Translating insription on tanegashima

[watsonmil]

I have just finished restoring a Kunitomo Tanegashima. I am hoping one of you will kindly translate the kanji. Since the inscription is a bit long, I have split it up into two photographs. Thanks, ... Ron Watson

[Bugyotsuji]

The Mei is: Go-shu　江州　(east of Ohmi & Lake Biwa) Kunitomo Kubei (?) XX (?)

 

The other inscription is the method of manufacture of the barrel. 二重巻張　Niju Makibari

The first character looks as though it has a hit on it, but usually if a barrel was bound in the manufacturing process more than twice, then it would not say 三重 but 総巻張 So-makibari, (Full/complete binding). So I am guessing it should be saying two... 'Steel double-twist bound'.

[Bazza]

I have seen SANJU on a BIG, BIG Tanegashima - a KAKAEZUTSU - and somewhere have an oshigata of it. I should find it in a few weeks when I move all my "shtuff" from semi-storage into my new study (25yo son is leaving home - YAY...).

 

Regards,

Barry Thomas.

[John A Stuart]

Just to complete the kanji refering to the makers name. I believe it may be, 國友九兵衛. Indeed 'Kunitomo Kyubeie'. John

[IanB]

Ron, Just to qualify Bugyotsuji's comment, the niju makibari describes the method by which the barrel was made. The basic tube was formed by tapering the long edges of a strip of iron and then forming it into a tube by hammering it around an iron bar or mandrel with the edges overlapping. This joint was then welded by heating and hammering (in Europe the mandrel is deliberately rusted and coated with lime to stop the tube being welded to it). Tapering the edges of the strip avoids a thickened region at the weld. For a cheap barrel this simple tube might be shaped into an octagonal section on the anvil before being knocked off the mandrel and bored smooth inside. This why many guns have octagonal barrels - it could be almost finish shaped on the anvil and obviated all the swaging or filing a round barrel needed. For a better barrel, a second strip, again with tapered edges is wrapped spirally around the basic tube, the edges again being welded together and the whole strip to the tube underneath. Because the grain of the wrapping is circumferential, it is less likely to be burst by the high pressure on discharge. When three layers are used, the second spiral layer is wound the opposite way so that the welds cross each other.

A long difficult job. In Europe it was the smiths of Liege and Birmingham who specialised in this process, usually using strips made by welding together strips of iron and steel and twisting them before welding so that the finished barrel showed a patterned structure. In Liege they sometimes showed off by welding a prepared stack of iron and steel rods together so that when the barrel was finished the name 'Liege' showed in the pattern.

Interestingly, I once saw a small tanto blade with a 'rose twist' hada that may have been made out of a European shotgun barrel.

Ian Bottomley

[Bugyotsuji]

Just to complete the kanji refering to the makers name. I believe it may be, 國友九兵衛. Indeed 'Kunitomo Kyubeie'. John

 

John, thanks. Yes, the pronunciation Kyu- sounds more natural than Ku-. The ending of names like this always sound like '-bei' to my ear, and I believe they were shortened thus.

[watsonmil]

Piers, ... Did you receive PM I sent yesterday ? .... Ron Watson

[Nobody]

The last part of the mei is 恭峯. But I do not know its correct reading.

Kyoho, Takamine, Tadamine, or ….???

 

As for the Niju-makibari, you can see the images of the process on the following page.

Ref. http://www.rekihaku.ac.jp/koohoo/journa ... kishi.html

[watsonmil]

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the translation. Kanji is NOT my forte ! I attach a photo of the whole gun for your enjoyment. Interesting that the front sight has a silver bead inlaid for better sighting. Although I have several Tanegashima, ... all are much more elaborate ( higher class ) guns. I particularily like this one as it would have in all likelyhood seen action ( where there any action to see ).

If anyone has additional information, ... or wants additional information, ... ( unless it's translations ), ... feel free to contact me. Again thanks. .......... Ron Watson

[Bugyotsuji]

Piers, ... Did you receive PM I sent yesterday ? .... Ron Watson

 

Been away. Apologies. Will reply asap.