Match Cord Question

[redhugster]

Hello All,

 

This questions are for someone based in Japan.

 

1.

A friend of mine bought ALOT of match cord in Japan some years ago - We in the UK who shoot on the international team have been using this cord with quite some success.  However, it looks like this has nearly all come to an end and one or two suppliers are using a more locally available cord.

 

I'd like to know if anyone can recommend a match cord supplier in Japan?... The stuff we have been using is blue.... I can then have it shipped over here (to the UK), if there is a 'specific' supplier.

 

2,

I'm thinking of getting a matchlock pistol. I only shoot original Black Powder arms and was wondering what the availability or antique arms is like in Japan? are they prohibited / difficult to buy?,,, I think I remember seeing a post on here some time ago about arms being on Yahoo auctions?

 

I have a a friend visiting Japan for a few weeks so was wondering if the above was easy to sort out, or not!

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Hi Jon, apologies for the late reply. For some reason new threads in the Tanegashima section never come up in 'All Activity', so I have to go and open up through Browse to check manually.

 

You'll be asleep when I write this. Genuine Tanegashima pistols are relatively rare in Japan. We are the only matchlock group in Japan where every member has one, I believe. Actually some of our newer members may still be waiting to source one. Dealers tend to bump up the price if they do have one, so the question becomes how to find one at a reasonable price.

 

It is legal to buy and own one, but it must have a registration card with it, or the transaction will be illegal, and the penalties are harsh if you are found out. This means that you would have to deregister your potential purchase for export, or find a dealer who might be willing to do this. (Some may be willing to send abroad with the paperwork still attached, although this is illegal too, but that would require a level of trust that your friend may not be able to establish on a short visit.)

 

All things considered, and the recent lottery of laws for customs and excise baffling most UK officials, it would be safer and easier if you can find one there in the UK. (If I were ever to bring mine back to the UK it would be a challenge as to how to do it successfully.)

 

As to cord, this is a very good question. I am running out myself, with only enough for one further display this Sunday. Yesterday I was even sewing odd leftover pieces together! We have ordered previously from a (clothes line?) supplier who treats their cord for us in some specially different process, but I don't know who they are, or whether they are still going. I will ask on Sunday. I think we ordered about 300 meters' worth last time, but that was a special order a few years ago with no guarantee of repeat business.

 

Can you tell us where you shoot? The only blackpowder experience I have had in the UK was a fun-packed day at Bisley with a variety of old firearms.

[Brian]

Not difficult at all to make your own. There are hundreds of resources online.
Check these out:

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/preparing-matchlock-rope.190347/ (especially post #3)
https://pyrodata.com/PyroGuide/index.php^title=Slow_match.htm
 

 

[redhugster]

Hi Piers

 

Thank you for comming back to me. No need to appologise!

 

Understood with the Pistols, They do come up here in the UK from time to time. I'll just have to be patient and one will find me in due course if it is meant to be!

 

Cord wise I'm pretty proficient (as are others here in the UK) at producing the finished and treated cord, but the quality of the untreated cord is obviously important. I have made enquiries and a friend in trying to contact the previous cord supplier in Japan to see if he is still making / supplying it (in 300m rolls). I will update you in due course as it would seem that this is topic comes at a good time for you too.

 

I shoot with the MLAGB in competition at Warwick (Midlands UK) and when I can, internationally for GB. A well treated and good quality cord is or paramount importance as you know for consistant and quick ignition. I know others here on this forum shoot in the MLAIC competitions and in their home nations. The below are a few of the Teppo that were used in a competition here last summer. 

 

Best Jon

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Thank you for the detailed reply, Jon. Wow, that's quite an impressive collection you have! Have you ever been to a competition in Portugal? 

Quick question. The target holes look consistent. Do you have a separate-sized ball for each gun, which you have to keep track of, or have you managed to source barrels that all take the same size? Or is yours just one of these?

 

I'm pretty sure that the cotton match cords used here in Japan do not use any added substance, relying solely on the natural oils in the plant. I do have a section of genuine old cord for static exhibition of artefacts though, which seems to be made of very thin woven threads of cedar bark, possibly.

 

The latest batch of cord that we have nearly run through is slightly too narrow for my pistol and long gun, so I have placed some tape inside the serpentine pinch flaps as I do not want to bend them.The previous cord was woven differently, but just the right size. For the hand cannons, we have sections of a fatter cord.

Thanks for the kind offer. Don't worry about me, though, as it will be someone's responsibility here to order a batch. If I find out who makes it, I'll let you know.

 

 

[redhugster]

Hi Piers,

Sadly only one of the Teppo in the picture is mine, the others are from 5 other members of the association who shot that day... Including John H-S who is the current MLAIC World Champion. The target under the Teppo was shot by my friend Paul.

 

I shot in Portugal at the World Champs a few years ago... I did rather well with my .577 Original Enfield Rifle in the free rifle (Vetterli) class. I shot a 96 and came 7th. The four above me also scored 96, but with purpose made arms for that class (with adjustable sights). The Enfield is of course a military arm with fixed iron sights, I'd have liked a medal and if I had shot that the day before in the Military Rifle Competition, I would have taken a silver.

 

This years competition is again in Portugal in Braga... Its a brilliant range in a lovely area.

 

Jon

 

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

On 4/9/2025 at 2:25 AM, Brian said:

Not difficult at all to make your own. There are hundreds of resources online. Check these out:

https://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/threads/preparing-matchlock-rope.190347/ (especially post #3)

 

FWIW that is the recipe that my friend Hilton (who made post #3) and I use. Simple! I am now making some using the potassium carbonate powder for boiling the lignin out in an attempt to define the best accurate measures/portions of the ingredients, as Hilton just dumps some in.

 

The cordage I am using is 9-strand braided hemp procurred from Etsy and it came from the UK. This picture below is not cord, but tinder - just dried 'tree fungus' (not even nitrated!) made from birch polypore. It burns HOT without ANY ash head on it! So far the braided hemp burns hot almost as well, and without much ash residue, although one should 'tend their match' (blow across the breech, with pan over closed as per Jacob de Gheyn) for best results before a shot.