Michaelr Posted July 13 Report Posted July 13 I was at a show this weekend and looked at this Teppo. I was told that it was .69 caliber and signed under the barrel. I have included some pictures of the piece and a couple pictures of his pictures of the signature. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. MikeR 1 1 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted July 13 Report Posted July 13 Been collecting data about this gun. Will report shortly! *Pity we can’t see everything, (shape of butt, etc., front sight missing ) but an interesting example. Could be the Ogino-Ryū school of gunnery; the butt shape would tell us. (Later) Small Honda fiefdom in Ōmi called the Zeze Han. Made in 蔓延元年, which is 1860, during the Bakumatsu, towards the end of the Edo period. The smith seems to be 鈴木鉄造 典貞? Suzuki Tetsuzo Norisada(?) Not sure about the very last kanji… 0.69 caliber in Japanese terms puts it at 1.75 cm, close to a 10 Monme Samurai gun or Shizutsu, a bore larger than the standard ashigaru battlefield gun of 1.5 or 1.6 cm. 4 Quote
Michaelr Posted July 15 Author Report Posted July 15 Yes I am here. Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. It’s been crazy at work. Sorry I don’t have any other pictures but I can try and contact the owner. Please let me know what I should ask him. I thought the gun was very interesting but I know little about them. It is for sale but to me the price seemed pretty high. He is asking $4200.00 US. Is this a desirable piece? Do you think it is worth that kind of money? Thank you for the information that you provided. Mike 1 Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted July 15 Report Posted July 15 Hi Mike, it is hard to know what to advise you. It seems from your reply that you are attracted to this gun and half inclined to buy it, but the price is putting you off. What specifically appeals to you? Be honest! The dealer must have reasons for that price, including the value of the zōgan inlay along the top of the barrel and the talismanic Buddhist 六手 characters. If it is a 士筒 Shizutsu (larger samurai gun) this will also add value, as too the possible the Ogino School of gunnery aspect. Was the butt rather long and shaped a little like an elephant’s trunk? To offset that, the gun needs a new foresight, and how much would that cost you? In the Schrödinger‘s Cat category is the state of a) the pan, b) the Bisen breech screw, c) the inside of the barrel and d) the shape of the butt. These would be more important to me as a gunner than any fancy inlay, but from those shots I cannot judge. You on the other hand, may be happy with the appearance of this particular gun and not so much with the others he had for sale…(?)(We can see an Osaka gun in the background of one of those shots.) Speaking as a neutral observer, I like what I can see so far, but the price would not suit my wallet. But I am not abreast with antique gun prices in the continental USA. 2 Quote
Michaelr Posted July 15 Author Report Posted July 15 Thank you very much for the follow up. I do like the shorter, more beefy types, rather than the one you see in the background. By the way he is asking $3600.00 US for that one and that is all I know about it. It is so hard when there is so little information out there,( except for you and you always go far and beyond to help), to spend that kind of money without some solid information. I do enjoy the fancier barrels But also that is sometimes more for the tourist rather that making it a better gun. I would much rather have a plain great gun than a fancy lesser desirable one. This one did jump out to me I just don’t know if it jumped high enough to warrant the money. Again thank you so much for the help. You helped me in the past with another purchase and I truly appreciate you. If I can get any other information I will share it here. Mike 1 Quote
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