Japanese matchlock Teppo

[estcrh]

Cerjak, is the barrel bolt (bisen) removable?

Here is a link to Shigeo Sugawa's website, he has a lot of usefull information and pictures, you can purchase his book directly through his site by contacting him, the email address is on his site.
http://www.japaneseweapons.net/hinaw...ui/english.htm

[fearn]

I have an off-the-wall question, for a project I'm working on: did the japanese have any bronze or brass-barreled matchlocks?

Thanks in advance,

F

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by fearn

I have an off-the-wall question, for a project I'm working on: did the japanese have any bronze or brass-barreled matchlocks? Thanks in advance, F

While looking at this thread I realized that I answered wrong here

Originally Posted by estcrh

Fearn, as far as I know all there were no brass/bronze tanegashima, but the Japanese did cast small brass/bronze cannon with were ignited by hand.

There are actually quite a few bronze barreled Japanese matchlock pistols. Below are two examples, one is basically a hand cannon with little decoration, the other is a smaller caliber with a highly decorated barrel.

[rickystl]

Hi Cerjak.

That is a nice looking carbine length Teppo. Congrats.
As far as the breech bolt removal, I was about to recommend Kroil oil. (best I've used). But I see you have already accomplised the removal. Great !!
What we normally associate with a breech plug is a shorter length plug with fine threads that tightens against the breech face of the barrel somewhat similar to a wheel lug of an automobile.
Rather, in the case of Teppo barrels, they use a bolt (better term in this case) with coarse threads, and longer length. The flat face of the bolt simply meets the breech flush. The bolt head is then held firm in the snug fitting hole in the stock. Actually, a clever design. While unusual, it does in fact work. I've never had an issue while firing mine.
Again. congrats. A nice piece.
Rick.

[rickystl]

While on this subject, this might be a good time to pose a question about these Teppo's that is still a mystery to me. That being the design of the front and rear sights. Especially the rear.

First the rear site: On the top there is a very thin slot with a partially drilled hole. On the side there is a hole that runs horizontal through the width of the sight. This one horizontal hole seems to be common on every Teppo I've seen.

Front sight: Again, a partially drilled vertical hole (like the rear sight) is present, along with a slot.

It seems that both sights were designed for some type of additional attachements. But I have no idea what it would be. Any ideas about this?

Here are pics of the rear sight:

[rickystl]

And here is the front sight:

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by rickystl

While on this subject, this might be a good time to pose a question about these Teppo's that is still a mystery to me. That being the design of the front and rear sights. Especially the rear.

First the rear site: On the top there is a very thin slot with a partially drilled hole. On the side there is a hole that runs horizontal through the width of the sight. This one horizontal hole seems to be common on every Teppo I've seen.

Front sight: Again, a partially drilled vertical hole (like the rear sight) is present, along with a slot.

It seems that both sights were designed for some type of additional attachements. But I have no idea what it would be. Any ideas about this?

Here are pics of the rear sight:

Rick, may people have pondered this question, obviously these sights were used in some why that we are just not understanding, probably due the the movable part of the sight being missing on most Japanese matchlock, all we see is the base.

You have to go back to the old samurai gun manuals that each individual school of gunnery kept, these were secret manuals meant to pass on the accumulated knowledge of each school to its students.

I have some images from these gun manuals on my Pinterest site, here is a link.

Japanese firearms illustrations through the Meiji period.


https://www.pinterest.com/worldantiq...gh-the-meiji-/

[estcrh]

Shigeo Sugawa has a web site both in English and Japanese which is well worth taking some time to browse through, he has info on all types of Japanese firearms and other weapons etc. Shigeo is the author of "The Japanese matchlock:The Story of the Tanegashima"

Below is the must complete glossary of Japanese matchlock terms that I know of.


http://www.xn--u9j370humdba539qcybpym.jp/

http://www.japaneseweapons.net/

[Cerjak]

Originally Posted by estcrh

Cerjak, is the barrel bolt (bisen) removable?

Here is a link to Shigeo Sugawa's website, he has a lot of usefull information and pictures, you can purchase his book directly through his site by contacting him, the email address is on his site.
http://www.japaneseweapons.net/hinaw...ui/english.htm

Cerjak
Very good website ,a lot of information on it !
About this barrel ‘s square bolt it seems that it could be removable but it is rusty and there is a kind of black protective paint I Guess against the rust so It will be hard to remove it and I would be worry to do it.
But tell me more about those bolts are they always removable?
Regards

[trenchwarfare]

Most of my breach-plugs, can be removed with the fingers. Sometimes a large nail, or similar metal rod is needed. Sounds like yours has been sealed against moisture. One more thing, always check old muzzle loaders, to see if they are loaded. At least 1/3 of the ones I have handled over the years, were. Drop the ram-rod down the barrel, and then mark it to see how deep it goes. Should go at least to the touch hole.

[bluelake]

Look at Tanegashima--The Arrival of Europe in Japan, by Olof Lidin. It's the story of the matchlock in Japan.

[Cerjak]

Originally Posted by bluelake

Look at Tanegashima--The Arrival of Europe in Japan, by Olof Lidin. It's the story of the matchlock in Japan.

Thank you for your advice

Regards

Cerjak

[Cerjak]

marks from the barrel

[estcrh]

Originally Posted by Cerjak

Cerjak
Very good website ,a lot of information on it !
About this barrel ‘s square bolt it seems that it could be removable but it is rusty and there is a kind of black protective paint I Guess against the rust so It will be hard to remove it and I would be worry to do it.
But tell me more about those bolts are they always removable?
Regards

Cerjak, tanegashima barrel bolts were always removable but it is not unusual to find them rusted to the point that they can not be easily removed. From what I have read the only problem Japanese sword smiths who were tasked in the 1540's with replicating the matchlocks purchased from Portuguese traders had was with these barrel bolts, and it was not until a year after the Japanese first purchased matchlocks that the Portuguese returned to Japan with a blacksmith who instructed the Japanese on how to thread the barrel for these bolts.

Here is a excellent link to the National Museum of Japanese History, there are some rare prints showing how a Japanese matchlock was manufactured along with some other information, and a link to a Wikipedia article I wrote on tanegashima matchlocks.
http://www.rekihaku.ac.jp/english/pu...14witness.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanegas...ese_matchlock)

Originally Posted by fearn

I have an off-the-wall question, for a project I'm working on: did the japanese have any bronze or brass-barreled matchlocks?

Thanks in advance,

F

Fearn, as far as I know all there were no brass/bronze tanegashima, but the Japanese did cast small brass/bronze cannon with were ignited by hand. At least some of these types of cannon (taihou) were used for firing bo-hiya (fire arrows), these are called "hiya taihou". This image is a small cast brass/bronze hiya-taihou loaded with a bo-hiya.

[Cerjak]

Originally Posted by trenchwarfare

Most of my breach-plugs, can be removed with the fingers. Sometimes a large nail, or similar metal rod is needed. Sounds like yours has been sealed against moisture. One more thing, always check old muzzle loaders, to see if they are loaded. At least 1/3 of the ones I have handled over the years, were. Drop the ram-rod down the barrel, and then mark it to see how deep it goes. Should go at least to the touch hole.

I have check and didn't find any bullet inside .
Many thanks

Cerjak