watsonmil

Dear Piers, Brian, Ian, Eric, et al, Thank you all for the interest and encouragement, .... it is your appreciation that makes it worthwhile. Piers, ... brought up the subject of fakes, ... and certainly the stainless steel example he mentions would have to be fake. I would'nt have thought that someone intending to fake an example would have chosen stainless steel to work with. In fact given the complexity of the internal mechanism I would be surprised if anyone would try to fake one of these at all. I was going to take off the brass cover and photograph the mechanism on the Tinder Lighter for the membership, ... but given the miniaturization of the working parts and the compexity of just the sear system ( YES, .. I've had the bloody thing apart as it would not stay cocked ), and I cannot stand something that doesn't work, ... I decided that I would never get decent photographs given the camera I was using. I would caution the membership that messing with something this miniature and complex actually requires the services of a watch maker, and that if you own one and it does not function correctly, .... just leave well enough alone. I very nearly pulled my hair out trying to figure out what the problem was, and once finding it, ... repairing it, ... not to mention putting the bloody thing back together again. My eyes are still pulling after the eye strain and I am NOT kidding. It very nearly beat me, and I have repaired/restored firearms most of my life. It is a great credit to the Japanese craftsmen who produced such objects using only basic handtools. The quality of work these Japanese craftsmen were capable of is truly amazing. I to their capabilities. ...Ron Watson

Dear NMB Members, I beg your indulgence for a short article on a Japanese artifact that has eluded me in one way or another for the past 25 years. The artifact I would like to describe and comment on is a so called Flintlock Tinder Lighter Netsuke. As you all must realize by now, I have a serious interest in the Tanegashima ( matchlock guns of Japan ) and their accruements. The Tanegashima was a matchlock firearm and thus required a smouldering match ( wick ) to ignite the priming powder. This presented the gunner with the problem of how to get the match lit when needed. The time frame being pre-invention of the Bic Lighter or for that matter a match, ... the only way of starting a fire was with flint and steel ( strike-a-light ). Some ingenious Japanese craftsman took the idea of the mechanical Flintlock and miniaturized it into a walnut sized and shaped Netsuke. This mechanical device was much faster and more reliable than the regular hand striking flint against steel to ignite tinder. Someone is going to come along now and say, ... but that would have been an ingenious way of lighting the tinder to make a flame to light a pipe of tobacco, and they would be absolutely correct, ... but every serious book I've read on the subject of Tanegashima and their accruements almost always has shown the Netsuke Flintlock Tinder Lighter as part of the gunners equipment as well. Now lets deal with the physical characteristics of the Netsuke Lighter, .... this particular example is made of iron with a small push button to release the top revealing the flintlock mechanism, the internal spring and sear enclosed under a brass covering and a brass tinder box. To operate the tinder lighter, one would cock the hammer containing the flint, place a small amount of tinder in the tinder pot, ... lower the striking steel over the tinder, and then depress the small brass button on the side to release the sear allowing the hammer to fall causing the flint to strike the striking steel and hopefully causing sparks to land on the tinder as the striking steel is pushed out of the way. NOTE ... I did not say Frizzen .... I said striking steel. This is rather important as the correct name for the Flintlock Tinder Lighter should be Snaphance Tinder Lighter. Every single so called Flintlock Tinder Lighter Netsuke that I have examined is actually a Snaphance lock and NOT a true Flintlock. The Snaphance was actually an early version of the flintlock which was invented around 1570 somewhere in Europe. It uses the same parts as a regular flintlock , though instead of a frizzen ( which also covered the flash pan on a true flintlock ), .... it used a part that was merely a shaped piece with a steel face, which the hammer with flint struck, which made sparks that ignited the tinder. The Snaphance's main fault was that it produced too few sparks to act as a reliable form of ignition, ... and for this reason the true flintlock with a frizzen replaced the snaphance universally in Europe in rather short order. You will note the Japanese Tinder Lighter uses the shaped piece of steel rather than a frizzen. By the way the first true flintlock as we know it today was invented in 1610 by a Frenchman to be more precise one Marin le Bourgeoys for King Louis XIII. By 1630 it was well known throughout Europe. H. B. C. Pollard writes in his Classic ... HISTORY of FIREARMS .. " There is the possibility that the flintlock principal was brought back from Japan by Portuguese navigators, the Japanese having long used flint and steel mechanical lighters . " Noel Perrin refers to this statement by Mr. Pollard in his book ... GIVING UP the GUN. It being well known that Noel Perrin's book is written with gross bias against firearms in general and is full of inaccuracies. I have no problem with his including the above quotation of Mr. Pollard along with his own added : : To light their pipes , yes. But not to fire their guns. ( He is speaking here of adapting the flintlock to act as an ignition system for firearms replacing the matchlock ) Why bother, if you don't want to use guns at all ? " ... end of quote. Here Mr. Perrin is speaking of a time when Japan had more firearms than any European nation, .... what bloody rubbish. In addition ALL Netsuke Tinder Lighters require SCREWS , the technology of cutting thread did not exist in Japan pre 1543, ... and the cutting of fine thread probably not much before the mid 1600's. Therefore the idea that the flintlock was a Japanese invention is in all probability hogwash. Given that the Portuguese arrived in Japan in 1543 and carried Matchlocks rather than Snaphances or Flintlocks ( not yet invented ) I find it very unlikely that the Portuguese carried back to Portugal the idea of the Snaphance. To the best of my knowledge NO so called Flintlock Tinder Lighter Netsuke even existed in Japan at this time. If someone knows of an example pre-dating 1543 I would be most pleased to see a photograph. It is far more likely that somewhere between 1570 and 1600 ( but predating the invention of our French friends inventing of a true Flintlock as remember all these Tinder Lighters are of the Snaphance configuration ) some Portuguese trading vessel bought over to Japan a Snaphance Firearm which the Japanese ( as is their usual custom ) adopted .... and MINIATURIZED ( which is another of the well known Japanese traits ) the Snaphance into a mechanical lighter. The reason for not building Tanegashima with either the Snaphance nor the Flintlock ignition system is quite simply ... the age of war was coming to an end, and therefore being basically a country in isolation with no danger of imment invasion ... why bother. The matchlock sufficed as a weapon without the compexities of so many moving parts plus the advantage of not requiring screws ( a technology ) the Japanese were slow to grasp. It is interesting to note that ALL Netsuke Snaphance Tinder Lighters have screws, ... and therefore must date no earlier than the first quarter of the 17th century. These Netsuke Snaphance Tinder Lighters are generally housed in iron, and alternatively sometimes housed in a brass shell. Because so many of the iron variety have virtually identical flower decorations on the top of the shell it is safe to assume that these examples all came from the same workshop. The brass examples tend to be very plain and utilitarian with little or no design on the top. The only decorative feature which sometimes appears is an overall pierced shell, or the same design of flowers as their iron counterparts. The brass examples are considered to be of a later manufacture than the iron examples. I have seen a couple of very elaborately decorated iron examples inlaid with gold and silver and these almost certainly belonged to the Daimyo class. One thing that is certain surviving examples of the Snaphance Tinder Lighter Netsuke are scarce. In over 30 years of collecting I have only seen in hand or pictured perhaps 30 examples if that many, and consequently they are relatively expensive. Photograhs to follow. I hope this short treatise on these unusual artifacts has been of interest, and that you have slightly broadened your knowledge of the Samurai Age. .... any errors are mine alone. ... Ron Watson

Dear Curran, Oh, ... mine eyes. That is a menuki subject matter I have NEVER seen before. :lol: I wonder if they were meant for a lady Samurai, or perhaps a gay Samurai Thanks for sharing. ... Ron Watson

Dear Piers, When I read your post, ... I did not scroll down far enough to see the photographs. A very nice display. Do you have any more photos to share. If so, I and others would enjoy seeing them. A very impressive castle by the way ! ... Ron Watson

Dear Piers, Firstly congratulations on the aquisition of the Sukenobu sword. A comparison of the signature on the gun and sword should ease your mind. You have the benefit of living in Japan, and therefore should have ample resources to draw on to confirm or dispute the signatures as being right or wrong ( that is if you can find two sword experts to agree on ANY signature ). It is interesting going back over 40 years of old documents that I have signed just how much my own signature has changed. I always find it humurous to hear GIMIE everytime someone notes a slight difference in the length or angle of stroke in a character. In fact I note differences in my own signature from day to day let alone year to year and I don't use a chisel to sign ! Anyways the idea of exhibiting your collection ( or part thereof ) is a wonderful way of sharing with fellow collectors or just interested individuals knowledge. ... Ron Watson

Dear Jan, I too would be interested in seeing some more photos of your Quiver. Congratulations on an excellent and rare accruement. Do you have a Yumi to display with the quiver ? ... Ron Watson

Dear Jean, I noticed the hagire as well and hopefully those chips will polish out. ... T-Rex Ron

Dear Eric, Of the first five presidents, four owned slaves. All four of these owned slaves while they were president. Of the next five presidents (#6-10), four owned slaves. Only two of them owned slaves while they were president. Of the next five presidents (#11-15), two owned slaves. Both of these two owned slaves while they were president. Of the next three presidents (#16-18) two owned slaves. neither of them owned slaves while serving as president. The last president to own slaves while in office was the twelfth president, Zachary Taylor (1849-1850). The last president to own slaves at all was the eighteenth president, Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877). So twelve of your presidents owned slaves and eight of them owned slaves while serving as president. As far as raping female slaves, ... it is true that Thomas Jefferson fathered 6 children by a slave girl named Sally Hemings. Sally Hemings was half-sister to Jefferson's wife, Martha, both women having been fathered by the same plantation owner. I do not believe from what I've read that he raped her, ... It would seem to me at least that the evidence points to a mutal affection. ...Ron Watson PS> By the way Eric, ... your very first President owned Slaves ( George Washington ). Britain never abolished slavery in the UK until 1833, ... so you see slavery was a global phenomena well before the Declaration of Independance and the Constitution were written and WELL AFTER. " there were plenty of men back then with a much better moral compass to admire. " .... NAME ME ONE. ... Ron Watson EDITED FOR SPELLING ERRORS ONLY.

Dear Curran, I could write a book on such problems. Having been in the antique weapons business for well over 35 years, ... I have been arrested ( no correct that ... DETAINED ) at Heathrow in the UK once, Pearson International in Toronto once, O'Hare in Chicago once, BWI in Washington, DC twice, Winnipeg International twice. My wife now refuses to travel by air with me. Each time it was overzealous Security or Customs personel who through lack of knowledge/intelligence ( illiterate and cannot read ) caused me grief. Not once did I receive an apology. I would not worry about getting a tattoo just yet ( at least nothing with the word " virgin " included ). Hell, ... I would'nt personally even bother with a lawyer, ... quite often just being yourself and explaining the circumstances to a judge will be adequate to having the case dismissed. I wish you all the best. ... Ron Watson

Dear Ed, Would'nt it be a breath of fresh air to have such a President again. I am Canadian, ... but have always been a great admirer of Mr. Jefferson. You are a lucky people to have had such a leader, ... wish the same were true today. ... Ron Watson

Dear Fred, Best of luck, ... although I don't think you'll need luck, ... all you really need is to speak with someone with authority ( supervisor ), ... YOU and your Congress Man. Keep us posted. ... Ron Watson

Dear Fred, " God bless us, and where we are going! " Short and sweet : TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET ! If they are located in the same city as where you live or have an office there, ... I would go down and speak to them in person. I do not believe that Stingray ( same ) is on any endangered list. It certainly is not on the CITIES endangered list which I believe is what the US Fish & Wildlife use as a bench mark. Even the IUCN ( International Union for the Conservation of Nature ) which I believe do not have any authority other than as a tree hugging organization which tries to influence governments lists only the following as endangered : Ganges Stinray, Marbled Stingray, Mekong Stingray, and the Thorny Freshwater Stingray. Do some Google Research and print out the information you need to back your case. If nothing else go to your Congress Man and demand his/her involvement. The US Fish & Wildlife Service are on about the same level as BATF, .... a bunch of KEYSTONE COPS with nothing better to do than harass honest people because they are to F'ing incompetent to catch real criminals. By the way I got that from a friend who worked in the White House. First be consiliatory, ... if that fails go for their throat with your Congress Man representative. ... Ron Watson

Dear Stephen, You are MUCH too modest. The bird, and mouse show up quite nicely and clear. You may be justifyably be proud of that sword. Thank you for sharing the photographs. ... Ron Watson

Dear Anthony, I concur entirely with Ian on this Matchlock. Most likely Burmese ... definitely not Japanese. ... Ron Watson

Dear Thomas, I have had my share of good fortune ( luck ) in the collecting of Swords and other Samurai accruements, .... but a Katana of that quality for $ 89.00 is unbelievable. Congratulations are in order from not only me but from every single NMB Member. You are most fortunate indeed. I am very happy for you ! ... Ron Watson

Dear Justin, Probably the split is somewhere around 60 - 70 % outside Main Spring mechanism, and 30 - 40 % inside Main Spring mechanism. In my own case ( collection ) it runs 50 / 50. There also seems to be preferences by school. For instance Satsuma, and Hizen guns seem to be for the most part inside spring locks, ... whereas in the Kunitomo school we see both types used. I have also noticed that Kishu, and Bizen Guns have a preference for Outside Spring Locks. Piers what's your opinion on this ? ... Ron Watson

Dear Piers, That is a new one on me, .... I have never seen a gunsmith signature with such a placement previously. Just when you think you know it all ( well most all ), ... along comes a new learning experience ! I would still like you to check the bottom of that barrel however, ... and post some additional photographs. ... Ron Watson

Dear David, Japanese Matchlocks are universaly signed on the bottom of the barrel ( if signed at all ), ... although I am far from being an expert on kanji, ... I suspect it is an owners name or mark. Have you taken the gun apart to see if it bears a signature on the bottom of the barrel ? Also an overall picture of the gun would be much appreciated. ... Ron Watson

Dear Mark, That is WONDERFUL news, ... I once TRIED to lose a son, .... sadly he kept turning up, and keeps turning up ! ... Ron Watson

Dear Piers, Not exactly a Dutch Cannon . I find the wheels add NOTHING to the little teppo, ... and as a netsuke would be more of a hinderence ( getting caught in the Obi ). I also note the wheels do not even look contemporary to the work on the netsuke. Are you sure they belong to this netsuke ?? ... Ron Watson

PLEASE, .... there I said it too !! ... Ron Watson

OK, then it's a rectal thermometer ! ... Ron Watson

Dear Piers, It's a PEN or PENCIL or BRUSH ! ... Ron Watson

Dear Sir, 1. Kindly sign your name as per the forum rules. 2. Unlike the USA, ... private ownership of firearms in Japan is for the most part prohibited, ... and without the holster the pistol will have considerably less value both monetarily or historically. If you are not interested in the pistol and holster there are plenty of collectors in the USA who would treasure them ( together ). ... Ron Watson

Dear Henk, Actually, ... Pier's insight, accumulations, knowledge of history, if added all together go much, much further than the Teppo or Cannon we have been discussing. He is OUR MAN on site, ... living the culture, ... working among the people. I am only too thankful he is not: " a one tracked mind " ( NIHONTO ). Even though this is primarily a nihonto forum, .... there is so much more to the Samurai Era than Sword Schools. Lets be thankful for what little respite we may get from the everyday postings of WWII Guntos, Tired O-Suriage Tachi, ... Chinese fakes, my God even Butcher Knives of late. I for one look forward to seeing his Kempi/MP Brassard, and Stone Print. " This Week's Edo Period Corner " is MY FAVORITE and I can see it is becoming a favorite of yours if I read you correctly. ... Ron Watson