Tengu1957

I am mainly a sword and armor collector but always appreciated ML's. A few years ago I began to aquire them. There are not a lot of collectors in the US and I guess I have been lucky in finding them.

I am using the definition of O-zutsu as being in excess of 22 lbs and TsuTsu being between 16-22 lbs. The TsuTsu being the personal gun of the Samurai. This gun is signed and is well made. It has a silver inlay of a Phoenix the length of the barrel. Length - 109.2 cm Bore - 1.9 cm Weight - 8.7 Kilos

This is a larger gun of a shape that seems a bit different from the rest. I have taken it apart and it is signed. It has inlay of a dragon in silver. Unfortunately there is a small repair to the aiming site at the end of the muzzle that needs to be addressed. Length - 111.8 cm Bore - 1.9 cm Weight - 14.6 Kilos

This is a plain gun but I believe most of those intended for use were left plain. It's is signed but I have not received an image. Length - 104 cm Bore. - 1.9 cm Weight - 11.8 Kilos

This gun was originally owned by Cecil B. Demille ( big Hollywood director who worked between 1905 - 1958 ). He died in 1959 and the friend I bought this from bought it from his estate auction in the early 1980's. He had a big gun collection and had some Japanese items It's hard to see but the barrel has a Takeda Mon and is covered in inlay of insects , spiders , praying mantis. Length - 109.2 cm Bore. - 1.9 cm Weight - 10.62 Kilos

This is not a Daimyo gun but in the cartouche on the Barrell states " made for the governor of Matsudaira". It's signed but I have not taken in apart. The inlay is in silver of a dragon in the clouds running the full length of the barrel. Length - 99 cm Bore. - 2.54 cm Weight - 11.85 kilos

This is a bit smaller gun with Mon and dragon inlay. It is signed but has not been taken apart in a good while. Length - 99 cm Bore. 1.9 cm Weight. 12.73 kilos

This is a plain one , again signed but not taken apart. Length - 94 cm. Bore - 3.18 cm. Weight - 16.4 kilos. There seems to be a different type of site or aiming set up on this one.

Jan, you will be the first person I send the image to. I almost tore my left bicept recently and can't properly use my left arm yet so I can do much with the large guns. Since there isn't another forum for matchlocks I will list some more images if you don't mind. Most of these have never been shown to ML collectors.

Yes, it's 1.5 inches or 3.82 cm. It's 17.27 kilos so it's a pretty large gun. It's the largest diameter bore that I have seen without a cannon type muzzle.

This is a Yonezawa gun, it is signed but I have not taken it apart since I've owned it. Its 94 cm in length with a bore of 38.2 mm. It weighs 28 lbs.

It's a standard iron barrel

This one is a bit smaller ,24.45 kilo's and 96.5 cm. It is signed as well but I have not had apart in a long time. If you canslate the two Kanji on the barrel I would appreciate. Thanks

Here ( finally ) are some images , I have some others if you would like to see. Thanks

Sorry but I can't seem to successfully upload the images

I wanted share some images of my matchlocks. This one is 77 lbs and 44 inches. It is signed and mentions that it was made for a minor Daimyo. The silver inlay on the barrel translates into "reaching far away". I have not had it apart since I acquired it or I would provide images of the signed barrel.

Just my experience ..... I have tried to contact several times over the last couple of years to enquirer about listed armors and never received a reply. I'm not sure if I am not worthy ( a possibility !) but it seems a poor way to run a commercial enterprise.

For what it's worth....to me a true collector is someone who is driven by their love for what ever facet of collecting they enjoy and it's more about knowledge and sharing their enthusiasm with others. They might not own anything or they may have a world class collection. I am grateful for everyone more knowledgeable who helped me learn about something I picked up when I started when they could have easily taken advantage of me. I really admire those senior collectors who were generous in that way who would reach out to those who at the time might not be considered a true collector by definition but by their example might return the favor to someone just as green later in life. Gary G

I will try and find out how to upload an image so I can send it. I have been buying cutting test blades over the last couple of years so I have been trying to find out about the methods used by the testers. There seems to be a wide range of tricks used to achieve results ( weighted Tsuka's , oversized Tsuba , etc. ). I have a shodai Kato Tsunatoshi wak that TaiTai was performed by Yamada Yoshitoshi with that is on the short side so I imagine some kind of device was used to increase the cutting ability. Gary

The use of oversized Tsuba to add additional Weight to assist in the act of cutting is pretty well covered in Marcus Sesko's book on Tameshigiri. The oversized Tsuba isn't something I know much about but I have always thought of them as either Shrine dedication pieces , Tsuba for oversized shrine swords , or plain ones used for Tameshigiri. Gary

I would agree that it's possible that it may have been used for tameshi. I wondered if the small cut out would have been used for a shim to help fit the various blades in the handle. I have a large copper one that is about 400 grams that I believe was used for tameshi. No other way to get the cutting results on smaller swords. Gary

I will buy the Tsuba but would still like to hear your opinion about age. Please provide your PayPal info. Thanks

I am interested in the Echizen Tsuba , would you please PM me with what you consider age. Thanks Gary G.

Is Tsuba 20 still available ? If so I would like to buy it. Thanks Gary G