Weird Stock

[DanC]

Can anyone explain what the thing is on the bottom of the stock on the matchlock in the attached link. I'm browsing around the web looking at what people are selling to practice identifying authentic traits, etc. I have no idea what it could be and I don't recall seeing it before on any tanagashima.

 

http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/Japanese-matchlock-al2570/#.VJDiB2f4CUk

[watsonmil]

Dear Dan C.

I assume you are referring to the brass plate behind the trigger. If so this is a sort of trigger stop. They are occasionally found on larger caliber Japanese matchlocks.

... Ron Watson

[DanC]

Yeah, this.

[Geraint]

And for a very spiffy example see here: http://www.sho-shin.com/mat5.htm

[Bugyotsuji]

They are called "Namako-gane", or sea-slug/sea-cucumber (metal) fitting. Sometimes they are solid, and sometimes the trigger pulls back into a hollow. A kind of trigger guard on some larger guns as Ron says.

 

Interesting-looking gun, Dan.

[DanC]

So, it's just a solid version, instead of an open loop. It's not clicking for me how this would be related practically to the large caliber, unless maybe it was solid and meant to counter the weight of the barrel. Is it a style specific to a school that made large caliber weapons, or is was it used in different regions?

[watsonmil]

Dear Dan C.

From what I've seen the TOSA School were primarily the users of this type of trigger guard. Perhaps Piers knows of other schools ? In this field of study one should never say " only ". However it is usually seen on only large bore guns where recoil would catch your middle finger on the trigger on the backward motion of the recoil and at the least probably bruise the finger. There is usually a reason for everything, ... but not always !

 

... Ron Watson

[DanC]

I had the thought that it could do with the recoil, but I wasn't sure why they didn't just carve it into the stock. Preserve the aesthetic lines of the traditional tanegashima stock?