Teppo Barrel

[bluelake]

I recently acquired a teppo barrel. It's about 90cm in length and .54 cal. It came with an old stock, but they don't match--although the barrel channel is the correct width and depth, the stock is way too short and the underlug inlet doesn't match up with the underlug. In any case, I'm curious if anyone recognizes the barrel maker. I'll attach a few pics and hope the signature is readable. Thanks!

 

 

Thomas

 

 

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Well, from Setsu/ Izumi/Sakai =

榎並屋勘左衛門作 Enamiya Kansaemon　さく? + 116

 

 

No other markings anywhere?

[bluelake]

Well, from Setsu/ Izumi/Sakai =

榎並屋勘佐衛門作 Enamiya Kansaemon　さく? + 116

 

 

No other markings anywhere?

 

Aside from those between the breech plug and underlug, I can't seem to find any others. What does "さく? + 116" refer to? Any info on the maker you mentioned?

 

Thanks!

 

 

Thomas

[Bugyotsuji]

Saku means 'maker' or 'made by', Thomas, as in swords. The No. 116 bottom left between the pan and the Bisen suggests one of (?) perhaps a large order of 150 or 200 guns. (?) I read that to make one gun took 40 days and nights of intense forgework. Enami or Enami-ya were a large and very famous group/line of gunsmiths in the Osaka area. About 180

Mei of Enamiya gunsmiths have been recorded, many with specific dates cut in the barrels.

[bluelake]

Saku means 'maker' or 'made by', Thomas, as in swords. The No. 116 bottom left between the pan and the Bisen suggests one of (?) perhaps a large order of 150 or 200 guns. (?) I read that to make one gun took 40 days and nights of intense forgework. Enami or Enami-ya were a large and very famous group/line of gunsmiths in the Osaka area. About 180

Mei of Enamiya gunsmiths have been recorded, many with specific dates cut in the barrels.

 

Interesting, Piers. Any ballpark idea about how old this barrel might be?

 

It is certainly a very well-made barrel. I can really see the craftsmanship.

 

 

Thomas

[Bugyotsuji]

Not possible to answer your questions with any accuracy, Thomas, but the placement of the sight

suggests later rather than earlier. The muzzle decoration is well done, but the Mei seems short of info.

What does .54 cal work out to in Monme, I wonder? Do you have large hands, and which of your fingers

fits easily down the barrel? The high number suggests either that they were making barrels of a certain

type, say for hunting, which were then finished for individual orders and selling well, or that a bulk order had

been placed for a castle garrison. If the latter then possibly in the years at the end of Edo 1840s to 1850s

when Japan was rearming to meet the threat of the black ships. Can anyone else refine this in any way?

 

A closer shot of the inside of the pan could help answer the age question. (Has it been plugged, BTW?)

[watsonmil]

Dear Piers,

.54 inch caliber = 13.72 mm = 4 monme. For God's sake Piers quit sticking your fingers down gun barrels ! One of these times you'll find it stuck :lol: .

... Ron Watson

[Bugyotsuji]

Hahaha... Ron, that's excellent. Thank you.

 

Hmmm.... 4 monme, this would put the gun into smaller firepower, Ashigaru, Hosozutsu, (?)

but it's a fairly long barrel. Military? Baby Hazama?

 

Not really convenient for taking hunting, though not impossible, and the decoration at the

muzzle does suggest personal use.

[bluelake]

Not possible to answer your questions with any accuracy, Thomas, but the placement of the sight

suggests later rather than earlier. The muzzle decoration is well done, but the Mei seems short of info.

What does .54 cal work out to in Monme, I wonder? Do you have large hands, and which of your fingers

fits easily down the barrel? The high number suggests either that they were making barrels of a certain

type, say for hunting, which were then finished for individual orders and selling well, or that a bulk order had

been placed for a castle garrison. If the latter then possibly in the years at the end of Edo 1840s to 1850s

when Japan was rearming to meet the threat of the black ships. Can anyone else refine this in any way?

 

A closer shot of the inside of the pan could help answer the age question. (Has it been plugged, BTW?)

 

Piers,

 

From what I can find, the .54 caliber would be about 5 monme (the monme is the same as the Korean "dohn" 돈, which is a weight system still used today in Korea). In metric, my calipers showed the bore to be 13.74mm; just the tip of my pinky could fit in the muzzle.

 

I'll attach a pic of the pan. The vent is still open.

 

 

Thanks!

 

[bluelake]

Dear Piers,

.54 inch caliber = 13.72 mm = 4 monme. For God's sake Piers quit sticking your fingers down gun barrels ! One of these times you'll find it stuck :lol: .

... Ron Watson

O.K.--4 monme (I was close ).

[Bugyotsuji]

Ah, many thanks, bluelake. Yes, the pan looks like a later type, but well-used!

 

Can you see a 'bugu-naoshi' circle underneath in the flat bottom of the pan,

where the steel may have been repaired?

[bluelake]

Can you see a 'bugu-naoshi' circle underneath in the flat bottom of the pan,

where the steel may have been repaired?

 

It's hard to tell if there is anything like that on the bottom of the pan. When I tilt it in the light, it looks like there might be something circular directly beneath.

[Bugyotsuji]

Thank you for looking and getting back. In picture two of your first post,

there is just the suggestion of one. With heavy usage, the pan and the

vent grow misshapen, causing various problems. A time comes when

a decision is made to do the 'bugu-naoshi' repair to restore the Himichi's

narrowness, and to strengthen and thicken the bottom of the pan. This

latter will usually involve drilling straight up vertically through the bottom

of the pan and replacing that section with a circular plug. Such a repair

can be an indication of either a) age, or of b) heavy usage.

[bluelake]

Thank you for looking and getting back. In picture two of your first post,

there is just the suggestion of one. With heavy usage, the pan and the

vent grow misshapen, causing various problems. A time comes when

a decision is made to do the 'bugu-naoshi' repair to restore the Himichi's

narrowness, and to strengthen and thicken the bottom of the pan. This

latter will usually involve drilling straight up vertically through the bottom

of the pan and replacing that section with a circular plug. Such a repair

can be an indication of either a) age, or of b) heavy usage.

 

Thanks, Piers--that's good information to know. It makes sense to do that after the inevitable wear the pan will have.

 

 

Thomas

[Bugyotsuji]

There is an excellent little pamphlet put out in Japanese by the Sakai Teppo Kenkyu-kai, called

'Sakaizutsu' in Showa 59, full of interesting information, maps, photos etc.

 

On P 9 is a description of Enamiya, and Kansaemon. There is a gun on pp 16-17 signed like yours

'Enamiya Kansaemon', and it is described as 'mid-Edo'. There is also a photo of a triple

stamp that was hammered into some Sakai gun barrels around 1821 to guarantee Sakai quality,

representing the three major contemporary gunsmiths in Sakai, two of Shibatsuji, and one of Enamiya.

The name Kansaemon itself goes back to the early days when he became head of the

rich family gunsmith collective known as Enamiya.

[bluelake]

Thanks, Piers--that's great info!

 

 

T