Bugyotsuji

An interesting story, and I now believe this is a good example of a fairly early Edo period matchlock pistol, perhaps originally one of a batch order. You can make a ramrod to complete the package!

Nowt to do with the price of fish but this ‘Celtic cross’ tsuba is actually a Kamon from the Satsuma area, probably a branch of the Shimazu, and Hatano Shi in Tamba no Sasayama. Tsuba Sadly no longer mine…

They speak and write English in the guns floor there at Token World. There is a sticky on this site on how to open a Tanegashima. It looks like your mekugi pin is missing, so just pull back the serpentine a little and gently lift out the barrel. It may be rusted into place, though, needing a few taps with the back of the hand or a rubber mallet. Part of the stock at front has split off, also not uncommon as the wood shrinks against the iron. PS I wrote 400 but have since changd it to 100, still an exceedingly large number for a pistol. See if you can find 94 anywhere else inside. If not you may have to entertain the idea that the pan cover comes from a different gun. (Not the end of the world.)

The thought had not crossed my mind, Colin, but it is a valid question, and I am open to possibilities. I'll have a closer look at it when I get some time. (The answer may lie under the black mimi coating, or more specifically the parts that have been rubbed away. Naturally I am hoping you are wrong as I paid good money for this!!!)

Try sending these photos to the museum at Token World. It would be interesting to see if there is a series number under the pan cover there. Looking at that shinchu bead front sight... Could they both be part of a series? (But surely not over 100 of the same pistols produced!) From your newer photos I can see this barrel has some age to it, certainly not the end of Edo, and maybe even 17th century, early Edo. Take good care of it! PS Have you checked under the barrel for a name?

“Why did you bring this up?” I can hear you say. Well, it just so happens that this Mumei tsuba turned up the other day. The Mimi appears black like shakudo. The reverse

Walking around the village and bamboo groves today I found several plots with gravestones, as if local families had set aside land specifically for this regardless of the lack of a temple precinct nearby. Interestingly, although the gravestones all seemed to follow Buddhist shapes and inscriptions, with Sanskrit characters, one or two also had a cross clearly chiselled into the front face. In this light, it seems that some of these (suppressed) Christian stories may be true. Perhaps in death it was then acceptable to proclaim your faith, if not in life.

It's a puzzle. Safest to call it a decorative piece, Aaron. There are too many similarities with the one you link, making me suspicious. Could it be the same gun even? Of course they are rare, but you almost never see two exactly the same, and they vary widely. If it's a copy it's very well made. The Token World Japanese explanation seems to say it may have been cut down from a cavalry pistol. Or shorter pistols from the Edo Period were cut down versions of earlier guns? The English translation of the same Token World page is also a little unclear. But my first thought on seeing your gun was that it has been cut down. Why these coincidences? As to your gun, it looks mostly good, actually, but the parts suggest strongly it is from the Edo period. Hardly any guns of any size at all exist from the Sengoku period. As I say, safer to call it a decorative piece in the meantime. I am not asking exact figures, but did you pay a lot for this? There are things I would like to see before making a definitive statement! And remember that the people at Token World are learning too!

Someone advised me to use reboot at least once a week, for phone and pc. A reboot will often clear out more suspicious stuff than a simple shut-down will reach, I was told.

There were recognized blade shapes, and this seems to be one of them. Aesthetically pleasing I agree, but spears often lost their tips and your type would be less likely to do so. Besides, I cannot forget what one old Japanese told me; spears only needed to strike an enemy in the eye, the softest and most undefended part of an armoured opponent. Hit their eye and they’re out of the fight… For this reason a small simple blade was sufficient.

Thank you, although I did pay for this gift! Actually the gold spot could be Kondō, copper with gold gilding. The surface looks kind of melty.

Change the topic to: "Would it grab get you?"

That's a difficult question, John. There are fakes and poor condition examples around, rare in themselves, but a good example of a Tanzutsu (Bajozutsu) is even more rare. Prices will vary, but ultimately it is what the buyer and seller agree upon. It was a surprise to see that price, for me, but all things considered, 'way out of line', probably not, particularly as they seem willing to start the peace process with that early position.

Check out the Nezumi no Yomeiri story. ネズミの嫁入り This fable first appeared in the 沙石集 Shasekishu, late 1200s, apparently.

Mmm, yes, I am liking that John. Quite unusual. Nice find. Looks heavy at first glance, but it could be a Netsuke. Sometimes spare tsuba were used to anchor sagemono to the obi, so it would be an easy and logical step to making a specialized one. (I have various other articles fitted with such seated rings, some of which are removable/reversible.)

Looks fine and complete from their five photos John, but 1700-1850 might be a safer date, and on my link it says 900,000JPY!?!?!?! (But then it does say they are open to offers…)

五三桐紋 Gosan no Kiri mon kirigane on top of butt behind dōgané band.

Cleaning up the brass plate, I discovered a rabid dragon, and ahead was that gold disc.

Sometimes we see tosogu fashioned into other things. This is a fuchi, covered with a badly scratched silver or shibuichi (?) kashira top plate. The fuchi is inlaid with gold, silver and shakudo flowers and leaves. The nakago ana has been plugged in silver, and the Netsuke is fitted there with a ring and chrysanthemum seat. The copper top plate of the fuchi itself is inscribed with 後藤光照 Goto Mitsuteru + kao. This is apparently one of the alternative names used by the 11th Goto Honke Master, 通乗 Tsujo in early mid-Edo.

It's a Showa stamp, Curtis. The Mei is Noshu Seki Ju-nin Kanemitsu Saku

Some of the unusual features on this gun, besides the smith name. 1. The bi-metal hikeshi no ana. Sometimes you see them stacked, like the hachimanza on a kabuto, but this is half-and-half. You can see tiny pins holding each hemi-section in place. 2. The mekugi hole surrounds are Japanese apricot (梅) flowers, but each one is pinned. I cannot remember seeing such pins before; normally these were simply set into place, presumably hammered in and glued. (?) 3. Under the stock is a solitary, seemingly random, small solid gold disc, like the sun. This puzzled me for a while until it clicked. It's supposed to be a ho-ju dragonball, and the large kirigane dragon is actually chasing it. 4. The trigger is a sukashi type, unusual for Sakai, and the near sight is not a Mt Fuji style as you might expect for an Osaka gun. 5. On the top of the butt is a paulownia (Hideyoshi) kiri mon. The smith's or the owner's ancestor must have been a supporter of the Hideyoshi family at the seige of Osaka, not of the Tokugawa. Apart from these, and the various kirigane inlays in shinchu and silver, here I was happy to find a gun with the oft-missing trigger guard and ring fitment still intact. Projects. Get the bisen loose, de-rust the barrel, and make a new pan lid/guard/cover.

Two overall shots to start with. Pity I didn’t take any before shots! You would not have believed it! Generally I was building up a collection representing all the regions and gunnery schools in Japan, so I am pleased to finally get a Sakai gun. Most collectors seem to start with one, but here I am going the other way round. (I started about 25 years ago with an Awa long gun, and the next was one from Hino.) And Notice the Hikeshi no Ana chrysanthemum surround is half silver and half shinchū.

Yes, the push-through feature is neat, I agree.

When we say 'match', we are discussing the burning cord. When you cease firing, you grab the cord, lower your gun, flip it sideways to expose the left side of the butt, and there you have a firm surface with hollow, into which you can push your cord, instantly smothering the burning end, like extinguishing a cigarette. It works fine, and I use mine regularly.

Slightly off-topic but I have a Tantō with NBTHK hozon to an unlisted smith. There is probably no way they could have compared the Mei as part of their Shinsa process. (Just to say such a thing is possible.)