Translation Needed For Hand Cannon Barrel Engraving

[Ed Hicks]

Translation needed for small bronze hand cannon barrel engraving...Thanks for looking. Ed

[estcrh]

How about a picture of the whole thing while we are waiting for a translation???

[Bugyotsuji]

I can see 兵器式 震天雷, which could be Chinese on a Chinese or Korean hand gonne. (Of course it can be read in Japanese too.)

 

Any more background?

[Ed Hicks]

It is bronze and about 6 inches long and quite stout. No other markings.

[Bugyotsuji]

Sweet thing. Almost definitely Chinese. 1300s? Is it fixed to a base in some way?

[Peter Bleed]

I agree that it is neat little shootin iron - ahh errh, I suppose it would be a "shootin' bronze."

The inscription says it is a soldier's device  but adds that it is a "heaven shaking thunderer" .This sort of mark strikes me as odd for a Japanese arm so I'd vote for "Chinese", too. But I would assume that it is much newer than the 1300s - the 1800s more likely. I also think it could be a social fireworks kind of noise maker.

VERY NICE!

Peter

[Bugyotsuji]

It is possible that the inscription is actually a description, added more recently. A classification. 兵器式 can mean "weapon class/type", and 震天雷 is a known category of early cannon.

[estcrh]

It is possible that the inscription is actually a description, added more recently. A classification. 兵器式 can mean "weapon class/type", and 震天雷 is a known category of early cannon.

At 6 inches it would not seem to have been a weapon but its hard to say for sure.

[Baka Gaijin]

Hi Guys.,

 

Reminds me of the early Chinese Hand Mortars, does it have an indent to fit onto a pole? 

 

 

Cheers