Japanese Matchlock Barrel

[rickystl]

Hello all. Can anyone translate Japanese? Hope these pics are clear enough? Any help most appreciated. Thanks, Rick.

[rickystl]

I made contact with a Mr. Phillip Tom through Fernando here on the Forum. Thank you again Fernando. Phillip says the inscription appears to be the number "183". A lady at a local Japanese restaurent believes it says:
"100 and 13". And the script on the breach plug basically says the same.
Well, unfortunatly, it's not a signature But we now know it's a number in any case. The number makes me wonder wheather the gun was built under some type of Military contract? As Japanese Matchlocks go, this one is rather plain. I'm assembling the gun this weekend and will post pics. Rick.

[rickystl]

I re-assembled the gun and here are some pics. She's now a .56 caliber with a modern steel smooth bore liner. I found some additional markings on the inside of the stock where the barrel fits. I'll have to do some more research. Would like to find out what school or period of time this piece dates to. The Japanese used these matchlocks for some 300 years, all the way up till about 1850. Talk about slow technology evolution Anyway, hope you enjoy the pics. Rick.

[asomotif]

Nice old matchlock Rick.
Refreshing subject on the forum

Originally Posted by rickystl

...She's now a .56 caliber with a modern steel smooth bore liner...

With this remark, do you mean the old barrel has a new liner ?
Do you intend to fire it ?

Best regards,
Willem

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by asomotif

Nice old matchlock Rick.
Refreshing subject on the forum
With this remark, do you mean the old barrel has a new liner ?
Do you intend to fire it ?

Best regards,
Willem

Hi Asomotif. Yes, this one will be a shooter. That was my intention from the begining. Yes, it has a new steel liner inside the old iron barrel for safe shooting. There is a fellow in Pennsylvania that can do this. He has done others for me. Since this piece lacks the embellishment disired by most collectors, it is a good candidate for a shooting piece. It is in good condition. The whole gun is held together with pins (brass and bamboo!). Not a single screw. It will come apart and go together only one way. Took me a while to figure out. Actually, it's a clever design. After a few private emails with Philip Tom, we concur that due to the lack of a signature and decoration, this piece is probably a "munitions rack type" gun. Probably contracted by one of the local Lords. Thanks, Rick.

[asomotif]

Dear Rick,

Interesting. Black powder shooting with an oriental touch.
Is it a discipline int he US ?
Will the steel liner make it more accurate ?
And how accurate is such a weapon ?

Best regards,
Willem

[bluelake]

Yes, it does seem to be "183" (百八十三), although the 8 (八) is rather elaborate. It looks like the number is to match the barrel with the breech plug.

Attached is a picture of a Japanese matchlock barrel I have. It is signed on one flat and is numbered on another flat "116" (百十六).

[rickystl]

Hi bluelake. Thanks for the confirmation - and the pic of your barrel. So, your's is both signed AND numbered. I looked real close under magnafication before I re-assembled the gun. But no signature, not even a trace. I'll try to get marking on the inside of the stock and the tiny piece of rice paper translated. Might you know what they mean? See photos. Thanks again, Rick.

[bluelake]

Originally Posted by rickystl

Hi bluelake. Thanks for the confirmation - and the pic of your barrel. So, your's is both signed AND numbered. I looked real close under magnafication before I re-assembled the gun. But no signature, not even a trace. I'll try to get marking on the inside of the stock and the tiny piece of rice paper translated. Might you know what they mean? See photos. Thanks again, Rick.

Hmmm... The barrel bed writing is not very clear and fairly elaborate, so I'm not really sure what it says. The writing on the piece of paper seems to be incomplete; It kind of looks like an upside-down "2" (二), although the brush stroke would be opposite, I think. Maybe an incomplete character like 川 ("river"), but it's hard to say.

[rickystl]

Originally Posted by bluelake

Hmmm... The barrel bed writing is not very clear and fairly elaborate, so I'm not really sure what it says. The writing on the piece of paper seems to be incomplete; It kind of looks like an upside-down "2" (二), although the brush stroke would be opposite, I think. Maybe an incomplete character like 川 ("river"), but it's hard to say.

OK. Thanks again for your comments. Rick.