Justin Grant

They have more listed. I'll get the page coppied tomorrow. Was not sure if I could get it posted with my phone. Jg

This is all I have

Chris I have a book at home I purchased from Piers. It lists recorded smiths. If this Sakai Smith is listed, I'll let you know. Being plain may indicate a utilitarian teppo or an early model. Justin

When that fancy knock-off dies, Rolex won't fix it, nor an authorized dealer. With Rolex, you buy not only the watch, but a company to support you and with a long and storied history. My father has a 1942 Rose Oyster Rolex. It lost its perpetual day/date function last year. He took it to a Rolex Dealer and in 3 days it was working as new at no cost. Get that with a knock-off. So by this mentality, if the Chinese make an exact forgery of a Japanese Natural Treasure, is it real or memorex? Do you own a high end Nihonto or a knock-off?

The 十五　would not be arsenal numbers, more like production numbers. The shikoro would have covered them up so no one would have been able to read them if an arsenal inventory number. As for who would have worn this kabuto, there is no way of knowing. It would be pure romantic speculation to say it was for a ranking guard, etc without documentation. I will say most (not all) Okashi Kabuto (lent armor/helmet) were Zunari. They were inexpensive compared to a kabuto like yours (Suji Bachi). As for age, I don't have my books with me (at work) but I think the bowl shape is indicative of the late Momoyama, but I'll need to defer to more seasoned members without my material handy.

According to our resident Saotome experts, the mei is wrong, the date is wrong and the quality is not Saotome.

It is not as appears..

I am guessing the numbers read 千　二十八　1028

I'll add that it is a male dragon (Ken on tail).

Thanks all! Cut and Paste would be a lot of time, and like most older adults that return to college, I am waiting until the last minute to do my paper! I just received an email form the Professor and Santouka is perfect. ありがとうございます！

Thanks Chris! Typing his name a million times in a 15 page paper with the macron would be time consuming, so I will use the Santouka in the English rendering. Thanks a bunch!

おはようございます、 I need to convert 種田 山頭火 into hiragana or English. The name is Taneda Santoka, with a long O in Santoka. My question is, if I spell this out in English, it is Santouka or just Santoka? The kanji 頭 is unknown to me, so I am not sure of it's spelling. This is for my Zen Buddhism class and I need to write a paper on this monk. My teacher is Japanese and a stickler for proper spelling of Japanese names in English. Many thanks! Justin

Bill, first off a hand canon is a totally different animal from what you have in a million different ways. Second, Mark's is real, the flash on it is to display wealth by the owner. My teppo has kamon engraved in it. My new rifle has a dragon carved in it. You need to ask your self, who are you trying to convince this is real? You have 5 pages of people, some top experts, telling you it's not. So, you need to decide. I think you have sufficient information to decide. But trying to post information that tries to map your gun to authentic Japanese is not going to change a lot if any opinions. Even if the barrel is signed, the rest is not right, that does not make it what was advertised to you by the seller.

The one on the bottom is Japanese, the top one is Chinese. Read the text under the photo on the site you took it from, it compares and contrasts the two. The longer tail is to catch the latch for the lock, look at the images I posted.

Bill, Here is mine off a Japanese riffle.

Bill, I'd be shocked if this thing is Japanese. Just look at what Jean posted, what you have to a casual observer could be thought of as a Japanese matchlock, but upon closer examination, it is not. Did you notice that bright shiny appearance to the one flask and the perfect gold kamon on it? You'd think that after just a few years of use it would get scuffed up and after a hundred years it would be almost like the other one. I'd be suspect on that as well. Some of the flasks can go for good money, some not so much. You won't make much on them compared to what you spent for them. There are a bunch of fake or "museum quality reproduction" of teppo out there and being made in India, and Indonesia. If it is Japanese, I'd bet it was made by someone that had limited skill and abilities and made it from parts for personal use. It is not for a child, and it is not, in any way for Imperial purposes.

Brian, We had one listed here a year or so ago that was suspected of being Osaka Castle era gun for under 2K, and Mark (Board member) had one last year maybe for $1500. Auctions are littered with them for between $1000-$2000. You won't find deals on the traditional web pages for Japanese artifacts. Yes, mine was a deal, but that standard range seems to be $1500-$2000.

I'd not fire it to save my life unless you know the barrel is strong enough to withstand the pressure. And I'd find the proper load and round ball, and before that, and I was sure it was sound, I'd just run smaller powder charges in it. Your call, your item.

Brian, I said good, like the long riffle at Rago, it was good. Great do go for more money. This one sold for $600

Sir Piers lives in Japan, and I am not sure he is still awake. Good luck with your decision on purchase. Justin

Way too much $. You can buy a good signed long gun for this. As for % of signatures, 40-50% maybe. Just because it is signed does not make it real, fake signatures are not common, but exist, and a lot of names (smiths) are unrecorded.

Bill, Not according to "The Japanese Matchlock" by Sugawa sensei. But some locks were steel coated in brass. The idea was not to have a powerful spring, but a smooth action. Steel can possess more energy, and I am not aware of any steel springs.

Bill, I think you have an amalgamation of maybe some original parts and later parts made to complete what was left. The barrel may be real, but like Ron suggested, we need to see photos of the barrel. I think you need to consider a return if it is possible. If not, learn from what there is to learn and then research your next purchase. I just purchased a tanegashima from an online auction. I used what I have learned from Ron and Piers, along with Ian to make an educated guess, and while it too is not a "eye catcher" it is original, and I am sure I paid way less than yours. If you own it, there are worse things to own, and I want you to know that Ron is being fatherly and trying to help you understand. He, Ian and Piers are all western experts on this subject and if they (he) says it is not correct, you can bet on it. Ron has forgotten more about these things than I can ever hope to know. Good luck, and welcome. I hope this does not put you off of your journey for true Hinawaju (Fire Rope Guns)

Thank you everyone for the help and details!!

Thomas, The one I posted seems to be identical to the top one of your impressive collection. Are you saying this was from the 1900-1926 era, and was this for an officer? Thanks everyone.