Japanese Percussion Chosu gun from Bakumatsu

[JackFrost]

First time posting, and figured a good way to introduce myself is sharing one of the rifles from my collection. I have been a long time Japanese small arms collector and wanted to for awhile get into Nihonto. Figured I could start by sharing my Percussion Chosu gun from Bakumatsu. I only know this because I had found a similar one posted long ago on this very board and will link it below.

I have not been able to get the barrel out of the stock to check for the stamp underneath it. And sadly the stock is split underneath as is too common with these rifles. It also seems one of its prior owners put a rather gross lacquer over the wood. Thank you for taking a look. 

 

Edited March 30 by JackFrost
text was deleted when pictures were inserted

[Bugyotsuji]

Hi Jon, good to see you here, welcome!

 

Choshu is the region in the southwest of the main island of Honshu, where the Mohri/Mouri were the overlords.

Cho is 長, short for 長門, and Shu is 州 province or region.

 

As in the linked thread, yours is a smoothbore, not strictly a 'rifle', a typical long gun from this area. The shorter stock and naked barrel/muzzle section is the first great indicator of these guns, as is the style of metalwork inlay on the lockplate and trigger guard. The rear sight with the flat top and three holes is a nod to the Mohri family crest. There are various other characteristics to notice on these. Yours seems like a good example of an updated (post-matchlock) percussion gun. The hammer is slightly elongated, rather unusual, possibly a later adaptation, and I notice the barrel band has been cut away. 

 

Not sure what you mean by a split under the barrel. There was a deliberate split on most Tanegashima style guns directly below the karuka ramrod throughout the length of the forestock, but you mean something else?

 

Thank you for posting.

[JackFrost]

Thank you so much, absolutely grateful for any additional info you can supply on this gun and more than willing to take some more pictures as needed. (My files seem to big for this forums format)

For the split under the barrel, I had simply meant a crack has formed and the stock is split all the way down the stock. It does not seem like the normal deliberate splits you would typically see on most Tanegashima style guns I had seen in the past. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Ah, thanks for the additional shots. Yes, as these guns age, they do tend to form running cracks, often along the grain, each of which presents us with a slight dilemma. 

 

If you can see daylight, i.e. the mekigi holes are clear right through (no remaining mekugi pegs inside) then the barrel should part out. There is nothing else holding it in. Remove the ramrod, and cock the hammer. You may need a few taps under the muzzle with a rubber hammer to encourage the initial  breakaway. The stock tends to shrink and grip onto the steel of the barrel, and sometimes rust forms in there too. Gentle encouragement all round should help to dislodge it. 

 

If you do find a Mei chiselled under the barrel, please post! Even better, though not absolutely necessary, if you can loosen the bisen breech screw. (Not usually an easy job!) Thanks.

[JackFrost]

Yeah I had tried before in the past to get the barrel off, but the ram rod is completely stuck within the stock last I tried, I had gotten all the pins out without any issue though. I have considered being a bit more persuasive given the stock is already broken, but have not had the courage to yet undertake it.  

If I attempt it again I will be sure to share if it has a Mei chiseled under the barrel! 

[Bugyotsuji]

Hard to describe, but if you are right-handed, hold the gun upright, with your fingers and thumb gripping the top edges of the front of the stock, and with the hammer in your right hand, bang the barrel out into the palm of your left hand. 

 

Don't worry about the stuck ramrod. The ramrod looks short enough to allow hits on the base of the muzzle.

 

(PS This is all assuming that the person who varnished it has not glued everything into position...) 

[JackFrost]

I was able to get it off, sadly it looks like what ever was once there is long gone due to rust. What a shame. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Well done on getting it open. That bisen is likely rusted into place.

Yes, nothing yet legible, but it can’t be helped. Many were not signed at all.
These Chōshū long guns were mostly made in Sesshū, Sakai (Osaka) where the Chōshū agent would go to place the Daimyo’s orders, so there is a very high possibility of that.
I have had two or three examples over the years, with just the one Chōshū long gun today; it too was made in Osaka.