Japanese Matchlock Barrel

[bluelake]

I would shoot my .45 cal. repro Japanese/Korean matchlock (Koreans started shooting that design after the Japanese invasion at the end of the 16th century) when I would visit my hometown in the States; however, I have that one here in Korea now, as I use it as a show-and-tell item when I give lectures on the subject. I still have a .50 cal. Japanese repro in the States, but don't shoot it much.

I fired my original barrel (shown above) in a test. I loaded it with 50gr black powder, .54 cal. round ball and paper wad. I strapped it to a saw horse and touched it off with a slowmatch attached to a linstock.

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by bluelake

I would shoot my .45 cal. repro Japanese/Korean matchlock (Koreans started shooting that design after the Japanese invasion at the end of the 16th century) when I would visit my hometown in the States; however, I have that one here in Korea now, as I use it as a show-and-tell item when I give lectures on the subject. I still have a .50 cal. Japanese repro in the States, but don't shoot it much.

I fired my original barrel (shown above) in a test. I loaded it with 50gr black powder, .54 cal. round ball and paper wad. I strapped it to a saw horse and touched it off with a slowmatch attached to a linstock.

Hi Bluelake. If my memory serves me, those repros were actually made in Japan. I believe the early ones were .45 caliber, and the later ones were .50 caliber. I recently heard that production of the repro is being discontinued. But I haven't yet confirmed this. If that is the case, hold on to both of yours. I never see one of the repros -second hand - offered for sale.
The barrel wall thickness at the breech of my barrel is over 1/4". I going to try to get it to the Shooting Range this weekend (if it ever stops raining here). I have the powder, correct ball size, patching, (mine is now a .54 caliber with the liner) and nitrated match cord. I'll post pictures of targets. Rick.

[bluelake]

Originally Posted by rickystl

Hi Bluelake. If my memory serves me, those repros were actually made in Japan. I believe the early ones were .45 caliber, and the later ones were .50 caliber. I recently heard that production of the repro is being discontinued. But I haven't yet confirmed this. If that is the case, hold on to both of yours. I never see one of the repros -second hand - offered for sale.

My .45 cal. was made by American gunsmith, John Buck. He used a barrel that was about 150 years old, but never used. I also have a .50 cal. Japanese matchlock that was made in Japan. To be honest, I prefer the .45 cal. (It's more reliable).

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by bluelake

My .45 cal. was made by American gunsmith, John Buck. He used a barrel that was about 150 years old, but never used. I also have a .50 cal. Japanese matchlock that was made in Japan. To be honest, I prefer the .45 cal. (It's more reliable).

Bluelake: Very nice looking gun - with original barrel!! Very cool
By the way, John Buck is making me a Powder Horn - Landsknechts style. I'll let him know about our correspondence next time I talk to him. Rick.

[bluelake]

Originally Posted by rickystl

Bluelake: Very nice looking gun - with original barrel!! Very cool
By the way, John Buck is making me a Powder Horn - Landsknechts style. I'll let him know about our correspondence next time I talk to him. Rick.

Cool, Rick

Sometime I'd like to see if John can make what the Koreans call a cheonbochong (thousand pace gun) , which is a matchlock wall gun (five foot barrel and about .92 cal.).

Here is one supposed example:

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by bluelake

Cool, Rick

Sometime I'd like to see if John can make what the Koreans call a cheonbochong (thousand pace gun) , which is a matchlock wall gun (five foot barrel and about .92 cal.).

Here is one supposed example:

WOW!! Bluelake.......THAT GUN IS SO COOL!!! I'm sure that would be an interesting project for John Buck. Thanks for the pic. I would love to get my hads on that one to study

[bluelake]

Originally Posted by rickystl

WOW!! Bluelake.......THAT GUN IS SO COOL!!! I'm sure that would be an interesting project for John Buck. Thanks for the pic. I would love to get my hads on that one to study

Yeah, me, too. I have no idea where it was taken or who is in the picture, but I'd like to find out so that I could have a good look at the musket. In 1637, the wall guns were made in quantity, but when an inventory was taken in 1871, only one was listed.

[asomotif]

Originally Posted by bluelake

To be honest, I prefer the .45 cal. (It's more reliable).

Reliable in black powder matchlock terms. I wonder what that is I see that Rick also has a Katana close at hand, just in case

But seriously. Cool hobby. makes me wonder why I am playing with knives.