Bugyotsuji Posted January 8 Report Posted January 8 Hi Matt, Everything you have shown so far looks legit. Early indications are that your gun was likely made in Sakai, Osaka. You are missing a pan cover and pin but they can be made up for you. Hara (or Gen) 原 on the butt probably indicates the owner’s name, or the important part of it, such as Harada, 原田, etc. Looking forward to some overall shots and an under-barrel shot if there is a ‘Mei’ signature. 1 Quote
Milothepanda Posted January 8 Author Report Posted January 8 Really appreciate you. Do you think a museum would be interested? I can send more photos tomorrow tell me what in particular. I also took a pic of what I assume is a makers mark? 1 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted January 8 Report Posted January 8 Are you wanting to give it to a museum, Matt? I am sure a museum with the right collection would be interested, but we have not yet seen the whole matchlock! The little mark is probably the lockmaker. It seems to be in the shape of an Uchide-no-Kozuchi mallet. If the middle kanji (?) is 国, it may be possible as a bonus to work out the lockmaker’s name. I’ll check it out when I get home. Quote
Milothepanda Posted January 9 Author Report Posted January 9 Yes, I work at a pawn shop and have it there. I just have very little knowledge on this topic but am a history buff. I was going to donate it if a museum was interested, if not it we’ll definitely stay in my collection. I can take more pictures tomorrow. From the small amount of info I looked up so far they were given out to samurai? Do we have a guess on approximate year? Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted January 9 Report Posted January 9 Not really possible to judge much only from the decorations (for which Sakai/Settsu/Osaka was famous). The silver Mon above is a ‘nine-star’ Kuyōmon, a family crest used by the Hosokawa of Kumamoto and the Daté of Sendai among others. I’d say this one is a merchant’s long gun for birds and small game. Mid to late Edo period around 1800 plus or minus thirty or forty years… (Again guessing in advance! ) 1 Quote
Brian Posted January 9 Report Posted January 9 Pointless giving it to any museum. They are not scarce enough to be unavailable if they want one, and most museums let items rot in the store room. That's the best way to make sure an item isn't appreciated. You'd be better off keeping it, or selling to a collector where it would be appreciated and preserved. 5 1 Quote
Michaelr Posted January 9 Report Posted January 9 Very good advice Brian. I agree 100%. If you like it, keep it, display it and appreciate it. Like Brian said if not sell it to someone who will give it a home it deserves MikeR 1 Quote
Milothepanda Posted January 9 Author Report Posted January 9 Duly noted about the museum, good call. I don’t see any barrel markings but here’s some pics I just took. It’s not letting me share because certain files exceed size and I have the new iPhone so trying to figure out how to lower resolution Quote
Brian Posted January 9 Report Posted January 9 Check the top of the forum for the link to free image resizers 1 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted January 10 Report Posted January 10 Once you get the hang of posting photos it’s dead easy. (Crop each of your photos right after you take them. Get rid of the unnecessary background.) Once you choose the photo you wish to post, (start with one), your iPhone will offer a drop-down menu where you can choose large, medium etc. This NMB site is comparatively good though when it comes to permitted sizes. Good luck! 1 Quote
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