Barrel Inscription Translation

[buttles]

Hi, first of all, hello! New here. Been shooting Black Powder for a while but the gang in the UK got me into Matchlock shooting! Please can someone have a look at the pictures and translate for me? I'll post a full topic of the Toppo when I have more info. Many thanks

[Shugyosha]

Hi Buttles,

I’m sure Piers will be along shortly but I think the first one refers to the barrel’s construction method: 二重巻張

 

Ni shige maki haru - Two ply wrap

 

The next one is place of manufacture:

江州 国 [. ] Goshu kuni (Omi province) but there may be further characters that have worn away and may include the manufacturer’s name.

 

The one in the cartouche on the stock is beyond me but hopefully you’ll get some better help soon. 

[k morita]

  On 11/14/2023 at 9:28 PM, Shugyosha said:

 

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Hi,
A Kanji character on the stock is 寳　, meaning is treasure.

[buttles]

Great thanks both. I may be able to highlight the characters a little if need be

[Bugyotsuji]

二重巻張　is usually read "Ni-ju Makibari", with the meaning as John says above.

 

Yes please to further pics, under differing lighting angles if poss. 

[buttles]

[buttles]

Who knew Custard powder was so versatile! I think you have read the top script and the lower set is very feint and powder won't outline it

[buttles]

I also acquired a Tanzutsu barrel in the auction. .52 Cal. Again any info gratefully received!

[Nobody]

  On 11/15/2023 at 5:21 PM, buttles said:

I also acquired a Tanzutsu barrel in the auction. .52 Cal. Again any info gratefully received!

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江刕國友丹波 宗俊 – Goshu Kunitomo Tanba Munetoshi

[Nobody]

  On 11/15/2023 at 3:56 PM, buttles said:

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You missed the focus of the most important part (after 江州國…). We already read other characters.

[Bugyotsuji]

The tanzutsu barrel is much older, perhaps early Edo Period.

[buttles]

  On 11/16/2023 at 12:37 AM, Nobody said:

 

You missed the focus of the most important part (after 江州國…). We already read other characters.

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Unfortunately it is not clear enough to make out. Thanks all for your input

[Bugyotsuji]

  On 11/16/2023 at 9:17 AM, buttles said:

Unfortunately it is not clear enough to make out. Thanks all for your input

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Are you 100% sure there is absolutely nothing there, just a flat surface, as if the name has been deliberately removed even? (We have been able to read seemingly impossible ones in the past. Sometimes the light angle can bring something up.)

[buttles]

I had another go! There is something, maybe the feint marks form a known pattern?

[Nobody]

  On 11/16/2023 at 10:19 AM, buttles said:

I had another go! There is something, maybe the feint marks form a known pattern?

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江州國友九兵衛・・・ - Goshu Kunitomo Kyubei + ?

 

The picture is not fine enough to read more.

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Ah, that’s much better. Thank you. Sadly someone has filed away both the rust and the smith Mei at the same time. There was a continuing house line of 20 Kyūbei smiths at Kunitomo until the Bakumatsu end of the Tokugawa dynasty.

(The founder was just Kyūbei with no further name, at the beginning of the Edo period, but your gun looks like one of his descendants, as the name is longer. The style of your pan lid suggests mid to late Edo.)

[buttles]

Great, thank you both. A shame it's not clearer. I will create a post in the Toppo section and quote you if that's OK?

[Bugyotsuji]

Sure, great.

鉄砲 Teppō, iron tube.

[buttles]

Thanks. Appologies, a Teppo Typo!

[DTM72]

@buttles sometimes you can get better pictures of the mei by putting a low to medium power flashlight to the side of the mei, causing the surface to be lit, but the chisel marks will then be in the shadows, thus highlighting the mei for easier reading.

Just a suggestion.

[buttles]

  On 11/16/2023 at 1:50 PM, DTM72 said:

@buttles sometimes you can get better pictures of the mei by putting a low to medium power flashlight to the side of the mei, causing the surface to be lit, but the chisel marks will then be in the shadows, thus highlighting the mei for easier reading.

Just a suggestion.

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Thanks Dan, the metal there is so flat any marks are too shallow to be in shade. Think we will have to leave that one to a mystery....

[John C]

Could that be the number 9?

 

John C.

[Xander Chia]

  On 11/17/2023 at 2:22 AM, John C said:

Could that be the number 9?

 

John C.

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Looks like it.

[Bugyotsuji]

Yes, that's the 九 (Kyu) of the name 'Kyubei', as Nobody San says above: 九兵衛

 

(Can indicate the ninth chlld in a large family.)

 

PS As with erased chassis numbers, letters can show up under specialized ray equipment.

[buttles]

The Plot Thickens........!! Thanks all.