Tanegashima Stamp

[macarina]

Found this cartouche stamp on two separate guns. Any ideas what it means?

 

Best Regards, MAC

[Stephen]

Which one?

[Bugyotsuji]

Mac, from 1868 it was the new but short-lived 'Sakai Ken' prefecture.

 

See J Wiki: 堺県（さかいけん）は、明治元年（1868年）に和泉国（現・大阪府南西部）の旧幕府領・旗本領を管轄するために設置された県。

[macarina]

So, it is like a Time/Date/location stamp that all guns in that area received, regardless of original area of provenance?

Thank You, for the speedy reply

[Bugyotsuji]

Yes, regardless of when and where the gun was originally manufactured. It needed to be registered in a location, and probably individual ownership was recorded with the local authority at the same time.

 

There should be a number on the stock or barrel nearby, as registrations of guns took place in each prefecture throughout Japan. The first and most famous was in the Jinshin year of Meiji 5, 1872. Typically it records the prefecture and number, usually called the ‘Jinshin Bango’.

[uwe]

Indeed!

I have one, registered as number 1197 in “Wakamatsu” around that time.

[Bugyotsuji]

Uwe, do you have a photograph?

[uwe]

I´ll try to make a picture. Give me some time...