Thoughts on tanegashima, possible repair on jukou

[MGK]

Hello friends, I was hoping to get any information or thoughts on this tanegashima.

It does appear that there is a ring forward of the decorative braid that may be from a repair. I appriciate any help!

[Bugyotsuji]

Hi Mgk,

Welcome! This is a fairly standard decorative Sakai smallbore long gun. Seems to be in generally good condition but not everything is shown.
 

There is a small ring hanging just forward of the trigger guard. I am not sure what you mean by “forward of the braid”…(?) All I can see is …possibly a burned area underneath the stock about 1/3 along from the breech end. Do you mean on the barrel or on the stock?

 

Edit. Ah, you are describing the rust patch just behind the muzzle and that ring of braided metals, right? Hmmm…

The seller shows three photos of it. Nothing in the description? Hard to judge from those photos. Why don’t you ask the seller?

[Bugyotsuji]

PPS Are you describing the bright shiny ring? Do you think a ‘new’ replacement muzzle has been fitted? Yes, it’s possible. Again you could ask, but the dealer might say he/she doesn’t know. It’s a gamble. The muzzle curvature looks natural. It might just be a silver decorative zōgan inlay ring that has been messed up a bit.

[MGK]

Hello Bugyotsuji and thank you for your reply, As for my concern yes I am describing the shiny ring. The seller claims to not know but it definitely looks to me that it may have been cut off and then refitted or welded back on with modern means. My overall concerns about this rifle would be; is it good authentic piece and would it be worthy of preservation? 

I do not currently own any teppo/Tanegashima but I have been wanting to. 

Thank you very much for your help and knowledge.

[Bugyotsuji]

Hi again, Ben,

 

Sakai guns often have a silver ring in that position. Normally the silver goes black but perhaps this one has been polished during rust prevention. Or has someone tried to add a silver ring later for additional attraction?

 

I cannot think of any reason to cut and reattach the muzzle, unless someone wanted to remove a musketball stuck right in the neck, or some other serious blockage. But judging by the position of the stock, it isn't any shorter than it should be. So why, then?

 

Guns like these come up every so often, so why not wait for another one, just to be sure? They won't break the bank. The immediate attraction is in the fancy inlay. The real questions for me are unanswered. How do the pan and vent look when you open the lid, for example? Will the bisen breech screw move? But if you are buying this to place on the wall as an example of a metal-inlay Osaka merchant's long gun, surely this will fit the bill. My guess is that ring will bother you forever, so I'd say best to forget this one. 
 

Here are four examples of Ōsaka muzzles from Sawada San’s book Nihon no Furujū.