Bugyotsuji Posted July 7, 2015 Report Posted July 7, 2015 This gun, at 30 Monme, weighs in at 11.4 kg. On the barrel are two Sangai-bishi 三階菱 Mon in gold and silver of the Ogasawara Han. There was a branch of Ogasawara in Kokura, Kita-Kyushu. Registration paperwork shows Hiroshima, and there were Ogasawara there too, but the Jinshin registration mark of early Meiji (1872, Meiji 5) was struck in Fukuoka, where the Yo-Ryu were centered. The founder of the school was 安部家 the Abe family, and it spread to Tosa Han, Kariya Han (Aichi), Fukuoka Han and Akizuki Han. This Yo-Ryu school used them not only for firing ball, but also 棒火矢 bobiya/bohiya, iron-tipped fire arrows/bolts. The 16th successor and present active head of this school of gunnery is a good lady by the name of O-no-Ue, 尾上. Yo-Ryu big guns can be recognized by the octagonal flaring shape of the muzzle, the flat cliff-cut of the front of the stock, and the exceptionally small grip. Yo-Ryu gunsmith names often begin with Kojima 児島, and they are recorded as having worked in both Fukuoka, and Fukuyama in Hiroshima. In this case it is "Kitae Makibari, Kojima Denpei Shoko", which is not recorded, so I have just contacted Mr Urabe in Shikoku, the author of the best Meikan IMHO, to ask him if he feels the need to update his lists. In good condition, but some small damage to the trigger and surround which the restorer is working on this week. This gun will probably be fired inside the local Budokan at the Kobudo-Sai in November this year. (The photo shows a top-quality Jingasa of the Kuroda Han, with the two well-known Fuji-domoe 藤巴 Kamon and the generic white ishimochi sun ball, 石持, often 黒餅 black 'kuromochi', but here lacquered in gold.) Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted July 7, 2015 Author Report Posted July 7, 2015 Reply from Mr Urabe just now, who says that my e-mail has fitted together three similar-looking names which he now realizes must be the same person. He says he will correct his list for the next updated version of his booklet. What is good for me is that one of the names, a Kojima Denpei, slightly different Kanji, is recorded as having studied in Nagasaki, and having made a gun at/for the Fukuoka Han in Ansei 3, ie 1857, giving us a rough time bracket of Bakumatsu. Quote
Geraint Posted July 7, 2015 Report Posted July 7, 2015 Lordy, lordy Piers. If that one doesn't put you flat on your back nothing will. I have a memory of seeing one fired from a kneeling position, is that likely? Thanks for sharing and look forward to seeing some pictures when you do fire it. All the best. Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted July 7, 2015 Author Report Posted July 7, 2015 Geraint, yes indeed, it is quite a bit heavier than the 7.6 kg 20 Monme which I am used to. It can be fired from almost any position with the right technique, but they will expect this one to be fired mostly standing up. Last year I fired a 50 Monme and it nearly took the life out of me. The first opportunity will be in the autumn/fall when the weather makes fighting in armo(u)r more bearable. Will post a pic if there is a good one. Quote
Brian Posted July 7, 2015 Report Posted July 7, 2015 Love it. That's a beautiful gun. Yours? Would love an example like that. I expect they are not easy to find, and looks like your research has paid off. Thanks for sharing Piers. Brian Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted July 7, 2015 Author Report Posted July 7, 2015 Thank you, yes. There was an incredibly small window of opportunity, Brian, and just sometimes, everything feels serendipitous, if you are able to move quickly. Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted July 9, 2015 Author Report Posted July 9, 2015 Two and a half days have passed and the sword scabbard artisan Saya-Shi says he has fixed the trigger and surround, although he cannot open the Bisen without doing damage with his industrial vice. No problem as I plan to work on it gently over the weeks. Going to pick it up tomorrow, all things being equal! What bits were you looking for, Brian? Serpentine? Just on the off-chance... Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted July 10, 2015 Author Report Posted July 10, 2015 Correction. The black circle 黒餅 、黒持 version of the Kuroda family Kamon is read Kokumochi, not Kuromochi. Quote
Viper6924 Posted July 12, 2015 Report Posted July 12, 2015 Here´s a sashimono made from asa, which if I remember correct, displays the black kokumochi kamon worn by the Kuroda-clan in battle. Jan 1 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted July 12, 2015 Author Report Posted July 12, 2015 Hmmm... yes, Jan, maybe we can organize a swap of something! (With newly-repaired trigger, and ramrod made from oak bo-jutsu 'bo'.) Quote
Viper6924 Posted July 12, 2015 Report Posted July 12, 2015 That could have been a possibility. But after I saw the new picture of your baby, I just had a massive attack of envy which turned me into a salivating blob on the carpet... FANTASTIC GUN!!! Jan 1 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted July 12, 2015 Author Report Posted July 12, 2015 Aw shucks, Jan, you do have a way with words. PS "30 Mon-me" is a bore of 2.6 cm, meaning you can fit a US quarter easily inside, a JPY 10 yen coin, or from the UK a 10p or even a 2p coin. Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted July 13, 2015 Author Report Posted July 13, 2015 Interestingly, Ogasawara had this 'three-storied diamond water chestnut' Sangai-bishi as their Omote-Mon, and Hayashi as their Ura-Mon. (One branch of the Yo-Ryu School was the famous Hayashi-Ryu.) Shots taken from 大名家の家紋 高橋 賢一 Daimyo-ke no Kamon by Takahashi Kenichi, Akita Shoten 1974 Quote
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