redhugster

Sorry, Would help ... see attached.

Hi Piers (and anyone else who has a thought on this)... Do you think the rifle was 'decorated' during its service in Japan or was this done after its service / for export? Best Jon

Brilliant thank you so much for your help Piers, Have a good weekend. Best Jon

Thank you Mark.

Good evening, I wonder if anyone can help me please. The following text is on a Liege (Belgium) made Enfield Pattern 1858 Naval rifle. The rifle is currently in Sweden and I have been sent the pictures from its owner. Can anyone tell me what the text says... I'm not sure the photos are good enough to get a full translation, but any help would be greatfully received. Best, Jon

Hi all, Sorry a bit late into the conversation. I shoot an original Teppo in competition here in the UK. Most of us here shoot originals as they are well built and nicely proportioned. Below is my target from last weekends National competition at Wedgnock Ranges in Warwickshire. 50m Off Hand. This scores as a 91. Best Jon

Hi Ian and Piers, Thank you for your thoughts and replies. Its an interesting gun and actually quite enjoyable to use. I think I was fortunate to be able to buy it. Interesting to know about the long range ladder for the rear sight as this is far more than a 'well crafted piece of bamboo' that I have seen other examples of. Best Jon

Hi Piers, Many thanks for your help and thoughts. Is it possible to put a rough date on it or is it just 'edo period'? Best Jon

A few months ago I purchased another Tanegashima with great shooting provenance - I shoot a variety of BP muskets and rifles so wanted something with good history. The below pictured gun crossed my path so I purchased it. I've been speaking to Arthur Goetz on his Facebook page 'Japanses Matchlock Study Group' so some of the detail but thought it would be nice to post here to see what you Gents thought. Weight: 3.8kg Total length: 55" (139.7cm) Barrel Length: 41.5" (105.4cm) Bore: .509" I shoot it with a 10though patched .49" ball and 56 grns of Swiss 2...... It is a very accurate Teppo, winning many medals with its pervious owner - but I'm still getting to 'grips' with it so have only managed a few silver medals and a clutch of Bronzes. Translations from under the barrel: 二重巻張（niju-makibari＝Double wrapped）　 山中　鉄之助　金次 （Yamanaka Tetunosuke kanetugu =Gunsmith's name） 作（saku=made by) - Apparently the gunsmith is from Mino (in the Southern Gifu Prefecture). Arthur thinks this is gun made for 'Tsuda-ryu techniques' though to be honest I'm not sure what this means.... It does of course have a number of replacement parts such as the external main spring. Thoughts and comment appreciated!

Now that Anthony is a nice gun. Exellent find! :0)

Sorry - I've joined in a little late I'm afraid..I can't translate Japanese, but I do know quite a lot about Enfield Rifles - Patterns 1853 to 1865. From the photos you have given of the lock and side of the barrel your gun was made in Leige, Belgium - a major european manufacturing area at the time. (The ELG stamp tells me this as does the 'Pillar' stamp just infront of the nipple). The Crown is of course not the British Crown of Queen Victoria either. If you (carefully) take the barrel off there will also be manfacturing marks on the underside of the barrel. It is unlikly this gun was owned by the British Government as it is a contract piece without any British proof marks. Best Jon

I know we are a little way away but I know an exellent gunsmith in the UK (south coast). He used to shoot them as well at international level which helps.....

Hi Piers, I'm sure you have already allocated the stocks and pieces you have.... however if not, I have a nice matchlock which was butchered for for fleabay (as posted up here almost exactly a year ago). The restoration is nearly complete (I have had a professional wood restorer and gunsmith do this for me) but I'm missing some of the smaller decorative lotus flowers etc...are you able to help? In anticipation! Jon

Hi Piers, I have recently been in contact with a gent in America called Takehito Jimbo - as well as some of his colleagues who contribute to a Japanese history e-magazine. I have recently had an article in the magazine (with regard to a previous percussion Japanese Musket you helped with the translation on) and Takehito and a number of others - including Francis Allan - have kindly given me a lot of information on muzzle loading Enfield Rifles and their role in the development of Japan in the 1860's, for a book I'm writing... Takehito did the translation for me, though they and I were struggling with the Mon. My gun is 3 Monme by the way. Thank you again, Jon

Piers, Thank you for the above... I've spent ages trying to find the clan name....I like a bit of research... but had hit a wall.. I have taken another photo of the barrel.. I had not realized I'd cut off a kanji.... It looks like I have some work to do on translations Niju makibari - Two Wraps or Double Layer (http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/15595-teppo-nomenclature/) are you able to comment on the location of manufacture and age? again thank you for your help! Jon

Some more pictures.. Can anyone venture the clan and the approximate date? I'm pretty sure the script reads: ‘Goshu Kunitomo’ - the province of manufacture and ‘Kyubei Kyoho’, the venerable gunsmiths family name Many thanks Jon

Hi Gents, Many thansk for your speedy responses. I'll post up a full picture of the gun later tonight, so you can look at it, as I also have some questions as to the date and style... I have seen a number of muskets with very very similar in decoration (and location of the decoration) which will give me a good idea of how to replicate the missing bits...for instance: Again many thanks Jon

I have recently acquired a matchlock which some fool was trying to sell on ebay in the UK... in parts. The reason this was done, I guess, is because he could not figure any other way to sell it (you are not allowed to sell gun parts, such as barrels, on ebay here in the UK). So... I have a nice looking musket, in I think, usable condition BUT with some damage - as seen below - the 'gent' used a knife to prize off all the brass work and something like a hammer to remove the barrel - which has cracked some of the wood along the barrel channel and has broken a small piece off. It sounds bad but... I have a good supply of Japanese Oak to repair the missing piece of barrel channel wood. The cracks are repairable and I think will be virtually indistinguishable by the time I have finished with them them. I am however missing just a few pieces of brass as he had sold them before we could get to it. My questions are two fold really. 1. Was there a trade just producing the brass inlays? I have seen a number of guns with pretty much / exactly the same brass parts and patterns? & 2. is there a source for parts (reproduction or original) - though I realize there will be some small differences in sizes? I have a sympathetic gunsmith who can do all the repairs required and who can re manufacture parts but I wondered if there was a way I could be more involved with the missing aesthetic pieces of brass. Thoughts appreciated, Jon

Hi there, On my musket it is difficult to say as the fit and finish is so tight... it looks to be one piece but as discussed we think the barrel is older than the final form... so I guess dovetailed -just very well by a professional. Jon

Good evening Gents, Following our conversations above I noticed the following bolt action 'conversion' for sale at IMA in America...and thought it may be of interest: https://www.ima-usa.com/products/original-Japanese-matchlock-tanegashima-converted-to-m-1880-murata-breech-loading-system?variant=5842388779046&trk_msg=A18TCJL2MJ8KF21CR25T9NKCSC&trk_contact=B6KAL9G9CFJLKSD6V5RG414HCK&trk_sid=3957N79BUIRV8C94BRC0I7VSN4&utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Product&utm_campaign=20171209&utm_content=20171209 Jon

Many thanks for the interest and comments above. It looks like it is quite a rare thing then and I'm pleased that I could share it here. I spoke to a friend last night, David Brigden, who used to be chairman of the Muzzle Loading International Committee and he also commented that some matchlock barrels were also converted to bolt action rifles for the first World War - is this correct, seems a bit of a stretch? Is the general feeling that this barrel is older than its current configuration?, it would seem so, from your comments, but am I right in this?....I guess removing the original pan and adding a block with percussion cap is relatively easy given that the internal pressures of the barrel will be the same upon firing. The barrel is in really nice condition and the bore is very good but could someone (briefly) explain the lack of decoration on the woodwork and even a Mon on the barrel. I only ask as every Matcholck I have seen has some form of decoration...this piece looks quite 'functional' in comparison. Jon

Gents, many thanks for your comments above. I know little / no Japanese, so if you could help decipher the ink and engraved text it would be most appreciated :0) The gun is extremely heavy due to the thick barrel and the stock down to the butt is obviously narrow - would this have been a 'rampart' type gun? I'd be interested in any thoughts really..Date (1860s - 1870's?), place of manufacture, barrel maker, stock maker...anything really that I can build up a little history on it, and aid some understanding of the piece. I cleaned the barrel out last night and apart from still being loaded (!) the bore is still in really very good condition so whoever has had it for the last x number of years has stored it well. .....I suspect this is a new made barrel rather than a conversion as there are no signs of conversion / removal of the pan and other matchlock features - saying that though the text on the barrel may give a maker, date, location ??? giving further clues? Any assistance is appreciated. Many thanks Jon

Hi Geraint, Many thanks for your comment above. I shoot a matchlock musket (and other things to international level) so am familiar with these in the matchlock configuration - but when I saw this I was a little intrigued.... and the price was right.... I have carefully removed the barrel and below are the resulting photos... Many thanks ! Jon

Gents, I wonder if you could help me with this musket.... I saw it as part of a lot at auction last week (site unseen which is always dangerous) ...but given what I think it is and the other items I gained, I figured it was worth a cheap punt...in short I won the lot for £300 It was described as Ottoman empire - which it clearly wasn't even with the fuzzy photo ... so thoughts would be appreciated as to what I have! The musket is 104 cm long and has a bore of 5/8ths of an inch - .625? (1.6cm) and is of cause percussion rather than matchlock.. Many thanks in advance, Jon