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Matchlock Parts


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Hi,

 

https://imgur.com/gallery/N3hExgX

 

I posted this before and got some great answers to questions.  Now I am looking for a source for some parts.  To the best of my knowledge the screws should be brass pins.  The chrysanthemum for the middle barrel pin would be a nice find.  I have a master gun smith to fit the parts if found. Thanks

 

Tom   

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The headed brass side pins ( or 'nails') should be easy to make. 

 

As to the mekugi 'za' seats or surrounds, they seem to be a version of the snowflake or ginkgo leaf kamon, but I have not yet discovered the exact one. Watch this (or the next!) space. Maybe Uwe can help. You'll not find examples of these particular ones out there; it would need to be made specially.

 

PS Pretty sure now that they are Yuki or Hazure-yuki snowflake Kamon.

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You are going to have to dumb this down.  Are the za surrounds what I am calling the chrysanthemum on the  stock that seats the barrel retaining pins.  I am in touch with Mr. Yoshida and don't want to make a fool of myself.  I can speak the language of Civil War guns and WWII guns but I am woefully ignorant of matchlocks so please treat me like a kindergarten student.  Do the "nails" belong where I see the three modern screw heads in the lock. I am asking Mr. Yoshida to find me parts from his restoration people. He has agreed to help.  I think he is asking me for measurements on the za or what I am calling the chrysanthemum.  My gun smith and I are discussing replacement "nails" for the three screws in the lock.

 

I thought I sent Mr. Yoshida photo album but I may have just sent the kanji pictures. I will correct that error. Below is his latest response.  In it you will note the name of the maker is different that the original maker named.  Ikkansai is the first maker he named and  Kunitomo Tobei is the second maker he named  I think they are the same person but  I am totally confused.

 

I appreciate your help.

Tom

 

 Dear Mr. Wines,


>        Happy New Year !


>        I'm sorry for my response being late because of Year-end and New 
> Year holidays.

>        I'd like to answer your questions.


>        First: about the name inscribed on the gun, 江州 藤兵衛・充俶.

>        江州(Goshu) is now 滋賀(Shiga Prefecture).

>        國友藤兵衛(Kunitomo Tobei) was born in 1778, and died in 1840.

>        He was a gunsmith in Kunitomo and also a representative scientist 
> in those days of Japan.

>        充俶(Jushuku) was Tobei's eldest son.  It has not been investigated 
> when 充俶(Jushuku) was born

>        and died.  But we know 藤兵衛(Tobei) got married in 1813 and died in 
> 1840.

>        After his death, 充俶(Jushuku) succeeded to the name of 
> 藤兵衛(Tobei).

>        What can be inferred from that is that the gun was made between 
> 1840 and 1860.


>        Second: 4 pictures you sent me.

>        In every picture, the inscription part was enlarged.  As I can't 
> see the hammer part, the inlays

>        and the full picture of the gun,  I can't make a comprehensive 
> decision on the gun.

>        The overall length of the gun, the length of the gun barrel and 
> the size of the caliber are needed

>        to make it.

>        With such information, I think I can make more detailed comments.


>        Third: In your mail, it was written that the ramrod is 2 inches 
> short.

>        It can't be 2 inches.  It must be longer than the gun barrel.  To 
> push gunpowder and gun ball

>        into the barrel, hard wooden stick was usually used.  So it is 
> unlikely that it was remade with

>        modern threads.


>        Fourth: about the use of the gun

>        The aim (gun-sight) on the end of the barrel can distinguish 
> military from personal.

>        If you tell me the size of the chrysanthemum pin, I may be able 
> to find a proper one.


>        I will send you the material by another mail.


>        For more information about Kunitomo guns, please visit our website.


>        I wish you good health and success.


>        Kunitomo Gun Museum

>        Director  Ichiro Yoshida

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The pins are just plain brass pins, with one end peened over into a round head. Friction fit...I think they may be tapered. Nothing fancy about them, a 10 minute job for someone.
Patinate with ammonia fumes.
The escutcheon for the pins is just cut out of brass plate and then engraved. Another 10 minute job for someone and get a jeweller to engrave it. Patinate, done.
Nothing there is a big job unless the pin holes were drilled larger.

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Thanks Brian escutcheon I under stand brass pins I understand, I got it.  Do you know if the two makers mentioned are the same person.  In his first email Mr. Yoshida name's  Ikkansai as the first maker he named and  Kunitomo Tobei as the second email he named Kunitomo Tobei.  I think they are the same person.  The the son Jushuku is named.  I am totally confused

 

 
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  • 1 month later...

I thought you all might be interested.  I have exchanged a couple of emails with Mr. Yashida and his staff.  The staff has been most interested in my email tag line.

 

"Suppose you were an idiot and suppose 

you were a member of congress.  But I repeat myself" - Mark Twain.
 
It has been most amusing trying to explain this quote.  At one point they said "He wrote Tom Sawyer.  Your name is Tom."  I explained that I am not nearly as interesting as Tom Sawyer.  I receive the following email from the staff last night and I must admit I am excited.  I am thrilled to have the gun in what appears to be the Museums newsletter.  I can't imagine contributing anything except the dummy who pushed the ball off the clip.  Below is email from the staff of the museum.  If this happens I will post the newsletter.  
Attach a picture of the Newsletter they sent me.  Oh and I said ok.  You can type ok really fast.
 
Tom
 

Dear Mr.Wines

 

Thank you for your email.

A week has passed since we received your last mail.

Mr. Yoshida has been very busy both in his work and his private life.

He is going to reply after completing some work whose deadline is nearing.

So please wait for a while.

 

I have something that Mr. Yoshida asked me to do.

He publishes 国友地域学Kunitomo-chiikigaku(Study of the area Kunitomo) every month.

He writes articles about persons and things related to Kunitomo.

He sometimes asks the persons, who are interested in matchlocks or the history of that era,

to write in the paper.

I attach its photo.

He would like to write about you and the matchlock you have in the paper(国友地域学).

Mr. Yoshida wants me to ask you whether you allow him to write about you.
 
If you say "OK",  he will be very pleased.
 
 
 
From Mr. Yoshida's assistant
                                  
 
 
 
 
 

Nunimoto Museum New Letter.JPG

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