Very small matchlock, any ideas?

[fernando]

Originally Posted by estcrh

... Supposedly the only part of the matchlocks acquired from the Portuguese that the Japanese had a problem replicating was the breech plugs, they had to wait a year for the Portuguese to return to Japan with a blacksmith who instructed the Japanese on the proper method of threading the barrel and bolt...

What a fascinating piece of information; can you tell where you got it from ?

[rickystl]

The breech plug on your Japanese matchlock is identical to mine. Taking the barrel off a Japanese matchlock can be somewhat of a challenge. The whole gun is held together with pins. Not a single screw. Actually, very clever.

Now I'm convinced that the Toridor pistol was made that way. It's definately not a cut-down. In fact, it is very small. I was at the Antique Arms Show this past weekend in Hartford CT. There were some original Japenese matchlock pistols that were actually tiny, derringer size. I still believe these matchlock pistols - including the Toridor - were made primarily as status symbols. There would be no practical use for one. That said, this is still the first and only Indian variation I have ever seen. Very cool pistol.

Yes, I plan to take the barrel off my Toridor before the end of the year. It has brass barrel bands so should not be too difficult. Just have to be careful since the stocks of these guns were made in two or three pieces depending on length. I'll take photos as I dis-assemble. Should be interesting. Rick.

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by fernando

What a fascinating piece of information; can you tell where you got it from ?

Fernando, this information comes from the book titled "Tanegashima: The Arrival of Europe in Japan" By Olof G. Lidin, according to the books available on the subject, the lord of the Japanese island (Tanegashima) were the Portuguese first landed purchased two matchlock rifles from the Portuguese and put a swordsmith to work copying the matchlock barrel and firing mechanism. The smith (Yaita) did not have much of a problem with most of the gun but "drilling the barrel helically so that the screw (bisen bolt) could be tightly inserted" was a major problem as this "technique did apparently not exist in Japan until this time." The Portuguese fixed their ship and left the island and only in the next year when a Portuguese blacksmith was brought back to Japan was the problem solved.

Another interesting bit of information is that supposedly the original matchlocks supplied by the Portuguese to the Japanese were manufactured in Goa India which the Portuguese captured in 1510, and using the existing arms manufacturing industry that was already there they started making snap matchlocks based on a European design and yet the Indians themselves used a different variety (which I believe was based on the variety used by the Muslim world), this information comes from "The bewitched gun : the introduction of the firearm in the Far East by the Portuguese", by Rainer Daehnhardt, 1994.

[fernando]

Thanks for the info.
I have Raehnhardt's Bewitched Gun= Espingarda Feiticeira and also Peregrinação by Fernão Mendes Pinto, where he narrates his picaresque arrival in Tanegashima and some tragic event with the Mathchlock, but i miss the breech plug episode.
I will have to buy "Tanegashima: The Arrival of Europe in Japan" By Olof G. Lidin", even if just the paperback.
Thanks again.

.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by fernando

... I will have to buy "Tanegashima: The Arrival of Europe in Japan" By Olof G. Lidin", even if just the paperback...

Paperback bought ... for a nice price

[fernando]

I have received the book. Excelent work.