Tanegashima type and translation help

[Sabastian]

[Bugyotsuji]

Is this yours Sabastian? Very good quality. Probably early to mid 1800s.

 

藤兵衛Tōbei is a famous 国友Kunitomo line of smiths.

(I am just starting to research in more detail your individual smith, and the stock maker. If anything comes up, watch this space!)

[Sabastian]

Thanks for the information.  I just purchased it. Let me know what you find.

[Bugyotsuji]

This smith has come up here perhaps twice before. Difficult to read name which I have to go back and work out again each time!!!
充Mitsu… (can also be read…)

江州国友藤兵衛充俶

Gō-Shū Kunitomo Tōbei Jūshuku (?)

He is listed as a child of the famous Kunitomo Ikkansai, which will give you an idea of his working life (around Bunka).
 

The stockmaker’s individual name is erased, but there is a 四居角左衛門 常政 listed as working in the Tempo years.

[Bugyotsuji]

The bore looks to be around 1.8 cm, (?) which would make it a 10-Monmé 士筒Shizutsu or samurai gun, larger than the average footsoldier’s battlefield weapon. Just a guess at muzzle caliber from the photo.

[Sabastian]

The bore Caliber is approximately .73 at muzzle. Gun weighs 15 lbs. Barrel length 27 ½” do you think the mei may be 四居角左衛門？Shikyo? Kaku-Za-Emon? 

[Bugyotsuji]

24 minutes ago, Sabastian said:

The bore Caliber is approximately .73 at muzzle. Gun weighs 15 lbs. Barrel length 27 ½” do you think the mei may be 四居角左衛門？Shikyo? Kaku-Za-Emon? 

Yes, that is the stockmaker’s family name. The name on the barrel is the gunsmith’s name. You say .73, so that must be … er… uh… 1.85 cm, so yes, 10 Monmé!!! A goodly size/weight of gun, not for the faint-hearted.

 

It was a cooperative manufacturing process between the barrel maker (the central figure) and the lock maker and butt/stock maker.

[Peter Bleed]

Nice looking gun! Please show us the whole rig.

Peter

[Sabastian]

6 hours ago, Peter Bleed said:

Nice looking gun! Please show us the whole rig.

Peter