Daso Posted May 27, 2016 Report Posted May 27, 2016 Hello All, I have been concentrating on Swords, but saw this little guy at an auction and was curious whether it was a dime a dozen piece or unusually ornate? Quote
Fuuten Posted May 27, 2016 Report Posted May 27, 2016 I'm far from being a novice on these items, but surely that's not just some run of the mill pistol. Quote
Mark Posted May 28, 2016 Report Posted May 28, 2016 is it functional? I do not see a hammer and cap or matchlock? Is it just an ornament? Quote
Daso Posted May 28, 2016 Author Report Posted May 28, 2016 is it functional? I do not see a hammer and cap or matchlock? Is it just an ornament? Mark, It was functional but part of the wheel lock is missing. Quote
Daso Posted May 28, 2016 Author Report Posted May 28, 2016 sorry, I meant missing firing match lock mechanism. I really like it and would love to display it alongside my swords. Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted May 28, 2016 Report Posted May 28, 2016 Three sizes? Looks larger than a Netsuke, but too small to be a serious weapon. More of a toy for a rich person, but capable of being fired in anger, it seems. It's missing its lockwork, plate & pins, serpentine and panlid & pin. Fixable if you can just find the right person to do it for you. A highly specialized job. This type of small pistol is not a dime a dozen, and yes, it is exceptionally ornate, for better or for worse. Someone has really gone to town on the decoration. Quote
Ray Singer Posted January 21, 2017 Report Posted January 21, 2017 The owner of this piece recently received it back from restoration in Japan. I thought some might be interested to see completed reconstruction of the missing lock and plate. Best regards, Ray 4 Quote
Brian Posted January 21, 2017 Report Posted January 21, 2017 Wow. Damn good restoration. Wouldn't know it if we weren't told. A beautiful piece.Did it have to be registered when it entered Japan? Just curious. 1 Quote
Ray Singer Posted January 21, 2017 Report Posted January 21, 2017 Excellent question Brian, I will ask the owner and let you know. Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted January 21, 2017 Report Posted January 21, 2017 Possibly kept the barrel, and sent the butt section to Japan for refitting with lock and plate? This way it would be legal. (Or if there is no vent/flash hole anyway, then no legal problem.) Sweet restoration indeed. 1 Quote
Peter Bleed Posted January 21, 2017 Report Posted January 21, 2017 This is, indeed, a neat little gun.It looks like wonderful work . Still, I have to say that it SEEMS to me like there have been a large number of these little matchlocks showing up - on eBay and elsewhere - recently. Do others have the same impression - and if so, how can we explain this sudden burst in their numbers? Peter 1 Quote
Peter Bleed Posted January 21, 2017 Report Posted January 21, 2017 I just ran a quick count and it looks like there a half dozen netsuke/miniature guns being offered on eBay. For years and years you just didn't see any at all.Now they are available - - Old collections being dispersed? A change in Japanese gun laws? Some guy went into production? Peter 1 Quote
Ray Singer Posted January 21, 2017 Report Posted January 21, 2017 Thanks for the kind words everyone. This one seems quite a bit too large to be categorized as a netsuke. The gun measures 18.3cm and has substantial weight. Best regards, Ray Quote
Ray Singer Posted January 22, 2017 Report Posted January 22, 2017 I took a look at the miniature matchlocks on eBay and they are all much smaller than this example, ranging between 9.7 - 11cm. http://www.ebay.com/itm/132017144477 http://www.ebay.com/itm/142193728726 http://www.ebay.com/itm/142193728028 Quote
Ray Singer Posted January 22, 2017 Report Posted January 22, 2017 And BTW, this is the individual who performed the restoration. Best regards, Ray Quote
Brian Posted January 22, 2017 Report Posted January 22, 2017 I note that the eBay seller is one of those just relisting items for sale in Japan at a profit. All of those will be for sale elsewhere at vastly less, and they are just hoping to make a quick buck. So probably one seller in Japan selling all 3, and this guy listing them all on eBay.Anyone able to find out where these are for sale? Yahoo Japan or elsewhere?http://www.ebay.com/itm/142193728726 I suspect they are modern, looking at some of the smaller features. I also note he takes great care to show every picture except whether there is an actual flash-hole or not. 1 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted January 22, 2017 Report Posted January 22, 2017 Those eBay offers are representative of the kind of thing you can bump into fairly frequently. It pays to be cautious. 'Nuff said. 1 Quote
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