsmith in the UK (south coast). He used to shoot them as well at international level which helps.....

Hi Piers, I'm sure you have already allocated the stocks and pieces you have.... however if not, I have a nice matchlock which was butchered for for fleabay (as posted up here almost exactly a year ago). The restoration is nearly complete (I have had a professional wood restorer and gunsmith do this for me) but I'm missing some of the smaller decorative lotus flowers etc...are you able to help? In anticipation! Jon

Hi Piers, I have recently been in contact with a gent in America called Takehito Jimbo - as well as some of his colleagues who contribute to a Japanese history e-magazine. I have recently had an article in the magazine (with regard to a previous percussion Japanese Musket you helped with the translation on) and Takehito and a number of others - including Francis Allan - have kindly given me a lot of information on muzzle loading Enfield Rifles and their role in the development of Japan in the 1860's, for a book I'm writing... Takehito did the translation for me, though they and I were struggling with the Mon. My gun is 3 Monme by the way. Thank you again, Jon

Piers, Thank you for the above... I've spent ages trying to find the clan name....I like a bit of research... but had hit a wall.. I have taken another photo of the barrel.. I had not realized I'd cut off a kanji.... It looks like I have some work to do on translations Niju makibari - Two Wraps or Double Layer (http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/15595-teppo-nomenclature/) are you able to comment on the location of manufacture and age? again thank you for your help! Jon

Some more pictures.. Can anyone venture the clan and the approximate date? I'm pretty sure the script reads: ‘Goshu Kunitomo’ - the province of manufacture and ‘Kyubei Kyoho’, the venerable gunsmiths family name Many thanks Jon

Hi Gents, Many thansk for your speedy responses. I'll post up a full picture of the gun later tonight, so you can look at it, as I also have some questions as to the date and style... I have seen a number of muskets with very very similar in decoration (and location of the decoration) which will give me a good idea of how to replicate the missing bits...for instance: Again many thanks Jon

I have recently acquired a matchlock which some fool was trying to sell on ebay in the UK... in parts. The reason this was done, I guess, is because he could not figure any other way to sell it (you are not allowed to sell gun parts, such as barrels, on ebay here in the UK). So... I have a nice looking musket, in I think, usable condition BUT with some damage - as seen below - the 'gent' used a knife to prize off all the brass work and something like a hammer to remove the barrel - which has cracked some of the wood along the barrel channel and has broken a small piece off. It sounds bad but... I have a good supply of Japanese Oak to repair the missing piece of barrel channel wood. The cracks are repairable and I think will be virtually indistinguishable by the time I have finished with them them. I am however missing just a few pieces of brass as he had sold them before we could get to it. My questions are two fold really. 1. Was there a trade just producing the brass inlays? I have seen a number of guns with pretty much / exactly the same brass parts and patterns? & 2. is there a source for parts (reproduction or original) - though I realize there will be some small differences in sizes? I have a sympathetic gunsmith who can do all the repairs required and who can re manufacture parts but I wondered if there was a way I could be more involved with the missing aesthetic pieces of brass. Thoughts appreciated, Jon

Hi there, On my musket it is difficult to say as the fit and finish is so tight... it looks to be one piece but as discussed we think the barrel is older than the final form... so I guess dovetailed -just very well by a professional. Jon

Good evening Gents, Following our conversations above I noticed the following bolt action 'conversion' for sale at IMA in America...and thought it may be of interest: https://www.ima-usa.com/products/original-Japanese-matchlock-tanegashima-converted-to-m-1880-murata-breech-loading-system?variant=5842388779046&trk_msg=A18TCJL2MJ8KF21CR25T9NKCSC&trk_contact=B6KAL9G9CFJLKSD6V5RG414HCK&trk_sid=3957N79BUIRV8C94BRC0I7VSN4&utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Product&utm_campaign=20171209&utm_content=20171209 Jon

Many thanks for the interest and comments above. It looks like it is quite a rare thing then and I'm pleased that I could share it here. I spoke to a friend last night, David Brigden, who used to be chairman of the Muzzle Loading International Committee and he also commented that some matchlock barrels were also converted to bolt action rifles for the first World War - is this correct, seems a bit of a stretch? Is the general feeling that this barrel is older than its current configuration?, it would seem so, from your comments, but am I right in this?....I guess removing the original pan and adding a block with percussion cap is relatively easy given that the internal pressures of the barrel will be the same upon firing. The barrel is in really nice condition and the bore is very good but could someone (briefly) explain the lack of decoration on the woodwork and even a Mon on the barrel. I only ask as every Matcholck I have seen has some form of decoration...this piece looks quite 'functional' in comparison. Jon