Bugyotsuji

Well, Brian, I think you are well in amongst the pigeons there. Having just said on another thread that I had never seen a Tanegashima-style matchlock pistol with a belt hook, I ran across one... well, the length suggests it is for an obi, rather than for a belt. This one is very late Edo, too, so we cannot discount a strong influence of Western guns. In fact the order for this gun came from the Daimyo for, in every other respect, an exact specification Fujioka Ryu gun, almost as if he was swimming against the tide of new fashions, and the spec can be checked against Fujioka Ryu scrolls of the time.

Here is an object for consideration. Brass, very late Edo, owned as part of something else, by Ikeda Mochimasa, Lord of Bizen/Okayama.

Chatting today and heard the following. Not only rich merchants but anyone was allowed to carry a blade of wakizashi length or less. The once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Ise, for example, was rounded off with the purchase of a wakizashi to take home afterwards. Cheap and crudely made, they were nicknamed Ise-mono, or something similar. The big difference between decorated Sakai/Settsu/Sesshu/Osaka guns and understated Kunitomo guns, stemmed from their the method of sale. Kunitomo guns were largely ordered in advance, made to order, and sent off upon completion. Sakai guns were, on the other hand, made in advance and placed in racks in the shop front, competing with other local gunsmiths for custom off the street. For this reason they became more and more eye-catching, apparently.

Something wrong with Nihonto1001's email address above? Info@onihonto.com

PS The single attractive Kanji character on the barrel of the first gun that started this thread reads 飾 Kazari, which means simply "decoration" or "ornamentation", to me an unthinkable word on a serious gun.

Sakai guns below a certain caliber (1.3cm +/-) were highly decorated. They were used for shooting small game in the marshes and hills, and owned by ostentatious Osaka merchants, who liked to flaunt their wealth, despite the many restrictions on gaudiness under laws introduced by the Tokugawa. They had also managed to push for the right to wear a Wakizashi. The Yakuza have always loved bright and shiny and flashy. Even the word Iro 色, literally 'color/colour' has a whole slew of meanings we do not find in English. It indicates a whole forbidden underworld, such as tattoos, and strongly includes a sexual sense of lechery, debauchery. The farting scrolls were secretly shown to one's closest and most trusted friends, but there was a pleasurably dangerous paranoia at the thought of being found out. Westerners visiting Japan tended to snap up the brighter and more decorated items, as they still do today. Chinese objects tend/ed to be more gaudy and more popular. Naturally there are those in the West who prefer more subtlety, as there are many in Japan. Minimalism rules, or once ruled. The final gun you posted above, Eric, would offend many Japanese people's sense of taste, but there will always be people wanting something cheerful and decorative regardless, in fact the flashier the better. There are exceptions to every rule, and bling can be king.

Again, I have to agree with Brian, but without taking it in hand I cannot be sure. It looks very good generally, especially the barrel itself and the underlying brass lockwork, but certain aspects make one stop and think. (I have never seen or heard of a belt-hook on a Japanese matchlock, only on Dondoru percussion cap pistols.) Some vital parts are not shown in the photos. A judgment call here is not for the faint-hearted. The butt shape suggests Inoue-Ryu school, but nothing else supports this.The wood is covered in Western-style varnish, often a sign of a new stock. (Compare surface finish with Eric's No.3 pic above). Much of the Zogan inlay is not true Hon-Zogan inlay, but an application onto a scratched/cross-hatched surface, called Nunome-Zogan, with large areas of the cross-hatch exposed. My guess is that it was applied at an even later date. To summarize, not exactly what the description implies, and expensive indeed, but a nice decorative piece for the Western taste.

For a number of reasons, Brian, I agree with you, but is it right to express opinions that might influence an upcoming auction?

Lovely looking work, but no idea of the modern regulations. Here is an adjustable rear sight on an Awa long gun. Notice the decorated finger grips for sliding it out before swinging it up into place.

PS If you are willing to be shot down repeatedly, you can post some shots of your treasured Netsuke over on the INS forum and post here when you have passed muster! http://netsuke.websitetoolbox.com/

Swords are a big enough minefield for one lifetime; welcome to another! In my own experience out in the world marketplace there are three types of Netsuke. 1. Obvious fakes, 2. not-so-obvious fakes and 3. the genuine article. Obvious fakes make up around 20%, not-so-obvious fakes, 75%, and the genuine article about 5%. If however you spend time in Netsuke books, a few select auction houses, private collections and concentrated London shops you can change these percentages radically. There is a site, in Japanese, where the site owner makes a stab at showing the genuine article alongside fakes, and attempts to show some differences. 5th 口　tick/check box down, 'The Fakes'. http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~mystudy/kikite/kikitetop.htm

Agreed, but not "early Edo" surely. Late Edo makes more sense, judging from the style of workmanship. There was an earlier smith with a similar name, Makino Minamoto Tomokata, but this advertised name here includes Tetsugoro, and is listed below the earlier one, suggesting one of a line of gunsmiths. Whether fired in battle or not, it does show evidence of heavy use. A long thin gun with a 1.1 cm narrow caliber/bore, it would have been used for target shooting, hunting birds etc. It is said that for the battlefield you would need around 1.4 cm upwards. Patina etc., polished off, and the pan could be in better condition but I have always wanted a good example of an Iyo gun. One day, perhaps, when my ship comes home.

Aloha Ken. It was more of a whim than a considered decision, but thanks anyway. Brian said he would be interested in the result, as was I. The whole experience, including recording and posting here was fairly enjoyable and fun. (Apart from the time this very late Christmas present took till fruition, oh, and making the payments!)

Yes, this one was worth the gamble. Glad to share it. Many thanks for the feedback.

Agreed with the above opinions, although "somewhat out of polish" can mean, conversely, somewhat in polish. Many are not so clean. It must not be signed then. (?) The Nakago looks to be cut down somewhat.

Overall blade shots. Shinogi side overall Hira side & Boshi overall

Couple more activity shots. Hamon, Ji on Shinogi side. Hamon, Ji activity on Hira side.

Newly polished. New Shirasaya. Exploded view overall. Yokote and Shinogi side. Mei, Minamoto Nobuyoshi

Got back to Japan this week and picked up the Kama, at last. The Shirasaya is beautifully done, with a shinogi on one side to reflect the blade inside, and a locking peg behind to minimize exposure to the air. The polisher was surprised at the softness of the steel. I think he has done a good job for me. My sword teacher thinks the blade is mid-Edo. Just organizing some photos. First off, a shot of the pre-polish blade.

As Brian says, really. Smallish caliber, all three guns show evidence of heavy use. The little Iyo gun which you first posted perhaps the nicest of the three, but my tastes are different. (Some minor refurbishments. One of them has been varnished and the patina has been polished off.)

Hello Thomas, In Europe at the moment, but I will surely ask when I get back at the end of the month!

Additional comments line on left: 園部一門　江戸後期　Sonobe school/group, late Edo Satsuma Yoshinobu seems to have signed both 芳宣　and 芳信

That looks to be in lovely condition Ron. Congratulations on the find. Such a sad story regarding international carriage. Has the world gone mad? Oh, and the interesting background information is an informative read too!

Chris, 芳　Yoshinobu?

Ah, so that's where it went. Very clever to find that.