Information

[matchlockshooter]

Hi,

 

 I recently bought a matchlock with a caliber of approx. 7mm. It looks almost unused.

There are some characers on the stock and beneath the barrelI I would like to know the meaning of.

 

Could a matchlock with such small caliber be used for training or for a child?

The gun measures 59 ½” long overall with a 45 ½” octagonal barrel. Bore is bright.

 

Any other info is of course very much appreciated.

 

I already learned from some other members (I posted in the wrong section) that the meaning of the Kanji on the stock can be "5 Bu 3 Rin Gun Barrel (± 16 mm)".

The barrel is between 14 (muzzle) and 18 (breech) mm wide.

 

Thank you very much for answers.

 

Regards

LeoM

 

I submitted some more pictures of the characters on the barrel. I hope these are better readable.

[Stephen]

Hi Leo

 

Maybe a request here (with pic rotated 180, barrel muzzle up please)

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/forum/15-translation-assistance/

will give a faster translation on the barrel.

Not all read post here.

[Brian]

It's there. Posted here for more info on the gun itself.

[Stephen]

but no translation of Barrel 

[Bugyotsuji]

Which thread?

 

The signature is readable, but I will need a few minutes to pull it all together into a single post! So watch this space...

[Bugyotsuji]

To start with:

 

Enpo 3, 5 gatsu.

So Makibari

Shibatsuji Kiyomasa

 

http://jp.yearwiz.com/Japan/enpo/3

[Brian]

Piers, a lot of steel, and not a lot of brass. Any indication of anything?
Hunting gun?

[Bugyotsuji]

Yes, lots of initial thoughts, but a target gun is possible. Too long for a Yashiki or Chigo-deppo. My brain does not work in inches any more so I will need to redo the calculations!

 

The gun is well-made, probably in Sakai, dated and in good condition, although we cannot see the bisen or inside the vent.

[Bugyotsuji]

Gun calibers are measured in Monme, but this one is not even one Monme, just 5 bu and three rin in diameter.

[matchlockshooter]

2 more pictures

[Bugyotsuji]

I cannot find a Sakai smith signing only with this short name, but there is one long-name smith ending in the same 清正 Kiyomasa.

芝辻幸五小兵衞清正 摂州住

 

It could well be the same smith. A fairly early gun of minute bore, well made, with a reputed Sakai gunsmith name on it. What's not to love?

 

Just seen the extra photos. Excellent, both bisen and pan.

[matchlockshooter]

Thank you for the excellent information I otherwise never would have found.

The bore is bright like a mirror and it looks like the gun has never be fired. Just somt outside pitting 

 

I Like the simplicity and beauty of its slenderness. I handles like a charm.

 

Was the sighting over the two slots in the rear and front sight or were there attachements involved?

[Bugyotsuji]

Nice that the gun is in pristine condition. Quite unusual, especially to have a bright bore! We would need to see a close-up of the rear sight. Sometimes they had an adjustable folding ladder sight fitment. Your front sight has a hole through it, (?) perhaps for longer distance firing?

[matchlockshooter]

Yes, there is a hole through the front sight. Pictures attached

[Viper6924]

A really interesting matchlock. Can this be anything else than a Shateki-zutsu (practise gun)? This is without a doubt the smallest caliber matchlock I've ever seen before. So makibari points to very high quality and so does the familyname of the maker.

A small nugget of gold!!!

 

Jan

[Justin Grant]

Jan

 

I thought a practice gun or child's gun.

[Viper6924]

You are a wise man, Justin I agree with you. This is too small a caliber for hunting either animals or humans. More like a modern day BB-gun. Looking at the absence of a patina might suggest that this gun been subjected to a "polish" during its latter life.

 

Jan

[matchlockshooter]

That is seems right. It looks like all the rust has been removed (by a chemical proces?) because you can see the pitting onder the barrel and on some other places.

Luckily they didn't touch the bore. The only patina is on the brass parts

 

Leo

[Stephen]

Im sorry my ol gut is twitching, im going to take the heat, this feels like a new gun, less than fifty years old, maybe less. 

 

flame on

[Bugyotsuji]

A twitching gut can be a useful thing to have!

 

In this case it may have been cleaned, sure, but why would anyone today bother to even attempt to create a gun like this from scratch? The signature does look pretty rough, even amateurish I agree, but again, why forge this particular virtually unknown smith? No added value, IMHO.