watsonmil

Jean, Jean, Jean, Picasso was a painter ?? ... and Van Gogh was a painter ?? Now if you'd said Rembrandt .... or my Grandson : Peyton Watson ! ... Anonymouse Ron

Dear James, I always tell those new to Nihonto, ... that an excellent introduction at a most reasonable price is : The Samurai Sword by John Yumoto ( easily available through used book sellers on the Internet ). ... Ron Watson PS. I failed to mention Grey Doffin is a book seller. He might well have a copy available.

Dear James, How wonderful to see such optimism. I've always been a pessimist ... with that characteristic trait ... I'm never disappointed ! ... Ron Watson

Dear Peter & Geraint, I have grave doubts about this tsuba depicting a Tanegashima. Even given Artistic License, ... unless the tsuba is signed Picasso that the object depicted is a firearm. The wrapping on the handle ( barrel ?? ) appears more like one might find on a broom. I don't recognize the theme, ... just my opinion. ... Ron Watson

Dear Steven, What do you mean by illegality so far as reducing interest? Steven what I meant was with CERTAIN countries getting more and more touchy about the import of swords among other items ... good example the UK. If you are living in the UK you need sufficient proof that the Japanese sword or other swords manufactured in any country are either ANTIQUE or hand forged. Otherwise the item may be seized by UK Customs and destroyed. Countries ( Politicians ) are forever passing new laws as a means of winning voters on the impression that they are suppressing crime. Hell in many countries if an item is listed as a knife or sword .... companies like eBay will not allow these people to even view little alone bid ! ( If I am mistaken and I think not, ... some member in the UK will correct me ). HERE : Read what Politicians can do with the stroke of a pen : http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/fts/ch ... 04A10.html For all intents and purposes IVORY of any kind is now illegal to import/export in the USA ... even between states within the USA. ... Ron Watson

Dear Peter, If you're young and wealthy enough its a good time to buy ( strictly as a hobby for enjoyment NOT an investment ). If you're looking to have any monies for retirement and you're older its best to SELL as soon enough no one will have an interest by either .... financial constraints or illegality. ... Ron Watson

Dear George, Starting with the hole with the diamond shaped iron insert. This at one time was much smaller and served as a pin hole for attachment of the original matchlock lock plate to the stock ( we can barely make out where the old original matchlock lock plate ended and the inletting was extended beyond this to accommodate the new percussion lock plate ).. Next, ... moving forward towards the barrel is a blind hole used for inserting a punch to drive the original lock plate loose from the stock ( once the actual lock plate pins were removed ). Next, ... the hole above the present trigger is the hole for the pin that kept the original matchlock trigger in place ( this we are sure about as on the opposite side it exits above the lock plate. Next hole is another pin hole which was once used for attaching the original matchlock lock to the stock. Virtually all matchlock lock plates are pinned to the stock front and rear ( in other words two pins were used ). ... Ron Watson

Dear Ian, Just when I thought we covered everything : How about : Jiita mekugi ...... lock plate pin or Karakuri mekugi ....... Lock retaining pin Lets see what Piers comes up with as a suitable word/words . PIERS .... ... Ron Watson

Dear Justin, A plumb, ... is not required on a hand held firearm. It is sometimes used on a cannon as in a gunners quadrant. The strings you see in Japanese illustrations of a string from barrel to ground was a " supposed " device for firing at night so all gun/guns were at least pointed at a correct level and/or direction. The only level seen on firearms ( inevitably target firearms ) is a sideways level mounted on the front peep sight to correct for CANT ( avoiding the firearm being slanted either slightly left or right from the vertical ). As far as Fancy knots ( agemaki ) these belong on fancy Koshira and Katchu ... not generally associated with firearms. I think we have it right until definitively proved incorrect. ... Ron Watson

Dear Justin, Yes, ... I forgot to add that word. It's there now. ... Ron Watson

Dear Brian, I have now updated the original list of parts taking into consideration YOUR diagram. I have had no more emails with additions to the TYPES of Teppo nor to the list of Accessories, ... nor the Bullet chart. I think it maybe wise to leave it as a thread for a couple more days before converting to a PDF file just in case someone comes up with something new ?? ... Ron

Dear Piers, I will edit the list to add : Daikabu .... Butt, ... also Himichi .... Vent, also Kanime, .... Sear .... along with the other words you have listed as few people know the English equivalent of some of these such as Ibo-kakushi (Sear protector ) Wasoku for Laynard hole. Anymore ... simply email me so I can Edit/Update the lists. ... Ron Watson PS. Brian ... a much better drawing with corrected/updated words . I will given its early morning here look it over word for word to note any errors to the best of my ability. I would like to thank ALL those who have corrected spellings ( Piers ), ... re-done the major drawing ( Brian ). This should be a worthwhile project once completed. Any additional words/corrections please email me at : watsonr@mts.net

Dear Eric, Thank you, ... YES ! I almost forgot you are a Computer WIZZ. Me, ... my grandson makes me look like an idiot. Computers and I do not click. He loses patience trying to teach me how to edit photographs, etc. I asked Justin by PM if he might possibly do this job as I believe he too is competent on Computers. I hope he sees it in time. I'll PM him right now to tell him its a fait accompli. ... Ron Watson

Dear All, I agree with Brian ... a visual guide would be of considerable help. Unfortunately I am Computer illiterate. I know on page 7 of Sugawa 's English book ... The Japanese Matchlock ... there is a detailed drawing showing most of the applicable parts and labeled in Japanese and English. I do not know whether copying this exact drawing would be considered a copyright violation or not ? I have seen it reproduced on various image sites on the internet, so perhaps there is no problem. I will if no one posts a drawing in the meantime post one myself in about a week or so when my grandson is here for a weekend. I will however do the drawing myself. ... Ron Watson

Many thanks to Piers who has kindly corrected spelling errors and incorrect use of terms. ... Ron Watson

Dear Justin, Yes, ... I have edited accordingly ( re : ama-ooi ). For those of you who would like to see certain words edited/corrected, please email me at watsonr@mts.net or PM me via the NMB and that will help cut down on clutter. ... Ron Watson

BULLET SIZES MONME .................... WT. GRAINS ........................ CALIBER .. mm ........................... CALIBER .. inch 1 .................................. 59 .................................. 8.7 ............................................ .34 2 ................................. 111 ................................ 10.7 ........................................... .42 3 ................................. 165 ................................ 12.3 ........................................... .48 4 .................................. 220 ................................ 13.5 ........................................... .53 5 .................................. 280 ................................ 14.6 ............................................ .57 6 .................................. 335 ................................ 15.5 ............................................ .61 7 .................................. 400 ................................ 16.2 ............................................ .64 8 .................................. 460 ................................ 17.0 ............................................ .67 9 .................................. 510 ................................ 17.7 ............................................ .70 10 .................................. 550 ................................ 18.3 ............................................ .72 20 ................................ 1100 ............................... 23.1 ............................................ .91 30 ................................ 1725 ............................... 26.5 .......................................... 1.04 100 ................................ 5000 ............................... 39.5 .......................................... 1.56

ACCESSORIES Hinawa ............................... Match Cord Hinawa-ire ........................... Cord Container Dogu ................................... Tool Seseri .................................. Pick Koyaku-ire ............................ Priming Powder Flask Kayaku-ire ............................ Powder Flask Hiuchi-dogu ( Hokuchi )........... Lighting Devices Hayago ................................. Quick Loading Tube Doran ................................... Waist Belt Box Hayago-doran ........................ Box for Quick Loading Tubes Tama-igata ............................ Bullet Mold Tama-inabe .......................... Lead Ladl Danyaku-bako ....................... Shooting Box Muneate ............................... Cloth Chest Protector Tama-Ire .............................. Ball Storage Bag

TYPES OF GUNS Ban-zutsu .................. Numbered Gun ( issued gun from arsenal ) O-zutsu ..................... Large Gun ( 30 monme and over ) Tan-Zutsu .................. Short Gun ( PISTOL ) Bajou-Zutsu ............... Carbine ( literally horseback gun ) Chu-zutsu .................. Medium Gun ( 6 - 10 monme ) Hazama-zutsu ............ Loophole Gun Kan-uchi ju ................ Percussion Gun Taihou ....................... Cannon Bo-hiya ...................... Fire Arrow Hiya-zutsu ................. Fire Arrow Gun Hiya Taihou ................ Fire Arrow Cannon Kayaku-Dameshi ......... Powder Tester Shateki-Zutsu..............Target Gun

MATCTHLOCK PARTS Tsutsu or Jushin ......... Barrel Dai ........................... Stock Jiita .......................... Lock Plate Karakuri .................... Lock Karakuri mekugi...........Lock Retaining Pin Hibasami .................. Serpentine or Hammer Ama-ooi ................... Barrel Protector ( rain protector but also acts as a flash protector ) Ama-ooi Kusabi ......... Barrel Protector Wedge Hajiki ....................... Spring Dougane .................. Stock Ring Hibuta ...................... Pan Cover Hizara ...................... Pan Tray Hikigane .................. Trigger Meate ...................... Sight Moto Meate .............. Rear Sight Saki Meate .............. Front Sight Naka Meate .............. Middle S Juko ( Suguchi ) ...... Muzzle Karuka ( Sakujo ) .... Ramrod Mekugi Ana .............. Pin Hole Mekugi .................... Barrel retaining pin Zagane ................... Barrel retaining pin escutcheon Udenuki no Ana ........ Sling Hole Byo ......................... Rivet Hinawa Toushi Ana ... Match Cord Hole Shiba - Hikigane ....... Butt Protector Yuojintetsu .............. Trigger Guard Mei ......................... Signature Bisen ...................... Breech Plug Niju Makibari ........... Two Wraps or Double Layer So-Makibari ............. Thrice Wrapped / Triple Bound Koji ( Kouji ) ............ Outer most part of barrel ( strengthening or decorative surround ) Daikabu .................. Stock Butt Himichi ................... Vent ( re: Flashpan ) Kanime ................... Sear ( serpentine release ) Ibo-kakushi ............. Sear Protector Wasoku ................... Laynard hole Wa/Kan....................Ring ( possibly for holding a suspended tool such as a vent pick )

Dear All, I thought it might be time to make a list of PARTS, ... ACCESSORIES, ... TYPES, ... BULLETS, ... ETC. for the Japanese MATCHLOCK ( TANEGASHIMA TEPPO, HINWA-JU ) in Japanese with English translation. I have been hesitant to overuse Japanese terminology as it pertains to the matchlock due to the fact that many of these words are so obscure that I dare say even the average Japanese has no idea of their meaning let alone Occidentals. Another reason is in most cases their is an English word that most who have any interest in firearms will understand immediately. I also detest Elitism which goes hand in hand with the use of a $ 10.00 word when a 10 cent word would have sufficed and made reading a whole lot easier. We also want to generate interest in this little known aspect of Japanese Art and people being people will bypass that which they do not understand upon initial reading and consequently miss an article which may well have kindled their interest. Anyways it is also important that we are able to provide our readers with a quick reference to these Japanese words and their English equivalents. It is my hope that those perusing this Article/Thread will email me additional words I may have left out and email me with possibly correct spellings of any words I have misspelled. ... Ron Watson

Dear George, Back on Nov. 8, 2014 ... I posted : " Given the probable rarity of PERCUSSION CAPS in late Edo Japan, ... perhaps the gunsmith wisely allowed for the gun to be easily converted back to MATCHLOCK by making a hammer that would in an emergency allow for the insertion of a match by removal of the hammer insert and removal of the percussion nipple. Time and black powder erosion ( the opening is obviously eroded ) would have removed evidence of threading. Whether or not the nipple has broken off ( my opinion ) or has been purposely been removed and the gun operated post percussion as once again a matchlock we shall never know and it matters little. " I feel somewhat vindicated , as your last photograph is definitive proof that the gunsmith originally made the hammer ( serpentine ) exactly as I described above. Note in the photograph attached below ... the arrow pointing to the slot in the head of the hammer that allowed for the percussion INSERT to be placed and/or removed to allow for the gun to be operated as a percussion cap or as a matchlock at the TIME OF MANUFACTURE. This George was a very accomplished gunsmith and you created with your original post a most interesting discussion. I am not sure that the principal of Occam's Razor would apply here as I'm not sure who came up with the fewest assumptions ?? Never the less, ... I think you were well served by all of us trying and eventually solving the riddle. ... Ron Watson

Dear George, I suspect the kamon ( three hawk feathers ) is silver or at least an alloy of silver. The fact that it has not patinated to a black may be due to something as simple as human sweat as this is a natural area for picking up the gun ( just a guess ). As far as the metal plate on the side of the barrel, ... this is where the original pan was fitted to the barrel when this was a matchlock, ... and it would appear this was added to disguise the patched up original vent hole and attachment of the old pan. This I am certain. Your friend's gun has created a good deal of questions and wonderful discussion. It was a pleasure to have seen it ... ( if only in photographs ). I have spent a lifetime studying firearms and I assure you to the best of my knowledge ... no special ignition system of even an experimental type would explain ( other than percussion cap or percussion pill ) this conversion. ... Ron Watson

Dear All, Well now, ... we have a goodly number of theories as to whether or not this gun is percussion cap, percussion pellet, or some paper wrapped Japanese ignition system. I agree it is an unusual hammer ( serpentine ). I cannot explain but for theory except for the FACT that there are only three possibilities of ignition ... Percussion cap, Percussion pellet, or Matchlock. We know this was originally a matchlock later converted ... on that point we all agree. It may well be that an INSERT is missing from the hammer ( almost certainly ), ... but why not have designed the hammer with a solid or slightly hollow face to begin with. The gunsmith certainly knew his trade given the quality of the hammer and lock. What points to this gun as being a percussion cap conversion is as I stated previously : " What seals the idea of percussion is the gunsmith has added a small tit of steel ( shield ) behind the nipple which acts to prevent pieces of the percussion cap from coming back and striking the shooter in the eye or face upon detonation. " SEE PHOTO BELOW. I have only on rare occasion seen this device ( SHIELD ) and then ONLY on conversions to percussion where the nipple has been placed ON TOP of the barrel and the gunsmith instead of using the hollow faced hammer later used on ALL percussion style hammers used instead a FLAT faced hammer of the original first type used BEFORE someone thought ... why not make the hammer hollow faced to contain the flying bits of percussion cap. Given the probable rarity of PERCUSSION CAPS in late Edo Japan, ... perhaps the gunsmith wisely allowed for the gun to be easily converted back to MATCHLOCK by making a hammer that would in an emergency allow for the insertion of a match by removal of the hammer insert and removal of the percussion nipple. Time and black powder erosion ( the opening is obviously eroded ) would have removed evidence of threading. Whether or not the nipple has broken off ( my opinion ) or has been purposely been removed and the gun operated post percussion as once again a matchlock we shall never know and it matters little. ... Ron Watson PS. Denis, ... if I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times not to be sniffing nitro !

Dear George, Well, that type of Serpentine ( hammer ) I have not seen before. It would certainly appear to have been a conversion from matchlock to percussion. The placement of the nipple on top of the barrel is unusual as well as it would interfere with sighting the firearm. I thought for a brief time it might have been a pellet ignition system but I am certain now that it was percussion and the nipple is simply broken off. What seals the idea of percussion is the gunsmith has added a small tit of steel ( shield ) behind the nipple which acts to prevent pieces of the percussion cap from coming back and striking the shooter in the eye or face upon detonation. The hammer however leaves me puzzled as it would not work to detonate a percussion cap and it on the other hand is hardly suitable for holding a match. The only explanation is that perhaps there is a flattened area inside the hollow of the hammer ( but from your photos this does not appear to be the case ... although photos can be deceiving ). The whole appears to be a Japanese conversion as both the lock plate and the hammer are similarly decorated in Japanese inlay rather than a later Western conversion. Piers or someone else will have to translate the Kanji as I am totally inept in this area. My first off impression is that it is a Kunitomo manufactured gun probably as Piers states of the Ogino tradition. Although an interesting gun, ... and nicely decorated, the fact it is something of a butchered up conversion ( to the top of the barrel of all places ), missing sight and no longer a matchlock gun will in my eyes lessen it value considerably. It's most interesting feature is the lock mechanism. ... Ron Watson