MATCHLOCK MUSKET FOR ID
 

I've attached a few photos of one matchlock gun from Asia, there is no one mark on it.
I 'm wondering if this musket is from VIETNAM and if it is a work from the 19 or 20 century
Thanks in advance for any info!

Salaams Cerjac,

This looks like a Japanese Teppou.(or Teppo) See http://www.samurai-archives.com which says quote:

"A look at the teppo~Manufacturing of this new firearm was simple; the barrel of the rifle was simple to create, simply by wrapping hot iron around a rod and force welding it shut made it, then fitting it into the stock of the gun. The gun’s firing mechanism was made from solid brass.

The Japanese teppo was not only easy to construct but also simple to operate. The gunner would simply hold the teppo straight using his shoulder as a brace. After opening the priming pan and pulling the trigger a spring would release the serpentine, which holds a lit fuse. As the burning fuse hit the priming pan full of powder, the matchlock would fire. Excess lengths of fuse could be wrapped around the stock of the gun or the gunner’s forearm.

Compared to the Japanese bow, the teppo had a more superior range. The matchlock had an effective killing range of 50 meters and a maximum range of 500 meters, compared to the bow, having a killing range of 30 meters and a maximum range of only 380 meters. Ammunition for the teppo came in a variety of sizes, which was measured in weight instead of diameter. Sizes ranged from as small as 1 monme (8.5mm) to as large as 100 monme (48mm, or nearly 2 inches in diameter). Many large caliber teppo (also known as “wall guns”) had large recoil, that bails of rice were used to support the gunners back.

Although the teppo came in a variety of calibers, many daimyo standardized their teppo’s bores; this allowed for quick loading and allowed soldiers to use each other’s ammunition, when ammo became short.

Ammunition for the matchlock was made from casting solid lead. The lead that was being used for the ammunition was a major import from Europe. It was a suitable metal because of its malleability and high density".Unquote.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

It certainly looks Asian/far east.
Similar to Japanese types, but I don't think it is Japanese. I'm thinking possibly Malay, but Vietnamese seems very likely.

Edit: Doing some digging, that ivory panel and butt-end seem to feature on many matchlocks described as Vietnamese.

Salaams Atlantia... I agree ! Vietnamese serpentine locks according to http://sevenstarstrading.com/site/20...by-philip-tom/ are as you rightly point out Ivory Butt styled.
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

Malay
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4410

Vietnamese
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...mese+matchlock

Luzo Cingalese
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...mese+matchlock

Salaams Rick ~ My "seven stars" reference also points to the similarities ...and slight differences between Vietnamese, Japanese and Malay; (Bold letters are mine) I quote;


"This article will focus on a curious type of matchlock seen by the author
on his recent sojourn, a form which has until now been little known amongst
Western collectors (Fig. 11). The barrels, generally octagonal and always
smoothbore, vary greatly in length. Calibers range from .40 to about .50
in. They are mounted by means of narrow metal capucines into simple stocks
with short, downward-curving butts, fashioned of very dense native hardwood
and often provided with ivory or bone butt- and toeplates. From the shape
of the butts, they are clearly intended to be rested against the cheek
while firing. The locks are of iron, with minimal embellishment, and feature
a forward falling serpentine released by a transverse sear and propelled
by a single leaf mainspring (Fig. 12). Vietnamese antiquarians and collectors
who were queried on their origin insist that they are typical of the Hue
area. This might explain their radically different appearance and mechanical
design to the rare Tonkin muskets mentioned above. However, the contention
by some that they represent borrowed Japanese technology is questionable
for several reasons:

1. Japanese Hinawa-ju, though superficially similar, have butts whose
toe areas feature a chamfered contour. These Vietnamese guns have flat
butts, which puts them in a class with some Malay guns.

2. Japanese barrels are almost always pin-fastened to the stock fore-ends,
whereas the Vietnamese ones are attached with bands or capucines (as are
Malay, Javanese, Burmese, and Chinese examples). However, it must be noted
that the Vietnamese gunstocks do have a longitudinal saw-cut visible along
the underside of the fore-end as is the case with Japanese (and Korean)
muskets.

3. The mainspring on the Vietnamese lock is single-leaf, whereas Japanese
locks have a V-shaped external’ or coiled internal spring. Also, all Vietnamese
locks seen by the author are of iron, whereas brass was almost universally
used in Japan.

4. The shape and mounting of the trigger-guard is akin to Malay, not-Japanese, prototypes.

5. The position of the trigger relative to the serpentine and buttplate
is more akin to the proportions found on Malay and Javanese guns (closer
to the serpentine than the Japanese).

The snapping matchlock with forward-falling serpentine and transverse
sear activated by a conventional trigger was introduced to various Southeast
Asian and Far Eastern cultures in the first half of the 16th cent. by
the Portuguese. It is in itself a product of the fusion of Indo-Portuguese
technologies. It is interesting to note that these Vietnamese guns-retain
the single leaf mainspring of the Lusitanian prototypes, whereas the versions produced later by the Chinese’ Japanese, and Koreans all utilized V-shaped springs". Unquote.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi

I saw a photograph of this type of gun being held by a native in an old photograph. I believe the caption said it was Ceylonese. Generally a culture southeast of India's eastern seaboard if not from that nation specifically.

Salaams Ibrahiim, I am of no opinion regarding his long gun . :)

I was simply providing some fodder for thought . ;) :)

If Malay, or Sinhalese it is conservatively decorated compared to the other examples .

Salaams Rick ~ I agree. However I couldnt get to the answer as your references didn't quite finish the issue..What we have is a Portuguese system injected/adopted into the far eastern style and modified by different countries therein. Someone out there will be able to stick the tail on the donkey no doubt. :shrug:
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

matchlock musquet
 

Hi everybody

I just find many informations about similar gun

http://www.asiafinest.com/forum/lofi...hp/t279471.htm
So should be from vietnam

Regards

Cerjak

Salaams Cerjak ~ I thoroughly enjoyed going through the excellent reference and noted that the weapon is probably Dai Viet 18/19 C according to Thuong Luong at your reference. Though this is a broad and varied subject I believe you have solved the issue. :shrug:
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

really similar design
 

there is no doubt about the portugese origine !

Salaams Cerjak.. Nicely researched ..Bravo !!!
Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi

Rainer Daehnhardt in his book "The Bewitched Gun: the Introduction of the Firearm in the Far East by the Portuguese" explains how the short lived European (Bohemian) version of the snap matchlock was brought to various Southeast Asian countries by way of the Portuguese. It is a very interesting book with text in both English and Portuguese.

Salam Ibrahiim,
It was your comments who put me in the right way remenber « ..What we have is a Portuguese system injected/adopted into the far eastern style and modified by different countries therein. Someone out there will be able to stick the tail on the donkey no doubt”
Thank you
Cerjak