Information/ help

[Michaelr]

 Hello all I am very new to the Tanehashima collecting I am asking for help with a couple, what I think are interesting pieces. First is a short rifle, large diameter barrel and bore. It looks like the barrel is held into the stock with copper bands and a large head type screw down by the trigger guard. The trigger guard is made of iron as is the ram rod. It has some writing on the top of the barrel back by the breach and what appears to be a family/clan mon on the stock. Included are some pictures but if you need any others I will be happy to try and get them. Thank you in advance. MikeR

[Bugyotsuji]

This is Jan Pettersson’s speciality, stylistically all the typical features of a rather rare Yonezawa gun. Looks to be in pristine condition. Is there a 米 mark in the stock underneath, forward of the trigger?

The writing on the barrel is an invocation,

八幡大菩薩　Hachiman DaiBosatsu

(There may also be a Mei when you remove the barrel.)

 

What is the diameter of the barrel bore, about 1.8 or 1.9 cm?

[Viper6924]

Piers is of course correct. This is a Yonezawa zutsu with all the bells and whistles. To be honest I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Yonezawa in better condition.

Would love to see a closeup of the pan. A signature would tell us which smith it was that made it. There’s a handfull to chose from that was active during the first half of the 1800s when this iconic matchlock was made.

 

Jan

[Michaelr]

Thank you both very much. Piers the bore looks to be about .73” or 1.85 centimeters. Jan I added some pictures of the pan and cover, with some other marks by the pan. Also a picture or the marking on the bottom of the stock, in front of the trigger guard. If either of you need any other pictures please ask. I am going to start another post with what I think may be a form of Hiya zutsu (? ) that you might find interesting and any information on that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you both again. MikeR

[Bugyotsuji]

米… Stylized, but yes, that’s the mark of 米沢 Yonezawa. 

[Bugyotsuji]

It would be great if you could take a shot showing the pan from above with the lid open? And if you try removing the barrel you might find a signature underneath.

 

(There is a character 源 and some mark there on the side behind the pan.)