Flint62Smoothie Posted October 19 Report Posted October 19 (edited) Many here may know I’ve been on the hunt for Tanegashima parts, whereas I have 2 other Tanegashimas in stages of restoration, where: -One needs a serpentine, brass mainspring (gun has a steel replacement spring) and pan guard. -The other, posted a few posts down, is shootable after a bore honing, and only needs a trigger guard. I just won this US auction, for only $195, complete less a barrel. I admit I bought it “as a parts gun”, but in reality it has superior inlays! Would it be kosher to ‘swap’ another barrel into it, if it fits? Or just cannibalize it … ? Which is really not the best option, I’d agree. To have a really nice shooter, maybe I’ll ask Bobby Hoyt in PA to make a custom tapered barrel with a cannon muzzle! I’d appreciate any/all input! Cheers! Edited October 19 by Flint62Smoothie Quote
Flint62Smoothie Posted October 20 Author Report Posted October 20 FYI, I am bidding on another 'parts gun' so I won't cannibalize this one, but will buy or make a barrel for it. Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted October 20 Report Posted October 20 This stock is from a flashy ‘merchant’s’ small game gun from Osaka. Some like the bling, but others are not so keen on it. Divisive! Great for what it is, especially at that price, but I would not be afraid to cannibalize it if you need genuine parts and they fit! But it’s your call, and I can see the case for restoring it with a ‘new’ barrel. Quote
Flint62Smoothie Posted October 22 Author Report Posted October 22 Thanks @Bugyotsuji! The barrel length needs to be about 42" long and I'd like a cannon muzzle. So far I have checked 1 of the 2 other Tanegashima barrels that I have and one is close. It should be close enough that a custom barrel maker should be able to make a tapered octagonal barrel for it. I may see if Bobby Hoyt in PA (USA) would be up to it. Is there any barrel maker you would suggest? The breech width is about 1-3/16" and tapers to 7/8" at about just under 40" up, right at the end of the upper forend, so it would need to be at least a 42" octagonal barrel to allow for a large, flared 'cannon' muzzle. The lock works perfectly and it is only missing a barrel, along with the pan, brass pan guard and brass pan cover! Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted October 23 Report Posted October 23 Dale, I live in Japan where creation of a gun barrel would be heavily frowned upon. In that respect I would suggest that the USA is the best place to do it, but I have little connection with your gunsmith community there. Thanks for the vote of confidence though! I would be very interested to see the results!!! 1 Quote
Flint62Smoothie Posted October 28 Author Report Posted October 28 I found some parts I need! … just picked up the basstardized one for $200, where I’ll hopefully be able to use the serpentine & mainspring on my other Tanegashima. Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted October 28 Report Posted October 28 Wow, that’s an ugly one. But some of those brass parts look ok! Good find. 1 Quote
Peter Bleed Posted October 28 Report Posted October 28 Actually, I find this a rather interesting gun. I have to wonder why it was so modified and by whom. Was it a "Japanese" hunting gun, Ainu, mebbe, and I would rule out the possibility that it cam from elsewhere, Korean or Manchuria? I agree, too, that it is basically and best currently a "Parts kit." I am interested ... Peter Quote
Flint62Smoothie Posted October 29 Author Report Posted October 29 I will certainly check it for any markings once received ... Quote
Peter Bleed Posted November 4 Report Posted November 4 Dale, Out of pure boredom, I have been doing some searching on what might could be considered 19th century Asian trade guns. This little gun sure strikes me as a potential candidate for that category. Japan was certainly involve in the northern trade. And they had lots of "surplus" arms. When you get this piece in had and can tell us about it, I sure hope that you will tell us what you can about it. Peter Quote
Flint62Smoothie Posted November 5 Author Report Posted November 5 On 10/28/2025 at 9:08 AM, Bugyotsuji said: Wow, that’s an ugly one. But some of those brass parts look ok! Good find. 23 hours ago, Peter Bleed said: I have been doing some searching on what might could be considered 19th century Asian trade guns. This little gun sure strikes me as a potential candidate for that category. When you get this piece in had and can tell us about it, I sure hope that you will tell us what you can about it. ... Gents - It came in. Might be exactly what you suggest @Peter Bleed ! Any ideas how we'd move forward with the possibility that it was indeed a Japanese Trade Gun? Lock - The lock works and is complete and operable; it just needed a tear-down, clean up, oil and lube. And get this, there serpentine and main spring dimensions (from the hooked notch to the pin hole that holds the spring on) match perfectly to my Tanegashima that needs a serpentine. It has a modern recreation of a mainspring on it - that's functional, albeit made of steel - but I'd like it to wear a brass one. Trigger Guard - Fake, looks like a door pull from some cabinet hardware place. Trigger - Fake, saem as above, less I don't know what hardware looks like a real 'Tang' trigger, LOL! Stock - Real, someone may have cut it down is my best guess. Barrel - At one time it might have been shootable, but someone welded the pan fully full or closed off so as to make it unfireable. The barrel profiling looks like it was expressly made to be a short light, octagonal tapered barrel of 19" in length. Most interestingly it has a 'Western' type wide V-notch rear sight like early BP carbines wore. There are no markings anywhere. Are there any close-ups one would want to see? Well, I bought it for parts and to that end I've succeeded! What I will do it fire up my forge (when built, as I am retiring soon) and I will then make sutable replacement parts for my other Tanegashimas, using these parts as models, so I can return this one to its former 'Trade Gun' (hopefully!) status. 1 Quote
Peter Bleed Posted November 6 Report Posted November 6 Dale, well, gee! After you description, this is sounding more like a late, Western repro than a "trade gun." The door-pull trigger guard seems just "off." . But we would love to see pictures. Please show us the barrel - how is the breech closed?- and internals, please... Thanx! Peter Quote
Flint62Smoothie Posted November 7 Author Report Posted November 7 4 hours ago, Peter Bleed said: After your description, this is sounding more like a late, Western repro than a "trade gun." The door-pull trigger guard seems just "off." My bad … POOR info on my part, mea culpa! I think someone STOLE or lost the original trigger and trigger guard, so someone else (maybe?) just added parts to make it look real and complete. The barrel is breeched like a typical Tanegashima is, with the long breech plug. … pictures later … 1 Quote
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