redhugster

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

Gents, many thanks for your comments above. I know little / no Japanese, so if you could help decipher the ink and engraved text it would be most appreciated :0) The gun is extremely heavy due to the thick barrel and the stock down to the butt is obviously narrow - would this have been a 'rampart' type gun? I'd be interested in any thoughts really..Date (1860s - 1870's?), place of manufacture, barrel maker, stock maker...anything really that I can build up a little history on it, and aid some understanding of the piece. I cleaned the barrel out last night and apart from still being loaded (!) the bore is still in really very good condition so whoever has had it for the last x number of years has stored it well. .....I suspect this is a new made barrel rather than a conversion as there are no signs of conversion / removal of the pan and other matchlock features - saying that though the text on the barrel may give a maker, date, location ??? giving further clues? Any assistance is appreciated. Many thanks Jon

Hi Geraint, Many thanks for your comment above. I shoot a matchlock musket (and other things to international level) so am familiar with these in the matchlock configuration - but when I saw this I was a little intrigued.... and the price was right.... I have carefully removed the barrel and below are the resulting photos... Many thanks ! Jon

Gents, I wonder if you could help me with this musket.... I saw it as part of a lot at auction last week (site unseen which is always dangerous) ...but given what I think it is and the other items I gained, I figured it was worth a cheap punt...in short I won the lot for £300 It was described as Ottoman empire - which it clearly wasn't even with the fuzzy photo ... so thoughts would be appreciated as to what I have! The musket is 104 cm long and has a bore of 5/8ths of an inch - .625? (1.6cm) and is of cause percussion rather than matchlock.. Many thanks in advance, Jon

Hi Brian, Thanks for that...It does look like a fun project to do though and the long winter evenings here in the UK could make it worth while... But as you say it depends upon the cost... Jon

Hi Gents, I wonder if you could help..... I found this in a local auction house with the following description: "A late 18th/early 19th century Japanese Matchlock musket with 29½"" octagonal steel barrel decorated with birds and foliage, signed, polished wood stock with brass furniture " It looks a nice piece but is obviously missing a few bits...Plus it has rather modern looking screws in it.....but it looks to have an internal spring mechanism which I'm told is quite rare...? Any thoughts? Regards Jon

Hi Ron, Thanks for the post I'm very familiar with muskets and rifles up to Circa 1862 as I own and shoot my original guns internationally - flint rifle, musket and percussion rifle etc The Japanese muskets are somewhat of an anathema to me (although I'm just about to start shooting mine - first outing on Sunday morning), though a lot of my friends shoot them to a high level.... I'm not really familiar with Japanese culture but it almost seems the same, but very different if you know what I mean!! :D Cheers Ron, Jon

Gents, Sorry to come into this conversation a bit late and I know it has moved on a bit...but back to long range sights... Is it possible that so few of the detachable sights exist because they were simply bamboo (or similar) and have rotted away a long time ago? Could it have been that the individual musketeers would have known how to make these sights when necessary and would simply throw them away when not required - which might have been most of the time? Essentially along the same lines as moving the flint a degree or 2 to the left or right on a flintlock if it is not sparking well - you don't see this instruction / suggestion written down often. To the musketeer this would have been obvious, but to the modern target shooter whose life does not depend upon it - less so? Just a thought.. It strikes me looking at the pictures demonstrating how to use the long range sights...might of been drawn by an artist who was not that familiar with guns, and / or is copying other text and drawings ...as, as discussed they are just plain wrong....Obviously taken out of context and with my inability to read the Japanese annotations I can't be certain...comments? Has anyone tried making a long range rear sight recently? as I might have a go at making one to see how easy it is and am interested in suggestions with the fixing point to the rear sight. Best regards, Jon

Hi Piers, That is amazing....I can't believe how much you all have been able to tell me, thank you so much. Ron, Thanks for the link...My referring to making a match was a little double edged, firstly I need to know how to make a reliable match which I think I can do, so thank you...however getting hold of the right grade of Nitrate / Saltpeter apparently can sometimes be a little tricky here in the UK as some naughty people choose to make bombs with it...I spoke to a friend last night about it and apparently he had a visit from the local plod (police) a couple of years ago when he tried to order some...Either way it can't be much of an issue.... ...I guess when I have the musket repaired I'll find out! Anyway I gingerly took the lock plate off last night and found the following: I am assuming this is Japanese script rather than just scratch marks... Best Regards, Jon

Hi Peirs, Thank you for your prompt reply, Sorry you refer to the musket as ‘Jinzaemon’..this is a new term to me…how does this relate to ‘Teppo’ and ‘Tagashima’? The Edo period according to Wikipedia is from 1603 to 1867 – is that correct?…..I can see that there must be little to no information on gunsmiths as this is quite a long time period (unlike here in the UK) – I’m guessing this is mainly due to the isolationist policy of those in power at the time + the enormous amount of arms I gather that were being manufactured...Can anyone guess at a date - or is that just impossible? I shoot with the Muzzle Loading Association of Great Britain (MLAGB) who are governed by the Muzzle Loading International committee (MLIAC). A good majority of countries are represented and at the last World Champs in 2013 there were 25 countries. This is a bi annual event and next year the World Champs are in Granada, Southern Spain - at a lovely shooting facility there…I would imagine more countries will be represented as Ireland were able to send a shooter to the last Europeans and I believe India has just Joined. The following link is the captain’s report from the World Champs in 2013: http://www.mlagb.com/blackpowder/201204_worldchamps.pdf I currently shoot an: Percussion, Enfield P56 (manufactured C.1857) Percussion, Enfield P59 (manufactured C.1864) & Flint, Springfield musket M1816 (manufactured C.1816) + other odds and sods …sadly there are a lot of modern reproductions entering the market place which are in truth more fantasy than fact – combining the very best bits of antique guns into one, from different countries and time periods so everything has to be scrutinised rigorously prior to international Competition as everything needs to be 'in the spirit of....'. With Matchlock pistols and Muskets members of the UK team usually get the job of checking over the weapons to make sure they have not been tampered with – which is why I am keen to ensure mine is, shall we say, unfettered…. This has all been quite a quick and steep a learning curve Piers, so thank you for an education! – The same obviously goes to Ron, K Morita,Tobias and Ken!!!! Any further comments obviously welcome ….now all I have to do is learn how to make a match… Regards Jon

Blimy Gents, thank you for your speedy response :lol: !!! I though this would take a few weeks to work through and you've pretty much cracked it within 12 hours.... I've read through all the posts and I have a few questions still I'm afraid, but I think these should be easyish to answer given the responses given thus far... but I'll come to that in a moment Firstly Ron, Thank you. The gun is not loaded (to my relief) - I don't like walking around with loaded arms off (or indeed on) range. I shoot black powder Muskets and Rifle for Great Britain so am somewhat familiar with antique rifles, black powder etc etc , but I am heartened to see that this is one of the first things you all were keen to make me aware of - safety first!!! To that end as it were, please see below a photo of the breach...the plug was only finger tight...is this normal? On say an Enfield P56 the plug is non removable and held very firmly in place with gunk / tar or whatever and is usually very hard to remove after 155 years or so without making a complete mash of the metal work...The plug is square. Also please see on the photo, the 'pan' area - I am wondering if someone has started to do a bit of a referb on it and given up..in part this is due to the lack of flash guard and the beach plug and the hole all the way through where the pan would be - thoughts? At the muzzle does anyone know why the crown area looks like a different metal? The barrel has some rust pitting in it but is not too bad and is eminently shootable…I could have it skimmed by a 'though of an inch, to get it pretty perfect but this of course would make the bore larger…its around .551 at the moment. Just to get it straight in my head, thus far we know: Made by: "Made by Daishido Jinzaemon".(Dai-shi-do , Jin-za-e-mon) The maker was probably from: Sakai / Settsu.I am assuming this is Settsu City, Osaka The Mon is: Sagari-fuji mon - usually used by the Fujiwara clan, The wisteria itself has a very long lifespan and an especially high rate of propagation, traits that the mon's users hoped to receive themselves The odd looking engraving mid barrel is: A flaming pearl. This represents wisdom/wealth/luck and the eternal pursuit of it. Dragons: Asian dragons are often depicted together the flaming pearl Thoughts on the below would be helpful... 1. Would the Engraving and the script in the barrel channel (23) be say the gun number, 23rd of that batch made etc etc. I only ask as I have just made contact with a guy in the states who thinks his gun is almost exactly the same. 2. Is the gun of a high, medium or low quality as things go ? 3. Is it worth having a specialist add some silver / gold back into the engraving to pretty it up a bit? 4. Is anything known about the maker Daishido Jinzaemon such as working dates? 5. How old do you think it is? …1870’s or earlier? 6. The stamp (Cartouche) on the barrel above the ‘23’ – any thoughts? 7. Is the stock of Japanese Oak do you think? Finally, We have a strong tradition in the UK of being quite good at shooting Japanese Matchlocks and are strongly represented at World and European Championships ....one of my good friends is the former MLAGB world champion...he was beaten in Germany in 2012 by just a few points ..it was thrilling to watch on the screens, as he was to the side of the with the guy who won in the end...you could have heard a pin drop on the range between shots (and it was a big range)! Gents, Many many thanks for your help, even if know one responds to this post you have exceeded my hops thus far, Jon

Hello! I am new to the forum and have joined as I have just purchased a matchlock with the intent of shooting it in time, if it proves to be correct and of course safe. I shoot original black powder muskets and rifles and a lot of my shooting friends have Japanese Matchlocks here in the UK, so I have plenty of sources of advice on that front....however I know nothing of Japanese script, signatures, Mon and Kamon - so I am hoping someone here will be able to help. Photo 1: Firstly this it what it looks like... Photo 2: Wisteria Kamon (Fuji) - is this correct? Photo 3: Mid barrel - what on earth is this? Photo 4: In the barrel channel Photo 5: Under the barrel...The script is the same as above but can anyone identify the cartouche Photo 6: Script under the barrel Photo 7: Top of the barrel...has this been defaced? Photo 8: Dragon on the top of the barrel Photo 9: The Mechanism Photo 10: The Muzzle Any thoughts most appreciated and thank you for looking at all the photos. Best Regards Jon