Miroku Tanegashima sights

[Canute Rex]

I have a modern repro Japanese matchlock, made by Miroku. The sights are mystifying.

The rear sight is a tall rectangular block with a tiny groove and a large hole drilled directly down into the top. The front sight is also a tall rectangular block, but with a larger groove. Also a tiny horizontal hole drilled just below it, all the way front to back. Also a larger hole drilled down from above. The barrel and sights are browned, so nothing stands out - hard to see against anything but a white background.

Does anyone know how these were supposed to be used? Are there parts missing? They appear to be lined up absolutely parallel to the bore, so I'm thinking they would shoot low.

 

[Sam squanch]

I think they placed glowing punk in the holes for a crude night sight. I think they used a reverse sight picture during the day, with a space where the front sight would be, to actually see the target. I tried it on the one I had, after filing the grooves wider. It does work after practice holding the sight picture. Until we interview a 18 century samurai, we will never know…

 

[rickystl]

The shooter would carry a bag/box with a variety of separate sight pieces/apertures that were inserted in slots. The different sight pieces represent a variety of different anticipated distances. I would think these tiny, individuals sight pieces would be easy to loose in the field. Probably why they are considered ultra-rare today. I have a photo somewhere .

Rick