Bugyotsuji

Today I discovered the reason for this use of three blades for 州 Shū province. The kanji can be seen as three ‘standing’ 立刀 ‘rittō’ blades. See the right side of 割, for example. 3 of these blades, but then piled neatly in a heap, = 刕 Although it is not included in many dictionaries today, it was a conventional usage often found in 古文書 old manuscripts.

Byakudan-nuri can be found here and there but it is not exactly common, and yes, it suggests a wealthy patron or someone with status. There has always been a culture of swapping out bits of armo(u)r for any number of reasons, and may well start with damage on the battlefield (repairs needed immediately) and the passing of inherited armo(u)r down each generation with changes in fashion. You could say that katchū is in constant slow-moving flux.

Hi Ken, It depends where you would propose selling it. In Japan matchlock prices are rather sagging atm. You might get £1,000 at auction there, if properly registered, etc. A private buyer might pay more. In the UK it could be double that or even more, depending on various factors.

For anyone travelling around. There is a special triple museum hosted cooperative event connected with Unrui swords in Okayama. The Prefectural Museum Hayashibara Museum of Art Okayama Castle

Ken, military, yes. Once again, congratulations! Several of the byō 鋲 pins, (or ‘nails’ as they are called in English gunsmithing, apparently) are missing and will need replacing. Almost everything else seems to be present. When you say ‘rifle’ you may be referring to a Tanegashima Hinawajū smoothbore long gun. (?) They didn’t get any true rifles until the Bakumatsu period, from abroad.

This stock is from a flashy ‘merchant’s’ small game gun from Osaka. Some like the bling, but others are not so keen on it. Divisive! Great for what it is, especially at that price, but I would not be afraid to cannibalize it if you need genuine parts and they fit! But it’s your call, and I can see the case for restoring it with a ‘new’ barrel.

Yes, it says: ‘Sesshū Jū Kagoya Rokubei Kanetsugu Saku’ 摂州住籠谷六兵衛金次作 Sadly no dates given for this smith, but Edo period for sure.

PS the name is corroded, but I’ll work on getting the smith’s personal name.

Yes, agreeing with Brian. Super űber crazy cheap for a ‘bajōzutsu’ carbine pistol like that! Lucky 🍀 find! This was made by a smith in the House of Kagoya in Sesshū (Sakai, Osaka). Mid to late Edo period. (We have a hand cannon from the same collection.)

Cleaning an old matchlock pistol today and realized the 州　is written in the same manner, 刕 three blades, which I had thought was only used by swordsmiths. Perhaps the gunsmith was originally a katana kaji.(?)

Jussi and Uwe are correct. Shū 州 (province) was written several ways.

Just from that one shot it looks like Byakudan-nuri, a superior lacquer coating along the lines of what Jean describes above. 白檀塗

The similar black ‘patina’ on the habaki and seppa makes me think it is not old. Hard to see much in the photos. Try taking it to a sword show for certainty. OK, we get it’s not brand new, but 30 years, 40 years, 50 years is nothing in the life of a Japanese sword. All modern.

Yesterday the 15th fell on a weekday, but I found various bits like tsuba, netsuke, inro, etc. A simple child’s black lacquer inro bears the Wakisaka ‘Wachigai’ Kamon on the side. …Oh, and a black lacquer tray which I left with the dealer as I was walking around, and then totally forgot. (Just remembered while writing this!)

Lewis, this is the Oishi Kuranosuke Shrine (Oishi Jinja) inside the remains of Ako Castle, home of the Daimyo Asano Nagayoshi who was forced to commit seppuku for drawing his sword on Kira in Edo Castle. The shrine is dedicated to the 47 ronin, who were retainers in Ako, and many original artefacts are on ‘permanent’ display. (Although some rearrangement seems to have taken place recently.) (They have an antiques fair in the grounds. Brian came to visit one time some years ago.) Sengakuji Temple in Edo is where the 47 ronin headstones are, but their home is and was Ako in Harima.

Adam, good questions, but one day you will be able to visit, I feel sure! Remember to purify your hands by the entrance.

And a wakizashi koshiraé in a corner…

There was another katana, though. and 2nd gen Hizen Munetsugu

Best I could get, Nathaniel.

Moody shot of an egret on Ako Castle ruins.

With a bit of twister I got further shots. The Yasumitsu wakizashi was turned away and almost buried in the display cloth, so I could get no clear shots of it.

Katana said to be by Osafuné Kiyomitsu. The captions in the first case say the following: And for the Tantō

Just a teaser… 47 Ronin swords.

OK, Lewis said to forget the 47 Ronin swords. So could I have the ¥500 entrance fee back, and the cost of today’s gasoline, say ¥2,000 please! BTW I need to eat some humble crow pie. The sword displays were far from perfect, but better than before. I spent an hour or so photographing them, and chopping out as many of the reflections as possible. But back to Musashi. There is a village not far from here where he was allegedly born, with a dedicated museum. I’ll need the travel costs and entrance fee in advance this time, though!

Oh yes, I forgot to mention. The one I saw there did not look like a masterpiece to my eyes. This was another disincentive.