Tanegashima signature interpretation

[Nick H]

I have recently acquired two Tanegashimas from a private estate and would greatly appreciate any help in interpreting the signatures under each barrel.  The first is a .50 cal. 41 1/2 inch octagonal inlayed barrel with a partial signature due to corrosion that I am sure will be challenging.  
 

 

 

 

 

 

The second is a .60 cal. 29 5/8 inch heavy round fully inlaid barrel with a clear full signature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any help will be very much appreciated and thanks in advance…….Nick H.
 

 

[Robert S]

You should probably put this post in the translation section, not here.

[Brian]

Should be fine here, guys like Piers etc with a background in these items have a good chance of working out the mei based on their knowledge of the makers and styles.

[Bugyotsuji]

Hi, yes, took screen shots, cropped them, turned them upright and saved them.

 

The first is a Settsu (Osaka) gun made by a smith (name obliterated) working for the House of Enamiya.

摂州住榎並屋ｘｘｘ衛作

 

 The second has stuff I need to double-check on. The date at top is fuzzy but looks like 萬延 Man-en Gannen (1860).

The Mei 鈴木鉄造　典直　作之

Suzuki Tetsuzo (?) Norinao Saku Kore, = made by Suzuki Tetsuzo Norichika/Norinao (not sure about how he wanted those characters read!) but no place of manufacture is indicated.

 

NB I did find a record of another gun made by this second smith above Nick, dated Bunkyu Gannen (1861), which does put yours inside the ballpark.

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Nick H?

[Bazza]

See also

 

BaZZa.

 

[Nick H]

On 4/25/2026 at 2:48 AM, Bugyotsuji said:

Hi, yes, took screen shots, cropped them, turned them upright and saved them.

 

The first is a Settsu (Osaka) gun made by a smith (name obliterated) working for the House of Enamiya.

摂州住榎並屋ｘｘｘ衛作

 

 The second has stuff I need to double-check on. The date at top is fuzzy but looks like 萬延 Man-en Gannen (1860).

The Mei 鈴木鉄造　典直　作之

Suzuki Tetsuzo (?) Norinao Saku Kore, = made by Suzuki Tetsuzo Norichika/Norinao (not sure about how he wanted those characters read!) but no place of manufacture is indicated.

 

NB I did find a record of another gun made by this second smith above Nick, dated Bunkyu Gannen (1861), which does put yours inside the ballpark.

 

 

[Nick H]

Thank you both for your information and my apologies for my tardy response.  It has been about 15 years since I last participated here and had forgotten how to properly navigate.  I am a senior with limited computer skills and had not set up any notification preferences.  I really appreciate your help.