Japanese Matchlock

[wdjensen123]

Hi there,
I have just gotten a Japanese Matchlock (Tanegashima) and am researching it. Here are my current results.

The barrel is signed in archaic Kanji letters: Sasshu (Satsuma province, now modern Kagoshima prefecture) Juu (resident of) Tiara (family name) Yoshinori (first name) Saku (made this).

The top of the barrel has the mon / kamon / family crest of the Watanabe family (three circles with a rectangular bar beneath). It is the more rarer form of Watanabe clan. Three cursive silver inlays of Kangi letters might say: Shu (Lord) Ichi Yo (or possibly dai, ro, etc). I can't find him listed anywhere. He was the one to have the gun made.

I found a Yoshinori swordmaker working 1716 in Satsuma. Swordmakers sometimes also made matchlocks, but not conclusive. The archaic style of the letters dates it about 1580 - 1800 period.

Satsuma Tsutsu (matchlocks) are typically worth about $2900 if intact. They are the matchlock variety that closely follow the original matchlock that entered Japan in the 1500's. Tanegashima island is in this Sasshu (Satsuma) province in the south tip of Japan. This Satsuma barrel seems to have been married to a "newer" stock ca 1830, and the lock parts are numbered like the Numbered Tohoku type guns. The barrel has hallmarks of Edo period Satsuma manufacture. Curiously, there is no provision for pinning the barrel to the stock, I guess the barrel was just banded to the stock, or was unfinished.

Sincerely,
Bill Jensen
wdjensen123 at hotmail dot com

 

[robinghewitt]

Good research :thumbsup:

I bought one that needed rescuing, Magnus Wiberg did the restoration and got Mr Shigeo Sugawa to translate the text. Seems mine doesn't have the makers name but the prefecture and school. Yours having the "made this" text is a real plus.

I have bands and pins, don't know if it means anything :hmm:

best regards

Squire Robin

 

[benvenuto]

Different schools of japanese matchlock
The resemblence of the early guns to what i take to be the portugese "missing link" is very revealing...
I wish the pics were higher resolution...

 

[wdjensen123]

Dear Squire Robin,

How much did it cost to get your expert to translate for you? How do I get in touch with him?

Sincerely,
Bill Jensen

 

[wdjensen123]

Hi there,

I have a higher resolution picture of your linked page. Satsuma guns are a more valuable province. They closely match the original Portuguese guns, so I hear. You can just barely read the text on this page!

Sincerely,
Bill Jensen

 

[arilar]

Bill,
If I recall right Magnus simply mailed Mr.Sugawa that was kind enough to help out. Doubt there was any money involved. Why dont give Mr. Sugawa a mail and ask him?
Here is his site:[url] http://japaneseweapons.com/[/url]
Regards,
ARILAR :grin: :thumbsup:

 

[arilar]

Oooops,
Seems you already found Mr.Sugawas site. Well....good luck.

ARILAR :grin: :thumbsup:

 

[wdjensen123]

Hi there,

Mr. Sugawa thinks it is a Satsuma gun dating from late 1600's to early 1700's. He was very kind to have entertained my questions!

I have a better picture of the barrel with all the markings. It has a Pauwlonia tree with 2 lucky Phoenix birds landing in the top of the Empress Tree of Chinese fables.

Sincerely,
Bill Jensen

 

[wdjensen123]

The top of the barrel has been translated as Genichi Saku (made this) Possibly the engraver's name.