Bugyotsuji

The first one looks Chinese, and the second, NBTK, I’ve not heard of. (Awaiting others’ opinions or directions.)

The top writing when present was often the mark of the person later decorating a barrel, but when in fine silver etc., inlay, it was sometimes an exhortation. It looks readable but my brain is not yet coming into focus 韮張 plus 花王 doesn’t seem at all right… maybe you could post that in the translation section for fresh eyes! The woodwork of your gun could well be newer, meaning the gun was possibly rebuilt at some time. The absence of a front sight is puzzling, but these pistols were never designed for accuracy, meaning the placement of sights was mostly a token gesture. If the base marks of a front sight have been erased, it is a very good job.

A new addition for you? This looks like an example of a Namban Ryū (Southern Barbarian Style) pistol, a gunnery school in Japan deliberately designed to look foreign, to show exaggerated outlandish features. The front sight looks to have been knocked off…(?) As to the markings underneath the barrel, they do look fairly random as you say, and these among other signs suggest that someone has been tweaking or adding to the gun since its export from Japan. Despite some alterations, basically an honest gun I sense from your photos.

Well, as long as he does not talk directly over the blade! Oh wait… he did. Don't they have a Yosozaemon no Jo Sukesada on semi-permanent display up in the Japanese Gallery?

So if the Mei is legit, an early Tenbun/Tembun date could certainly fit with Fusamune.

Oh Moriyama San, stupid me!!! Thank you!

Stuff I still need to work on, but Tembun 7, November… is visible. 天文七年十一月 Either side of 10 (十) is the old date of Tsuchinoe Inu, 戊戌 土口日 (?… not sure what kind of day this refers to)

What inscription?

Missed my favourite programme… Just kidding!!! Monday TV is useless.

That was quick, Colin. I’ve spent the whole evening comparing waterfalls in Japan, China and Taiwan…

Gerry, as I said above, this last one is not a kanji, but a ‘Kao’ 花王, an artist’s personal seal or flourish sometimes added to a signature. PS Fusamune has to be a possible reading, but I would compare it to other known Fusamune signatures as it is aiming very high!

https://www.nilsjapan.com/news/?p=4562 In Japanese legend, Kasasagi (magpies) as messengers of the gods created a bridge for lovers to meet on 7th July. (Tanabata) Was this created to celebrate a wedding, perhaps, with ume and bamboo symbolizing a new start? (Four artist friends create something together for the couple?)

A first for me too! Intriguing.

Referenced here:

赤尾清夫 Normally Akao Kiyoo but that personal name (second two Kanji) could be read several ways. One of the Akao school. Seio, Seifu, etc. …(?)