Hiya- Zutsu ?

[Michaelr]

Hello all I have a strange, at least to me, what I think may be a Hiya -Zutsu fire arrow weapon. The barrel is made of brass or bronze, it measures 7” from the plug end to the front of the bore. The bore measures approximately.45. The bulb at the end of the barrel measures approximately 1-3/4”. The hex section measures approximately 1-5/8”. The stock is pretty crude and definitely from something else but it functions. Please see the attached pictures. 
   Thank you in advance.  MikeR

[Bugyotsuji]

What an amazing assembly. European flintlock mechanism altered to percussion cap? The stock and the barrel were married in later life. I have seen weapons cobbled together like this which come from the late Edo Satsuma Rebellion in Kyushu.

 

The term ‘hiyazutsu’ was applied to smallish cannon which fired 火矢, ‘hiya’ or flaming bolts, but the small bore on your pistol does not really fit such a definition.

[Michaelr]

Piers, thank you very much for the information and quick response. It is definitely different. 
 MikeR

[Alex A]

That's a really unusual piece. 

 

The barrel appears massive in relation to the bore but seems ok made apart from the screw hole on the barrel tang which is not centered,

 

The rest of it seems quite crude, with regards the lock, stock and trigger mechanism.

 

Not convinced its that old.

 

Its all put together as mentioned but im thinking the stock was put together for that barrel and not from something else. I say that because of the size of the barrel for a pistol.

 

Just look at the height the stock has to be for it to match the tang on the top of the barrel, cant see any other pistol with a need for a stock like that ?

 

Lock appears as though its converted from flintlock but don't look so old.

 

No trigger guard.

 

Elements of it remind me of something put together in India for tourists, maybe that what it is?

 

Oddball, but kind of like it in a way because its an oddball with a big barrel.

 

 

[Alex A]

Ps, 

 

Had bother working out whether a small cannon barrel i had was either bronze or brass.

 

After reading online, will state what others know is obvious. 

 

Bronze heads towards red and brass towards yellow appearance, not always easy to tell from images.

 

Bronze has a more copper colour appearance. 

 

Also, about the stock, got be really wide to accommodate that flared muzzle.

 

Was thinking cut from a rifle stock but then changed mind

[Michaelr]

Yes to all of the above.LOL I agree that we may never know what it really is or was but like Alex said it’s an oddball but kinda cool. I didn’t pay a lot for it but they were my original thoughts also. Thank you for your responses. 
    MikeR