I purchased another Tanegashima..... :0)

[redhugster]

A few months ago I purchased another Tanegashima with great shooting provenance - I shoot a variety of BP muskets and rifles so wanted something with good history.

 

The below pictured gun crossed my path so I purchased it. I've been speaking to Arthur Goetz on his Facebook page  'Japanses Matchlock Study Group' so some of the detail but thought it would be nice to post here to see what you Gents thought.

 

Weight: 3.8kg

Total length: 55" (139.7cm)

Barrel Length: 41.5" (105.4cm)

Bore: .509"

I shoot it with a 10though patched .49" ball and 56 grns of Swiss 2...... It is a very accurate Teppo, winning many medals with its pervious owner - but I'm still getting to 'grips' with it so have only managed a few silver medals and a clutch of Bronzes.

 

Translations from under the barrel:

二重巻張（niju-makibari＝Double wrapped）　

山中　鉄之助　金次 （Yamanaka Tetunosuke kanetugu =Gunsmith's name）

作（saku=made by)

 

- Apparently the gunsmith is from Mino (in the Southern Gifu Prefecture).

 

Arthur thinks this is gun made for 'Tsuda-ryu techniques' though to be honest I'm not sure what this means.... It does of course have a number of replacement parts such as the external main spring.

 

Thoughts and comment appreciated!

[redhugster]

[Bugyotsuji]

Congratulations 👏 on this new addition to your family. Hoping you can hit gold with her. 
The name was translated by a Japanese person, using an older standard but different transliteration system which is not easy for Westerners to read. 

This would be how we would say it today.

Yamanaka Tetsu-no-suké Kanétsugu 

 

Tsuda-Ryū was originally a school and style of gunnery born in the Wakayama Negoro-Ji Temple area just south-east of Ōsaka, tracing its roots back to the first arrival of guns in Tanegashima Island, Japan.

 

[redhugster]

Hi Piers, 

Many thanks for your help and thoughts. Is it possible to put a rough date on it or is it just 'edo period'?

Best Jon

[Viper6924]

Interesting way to secure the amaooi to the barrel. Not sure I’ve seen that before.

Otherwise an honest looking matchlock. Mid Edo period?

 

Jan

[Bugyotsuji]

Had a look through the literature last night but could not really advance the game. You have most of the known/recorded information, Jon.

Although your smith made this gun in Mino in Nō-Shū, almost all the other ‘Yamanaka’ smiths are listed working for the large Tosa Han in the south of Shikoku. Was there a

‘family’ connection? This is not a typical Tosa gun however.

 

Many guns were generic, in that it is hard to pin down where they were made and for what school of gunnery if any. The front Tsuru-hazushi sight is quite rare but your sights are both reminiscent of Hirado guns. The extra wedge in the back sight may have been a quick trick for longer range sighting.(?)

[IBot]

Jon,  The L shaped slot and hole in the rear sight is to take a 'ladder' backsight that slides in from the side. There is one illustrated in the Tokugawa Art Museum catalogue 'Accessories of a Daimyo's Houshold'. 

Ian Bottomley

[Bugyotsuji]

Awa guns have these folding sights.

[redhugster]

Hi Ian and Piers,

Thank you for your thoughts and replies. Its an interesting gun and actually quite enjoyable to use. I think I was fortunate to be able to buy it. Interesting to know about the long range ladder for the rear sight as this is far more than a 'well crafted piece of bamboo' that I have seen other examples of.

 

Best Jon