Is There Such A Thing As A "boy's Gun"?

[Bazza]

I offer photos of a small teppo that I was able to examine recently.  Its not a bajouzutsu, it just seems "small", like a boy's BB gun or Daisy Rifle and very light to handle.  The barrel is 53.9cm with a bore of 10mm/11mm and the overall length is 87.3cm.  The barrel is signed MAKIBARI, suggesting a single wrap, a cheaper manufacturing method.  There is a province I can't reconcile with any, so I guess a variant kanji I'm not familiar with.  The inscription reads ? SHU JU.  Below that is a name I can't read either, but I fancy I can see a -YASU for the second character.  The condition of the gun is good save for the octagonal barrel, which is heavily rusted.

 

Another feature suggesting cheaper manufacture for a boy is that the priming pan cover is sheet brass fixed with a rivet.  Having said all that, the lock is beautifully made with a maker's stamp and in perfect working order.

 

For anyone wanting more I have high res versions of all the images as well as numerous other closeups.

 

BaZZa.

 

[cabowen]

Sesshu....The rest is a mystery to me....

[Geraint]

Bazza.

 

You don't think the priming pan cover is a replacement?  The other thing that comes to mind is that the length between stock and lock appears to be the same on both guns, one might suspect that shortening here would be useful for a boy's gun?

 

All the best

[Brian]

I am also wondering if the barrel and stock was shortened. What does the muzzle look like? This happened a lot. The pan cover does look replaced to me.

I suspect it is one of the smaller caliber hunting guns that was shortened.

 

Brian

[Justin Grant]

If you look at the end of the stock, it looks squared off compaired to a traditional stock, which could lead to the idea that the thing was cut down.

[Viper6924]

Look at the square shaped hammer, the rear sight and overall

shape of the barrel.

This is a cut down Kishu-style matchlock. And they chopped off quite

a chunk.

Perhaps the muzzle or front part of the rifle was destroyed at one time.

 

Jan