Tengu1957

This is an extra long matchlock Bore - 1.3 cm Barrel length - 122 cm Total length - 150 cm I've been told ( perhaps incorrectly ) that this was used to shoot from a castle. It would be hard to load unless you were standing on something. Please let me know what you think it may be. Thanks

Thanks everyone for all of your help

I can read Bungo Kuni Taketa xx ( Fujiwara ?) ( Kiyo Nobu ). Would you please clarify the signature. Thanks

Top right signature

Peter , I met you many years ago at the show in Chicago. You had a display of swords and I enjoyed seeing them ( they were fantastic ). I started with swords and then added armor , then matchlocks , and finally Tsuba ( I am a late comer to ML's and Tsuba. I guess I love the history of it so it makes it easier for me to appreciate it as a whole. It would be a better collection if I had focused more.

If you see anything of interest let me know and I can take additional images.

The comment was not intended to suggest it was at the siege of the castle just made to defend Osaka. I have a carbine where on the barrel it give the gun a name " defender of Yamashiro ". The original owner of the gun #8 submitted for translation on the web site of shigeo sugawa and passed it on to me. I will try and take it apart, it's supposed to be post 1830's.

Thank you for your help

I know where one this size is that may be for sale. I'll check to see if it's availabe, it shouldn't any where that expensive. I went to an antique gun and military show today. Did not see any ML's but there was an antique 19th century European chest with 3 drawers home defense kit for Vampires.i never thought I would see this in a small town in North Carolina. Everything you would need , stakes , mallets , crucifixes, bowie knife , etc.it wasn't the day to find Samurai stuff but at least the room was safe from Vampires !!

The bands do not want to come off so I was going to try and compress the barrel into the stock a little with a tournacate to see if that will do it. I am limited with my left arm right now and I'm sure if I engaged my wife's help it would not end well ( for me ! ).

The bore is 3.3 cm

Anthony Bore is 4.4 cm The barrel plug is supposed to be the original ram rod.

This was is signed : Bizen no kami Nagafune jyu Yokoyama Tatsuzurmon Fujiwara HoroNobu saku Dated 1848 Also states: made as 1 of 2 guns for defense of Osaka

Thanks to everyone for their help

If someone could help with name I would appreciate it. Also comment in ink on stock. Thanks

Here is another brand for a gun in that group I missed.

Jan ,finally a Mei for you to see! Here is the gun you questioned about.

Yes , I bought a copy as soon as it came out and have reread it at least 3 times. I bought copies for my friends who have interest in ML's. So little out there in English. I can't think of another Samurai weapon where there is such as lack of reference material for us in the west.

Thank you for the clarification.

Here is another group , all are signed. One has quite of bit of kanji in ink on the inside of the stock. One has an image of writing on the outside of the barrel. If you see anything interesting let me know and I can provide additional images. Thanks

These are all 1.9 cm bore guns between 17 - 22 lbs. All are signed. If you see anything that you would like to see a more detailed image of please let me know. Note the gun 3rd down from the top ,the hibasami has"toad skin" or silver drops to simulate the toad skin.

Hi Piers , please let me know what the proper way ( other than 10 monme gun would be ) to refer to these. I have a couple of publications that refer to these as TsuTsu or TuTu and call them the personal gun of the Samurai. They state that the medium to higher level Samurai would keep a larger caliber personal gun vs. the smaller "noodle" guns that ashigaru would use.

HiPeter, please tag anything you like. I would love to see it. It's a wide range of places where I found them. One came from a professional Banjo player who found it in a junk shop and was referred to me ( you can't make this up ). I am a late comer to ML's so I am learning as I go so appreciate any comments about what is here. I am going to post some groups of 10 monme guns so if you see anything that you would like to see more details of let me know.