Mon ID

[Justin]

I have a teppo with the following mon inlaid in silver on the barrel. I was looking through Hawley's mon book and noticed that some families utilised the kashiwa mon with three 'veins' for each leaf, while others had four (see below).

 

I would like to know whether these designs were strictly adhered to or did the one family have different designs (e.g. the Makino used both three and four 'veins' for the leaves).

 

The closest to mine appears to be the Horimoto and Kubota families (three veins), however this doesn't have a ring around it. I cannot find anything regarding these two samurai families.

 

Thanks for any help

[falconj]

Gidday Justin,

just went through my book on mon, translated by Fumie Adachi, and out of the 5 examples of 'kashiwa' or 'oak leaf' similar to your's, all have 4 'veins' on each leaf,

sorry mate, just added to the confusion, I suppose!, however he does say that:-

'the courtier and his household used the same crest among them, and that the warrior let his family use his crest as it was, but had his retainers use variations of his crest or mon'

regards

John

[Baka Gaijin]

Morning all,

 

If it's any help, here are the names of three veined Kashiwa Kamon:

 

Sokage Mitsu Gashiwa

 

Kokumochi Jinuki Mitsu Gashiwa

 

Cheers

[Bugyotsuji]

Also, look at the size of the central dot. Nicely done Mon, by the way.

[Justin]

Thanks for your help guys.

 

I also found this:

 

http://www1.ocn.ne.jp/~argus/bunrui-1/10-06kasiwa.html

 

This is obviously a company that puts mon on clothing, however underneath 6-KA-5 I believe it says 'three oak leaves without land possession'. This ties back to what John said above. Perhaps this gun belonged to a retainer of the Kasai, Kubota, etc?

[Bugyotsuji]

Justin, what is written underneath is just a description of the style of Mon.

 

Often Mon on guns were added later for all kinds of reasons. Even today people will ask traditional craftsmen to add a good one (sometimes not so good) to increase the value of the gun, choosing a Mon that may simply be popular in that area for example. Makino is such a well-known Mon that it may be better not to define it any further and just go with that. Does it tie in with the Mei in any way?

[Justin]

I am overseas at the moment, however I know the barrel is signed Kunitomo Tojuro To-setsu. Piers - you might remember looking this up for me. We managed to find this gunmaker working in Bunsei era (1816-1830).

 

There is also another character close to the mei. I am not sure what it is from memory but I know it means 'crossing' in Japanese. The wooden stock is also signed by a Kunitomo artisan, however I can't remember this although I have it written down somewhere at home.

 

The other interesting feature is that the characters for 'Motoshige' appear on the top of the barrel just below the mon.

[Justin]

I have posted mei before. Please see here:

 

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2414&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=Teppo&start=1

(Page 1 and 2)

 

It is interesting that Tsuji appears on both barrel and stock. I understand Tsuji is also a name.

[Ian]

Hi Justin

 

I have also been searching for a particular mon viewtopic.php?f=9&t=10639

and I noticed the lower Makino mon in your picture, if you or anyone else has any more info, I would really appreciate it!

Good luck

[Bugyotsuji]

I am overseas at the moment, however I know the barrel is signed Kunitomo Tojuro To-setsu. Piers - you might remember looking this up for me. We managed to find this gunmaker working in Bunsei era (1816-1830).

 

There is also another character close to the mei. I am not sure what it is from memory but I know it means 'crossing' in Japanese. The wooden stock is also signed by a Kunitomo artisan, however I can't remember this although I have it written down somewhere at home.

 

The other interesting feature is that the characters for 'Motoshige' appear on the top of the barrel just below the mon.

 

Ay, yes, and Justin, did I mention that Tsuji seems to refer to a Kunitomo lockmaker of the 天保 Tempo Era, 辻村長右衛門 Tsujimura Chouemon, according to the researcher Mr Urabe in 'Nihon no Teppo Kaji', p48.　(No, I didn't as I didn't have this reference back in 2007.)

 

The same author lists a Toshimasa as inside your stock, Tanaka Matashiro Toshimasa, same characters, in the Bunka Period.

[Bugyotsuji]

And I have found a dated gun made by your same gunsmith, "Kunitomo Kojuro To Setsu" marked with Kitae Ni-ju Makibari, Bunsei 7. (1825)

[Justin]

Thanks Piers. You're the best!

 

All three craftsmen (the gun smith, stock maker and lock maker) were all working around the same time - which helps us to date the gun with certainty.

 

I also think finding the owner is difficult and think it is best to say that this is from the Makino family or a retainer of the Makino family. The gun is good quality with a nicely inlaid silver mon and is fully complete except for two retaining pins to hold the barrel in the stock. Anyone know someone who can make these up?

 

Due to the date of this gun (around 1820) and its relatively long length I believe this was a primarily used as a hunting gun or for target practice.

 

Thanks again everyone for your help.

[Bugyotsuji]

Justin, can you remind me of the caliber/bore again?

 

As to the Mekugi (same word as for swords) you can make them yourself from bamboo. Put a slight taper on them, smooth off the ends, and they run through from the right of the gun (lock side, viewed from above) to the left. Ideally if you can find it, smoked bamboo. (susu-dake)

[Justin]

The caliber is 2.5 monme (12 mm). The total size of the gun is 136.0cm and the barrel is 102.2cm. The barrel is octagonal with a slightly flared muzzle. The barrel thickness at the breech end is 2.7cm and 2.3cm at the muzzle end. The front sight is a triangle shape and the rear sight is a channeled with holes for an attachment.