Viper6924

The placement of the kamon might support the notion that this indeed is a bukuro for an edged weapon like a naginata. This crossed hawkfeather kamon, is placed so that the bukuro should be carried pointing up. On most of the teppo bukuro I’ve encountered, the kamon is placed to facilitate the bukuro to be carried more or less horizontally (resting on your shoulder). Include a picture of a leather teppo bukuro were the kamon is placed according to the above description. Whatever might be the case, it’s still a very nice bukuro. Jan

Quite often they overlook the fact that the artifact comes with a date. On several occations I bought items labeled as 20th century by the seller. You have helped me with countless of these boxes. I’ve got a tabacco bon dated to 1840 and a Bamboo vase from 1811. I’ve bought these items for close to nothing. Something tells me that the seller would have upt his price if he knew that they carried that beautiful label ”Edo period”. Not that I complain 🙂🙂🙂 Jan

I can’t but agree with you on that 🙂 One thing that often surprises me is how Japanese sellers often ignore to mention characters present on boxes etc. I suspect that many of them can’t translate old-style Japanese. To me added characters adds a lot of historical value. Jan

It def got a ”projectile” shape to it. Is that a hole on top? You find the strangest of things inside your barrels. I got 10+ matchlocks at home and the only thing I ever found was a piece of blackpowder-covered cloth in one of them 🙂 Jan

Now that’s what I call a flash in a pan 😂 Never seen so much ”content” down an old barrel. Jan

I think you got a lot of amazing ideas ”floating around in your cerebrum” 🙂 The 1580 mentioning of the melting down guns for bells are really interesting. Keep digging, my friend! Jan

Nothing beats the 30 monme matchlock from Yonezawa 👍 Just look at the amount of stuffed paper flying out from the barrel. That brings a lot of ”Umpf” 🙂🙂🙂 Jan

Happy New Year, Ian! Good to hear from you. First the Satsuma and now this 🙂 Looks like an honest matchlock once owned by a proud samurai. As it happens my first ever matchlock was a 3,5 monme matchlock made by the very same gunsmith as yours. It’s not in top condition but it carries a Maeda-kamon which looks to be original to this gun. It might suggest that the gun was ”exported” to Kaga at one stage. Isn’t matchlocks so much fun 🙂 Jan

Late arrival to this post, but Piers has pretty much sorted out everything needed to be said about this matchlock. Overall a very nice gun in good condition. Kunitomo-signed ”Kishu-style” matchlocks are indeed rather rare, as the majority of guns displaying such features (square-shaped fittings) were made in the Sakai/Osaka area. I believe that the ramrod is the original one to this matchlock, which is always a big bonus in my book. Beside sorting out the missing pancover and possibly trying to straightening out the serpentine, I would leave the gun as is. A very good start to your matchlock collection 👍🙂 Jan

Thanks Brian! It was the ”log in” I missed 🙂 Jan

Where is this download? Can’t seem to find it. Or is it a IPhone thing, as I only use my phone. Jan

I’ve already been in contact with Kelly 🙂 Jan

Hi Evan! Tried sending you a PM, but it doesn’t seem to work. Jan

A nice sized Bishamonten. As you say, it looks like a piece of folk art. The flat back suggest that this statue orginally was housed in some sort of zushi. Bishamonten is usually depicted either holding a small stick/club or a long spear. Depending on which, gives the statue different meanings. I think you did well 🙂 Jan

I know the important thing with these coins, especially the ones made in gold, is when they were minted. This due to the shogunate’s propensity to alter the content of precious metals in their coins. Interesting field of collection. You should hold on to your coins, Piers 🙂 Jan