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Hi,


 


 I recently bought a matchlock with a caliber of approx. 7mm. It looks almost unused.


There are some characers on the stock and beneath the barrelI I would like to know the meaning of.


 


Could a matchlock with such small caliber be used for training or for a child?


The gun measures 59 ½” long overall with a 45 ½” octagonal barrel. Bore is bright.


 


Any other info is of course very much appreciated.


 


I already learned from some other members (I posted in the wrong section) that the meaning of the Kanji on the stock can be "5 Bu 3 Rin Gun Barrel (± 16 mm)".


The barrel is between 14 (muzzle) and 18 (breech) mm wide.


 


Thank you very much for answers.


 


Regards


LeoM


 


I submitted some more pictures of the characters on the barrel. I hope these are better readable.


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post-3608-0-15900100-1501836593_thumb.jpg

post-3608-0-27198600-1501836616_thumb.jpg

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post-3608-0-43186200-1501854578_thumb.jpg

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post-3608-0-30849900-1501854613_thumb.jpg

post-3608-0-30528500-1501854622_thumb.jpg

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Yes, lots of initial thoughts, but a target gun is possible. Too long for a Yashiki or Chigo-deppo. My brain does not work in inches any more so I will need to redo the calculations!

 

The gun is well-made, probably in Sakai, dated and in good condition, although we cannot see the bisen or inside the vent.

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I cannot find a Sakai smith signing only with this short name, but there is one long-name smith ending in the same 清正 Kiyomasa.

芝辻幸五小兵衞清正 摂州住

 

It could well be the same smith. A fairly early gun of minute bore, well made, with a reputed Sakai gunsmith name on it. What's not to love?

 

Just seen the extra photos. Excellent, both bisen and pan.

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Thank you for the excellent information I otherwise never would have found.

The bore is bright like a mirror and it looks like the gun has never be fired. Just somt outside pitting 

 

I Like the simplicity and beauty of its slenderness. I handles like a charm.

 

Was the sighting over the two slots in the rear and front sight or were there attachements involved?

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Nice that the gun is in pristine condition. Quite unusual, especially to have a bright bore! We would need to see a close-up of the rear sight. Sometimes they had an adjustable folding ladder sight fitment. Your front sight has a hole through it, (?) perhaps for longer distance firing?

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A really interesting matchlock. Can this be anything else than a Shateki-zutsu (practise gun)? This is without a doubt the smallest caliber matchlock I've ever seen before. So makibari points to very high quality and so does the familyname of the maker.

A small nugget of gold!!!

 

Jan

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You are a wise man, Justin :) I agree with you. This is too small a caliber for hunting either animals or humans. More like a modern day BB-gun. Looking at the absence of a patina might suggest that this gun been subjected to a "polish" during its latter life.

 

Jan

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A twitching gut can be a useful thing to have!

 

In this case it may have been cleaned, sure, but why would anyone today bother to even attempt to create a gun like this from scratch? The signature does look pretty rough, even amateurish I agree, but again, why forge this particular virtually unknown smith? No added value, IMHO.

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