Iron Jingasa

[Tengu1957]

Heavy iron Jingasa with Satsuma Mon 

I wonder if this may have been used by someone using a Matchlock ? I have seen many wood block images of gunners wearing these. 

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

I like your example, Gary.

https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=陣笠とんきょ帽&tbm=isch&hl=ja&chips=q:陣笠+とんき+ょ+帽,online_chips:鉄砲隊:CzvXOsYoYJs%3D&client=safari&prmd=imsvn&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi-5bDeupP5AhUO4oUKHbsbBJoQ4lYoCHoECAEQFQ&biw=414&bih=715

 

[uwe]

I frankly can’t answer your question, Gary!
My counterpart (posted on fb) is quite light, cos it’s made of thin metal plates. I think this is more suitable for gunners (Piers?!). 

Yours looks more like a “Shimazu-tank”. On the other hand, the painted on signs indicating the usage in a specific unit, as might be also the rank of the wearer…

In any case, not the hat of the “guy in the last row”!

[Bugyotsuji]

It is often said that these were used by teppō troops towards the end of the Edo period. It may be true, (or perhaps all footsoldiers wore them as light protection against matchlocks?) but as you can see in the link above, there were many varieties of these affectionately known as ‘Tonkyo-bō’ or conical/pointed hats.