Alans Posted February 4 Report Posted February 4 Hi all , hoping you can help with information on this pistol. The dims are overall 320 mm , barrel 85mm and bore 11mm. If you can help with the translation of the Mei , also the the inscription underneath the barrel - seems suspect to me - with poor outline of what looks like a butterfly. Thanks in advance . Alan 1 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted February 4 Report Posted February 4 A new addition for you? This looks like an example of a Namban Ryū (Southern Barbarian Style) pistol, a gunnery school in Japan deliberately designed to look foreign, to show exaggerated outlandish features. The front sight looks to have been knocked off…(?) As to the markings underneath the barrel, they do look fairly random as you say, and these among other signs suggest that someone has been tweaking or adding to the gun since its export from Japan. Despite some alterations, basically an honest gun I sense from your photos. 2 Quote
Alans Posted February 4 Author Report Posted February 4 Hi Piers once again many thanks for your valued information … yes it is another addition .. to be honest I got this before the Tanegashimas - but … I had my reservations about posting this worried it may be a copy due to the “ scribble “ underneath the barrel . Anyway glad I did now - knowing it is a honest gun😊 Piers have you any idea on what the inscription says on top of the barrel? Also any idea of period ? It is strange that it does not have a front sight .. I’ve looked and to be honest I can’t see any indication it had one… but that would make no sense . Here are close up pics of the front of the barrel . 1 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted February 5 Report Posted February 5 The top writing when present was often the mark of the person later decorating a barrel, but when in fine silver etc., inlay, it was sometimes an exhortation. It looks readable but my brain is not yet coming into focus 韮張 plus 花王 doesn’t seem at all right… maybe you could post that in the translation section for fresh eyes! The woodwork of your gun could well be newer, meaning the gun was possibly rebuilt at some time. The absence of a front sight is puzzling, but these pistols were never designed for accuracy, meaning the placement of sights was mostly a token gesture. If the base marks of a front sight have been erased, it is a very good job. 2 Quote
Alans Posted Thursday at 05:12 PM Author Report Posted Thursday at 05:12 PM Thanks again Piers , I will post in the Translation section and see if anyone can shed light on it . 👍 Alan . 1 Quote
Kiipu Posted Monday at 11:31 PM Report Posted Monday at 11:31 PM NMB Cross-Reference Help with Mei on Pistol Quote
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