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#1 |
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Location: FRANCE
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Hi everybody
Just for show a new buying: a small Teppo ( 79,5 cm). I would like to learn more about Japanese matchlock gun so if someone could suggest me good book or website it will be great. Any comments or picture from similar Gun will be welcome Best regards CERJAK |
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#2 |
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Very interesting piece. I own five, and have owned a few more. Have yet to get my hands on a "carbine" length example. There are only two modern publications on the subject, that I know of. Volumes one and two of "The Japanese Matchlock -A story of the Tanegashima-" By Shigea Sugawa. Volume 1 is in English, the other in Japanese. There are some older books available, but they are all in Japanese, and quite expensive.
Given the simplicity of construction, and crudeness of decoration, I'd guess that your gun is either a gunsmiths early attenpt, or something made for the tourist trade. It does show signs of long term use. Whatever it is, I like it! I'll see if I can come with more info. |
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#3 | |
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I have with my teppo an expert appraisal from b.croissy ( French well know expert ) who says that it is a XIX century period so I hope it is a good one. If you have some pictures from yours I will be happy to see them. Best regards CERJAK |
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#4 |
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Wow, what an awesome gun! I really like it's lines and flow. It's also cool to see the Japanese minimalist aesthetics expressed in some of it parts, the cock for instance. Thanks for sharing it!
Take care, - Thor |
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#5 |
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Cerjak, is the barrel bolt (bisen) removable?
Here is a link to Shigeo Sugawa's website, he has a lot of usefull information and pictures, you can purchase his book directly through his site by contacting him, the email address is on his site. http://www.japaneseweapons.net/hinaw...ui/english.htm Last edited by estcrh; 5th December 2012 at 07:41 PM. |
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#6 |
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I have an off-the-wall question, for a project I'm working on: did the japanese have any bronze or brass-barreled matchlocks?
Thanks in advance, F |
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#7 | |
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Very good website ,a lot of information on it ! About this barrel ‘s square bolt it seems that it could be removable but it is rusty and there is a kind of black protective paint I Guess against the rust so It will be hard to remove it and I would be worry to do it. But tell me more about those bolts are they always removable? Regards |
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#8 |
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Most of my breach-plugs, can be removed with the fingers. Sometimes a large nail, or similar metal rod is needed. Sounds like yours has been sealed against moisture. One more thing, always check old muzzle loaders, to see if they are loaded. At least 1/3 of the ones I have handled over the years, were. Drop the ram-rod down the barrel, and then mark it to see how deep it goes. Should go at least to the touch hole.
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#9 |
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Look at Tanegashima--The Arrival of Europe in Japan, by Olof Lidin. It's the story of the matchlock in Japan.
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#10 | |
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Many thanks Cerjak |
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#11 | |
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Regards Cerjak |
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#12 |
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marks from the barrel
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#13 | ||
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Here is a excellent link to the National Museum of Japanese History, there are some rare prints showing how a Japanese matchlock was manufactured along with some other information, and a link to a Wikipedia article I wrote on tanegashima matchlocks. http://www.rekihaku.ac.jp/english/pu...14witness.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanegas...ese_matchlock) Quote:
Last edited by estcrh; 24th December 2012 at 11:15 AM. |
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#14 | |
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Many thanks for this link because of your answer I just try again to remove this bolts and at last it was possible to turn it, but still not possible to remove it totaly I have put some oil and I will wait a couple of hours there is a lot of rust.. Kind regards Cerjak |
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If you get a chance can you take some pictures of the ramrod, thanks. |
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#16 | |
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![]() see some pic from the ramrod Kind regards Cerjak |
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#17 | |
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HI WHERE COULD I GET A RAMROD FOR MY JAP MATCHLOCK,AS IT WAS MISSING WHEN I GOT IT,ANY WEBSITE OR DEALER WOULD HELP,MANY THANKS RAJESH
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#18 | |
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#20 |
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Hi Cerjak.
That is a nice looking carbine length Teppo. Congrats. As far as the breech bolt removal, I was about to recommend Kroil oil. (best I've used). But I see you have already accomplised the removal. Great !! What we normally associate with a breech plug is a shorter length plug with fine threads that tightens against the breech face of the barrel somewhat similar to a wheel lug of an automobile. Rather, in the case of Teppo barrels, they use a bolt (better term in this case) with coarse threads, and longer length. The flat face of the bolt simply meets the breech flush. The bolt head is then held firm in the snug fitting hole in the stock. Actually, a clever design. While unusual, it does in fact work. I've never had an issue while firing mine. Again. congrats. A nice piece. Rick. |
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#21 |
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While on this subject, this might be a good time to pose a question about these Teppo's that is still a mystery to me. That being the design of the front and rear sights. Especially the rear.
First the rear site: On the top there is a very thin slot with a partially drilled hole. On the side there is a hole that runs horizontal through the width of the sight. This one horizontal hole seems to be common on every Teppo I've seen. Front sight: Again, a partially drilled vertical hole (like the rear sight) is present, along with a slot. It seems that both sights were designed for some type of additional attachements. But I have no idea what it would be. Any ideas about this? Here are pics of the rear sight: |
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#22 |
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And here is the front sight:
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#23 | |
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You have to go back to the old samurai gun manuals that each individual school of gunnery kept, these were secret manuals meant to pass on the accumulated knowledge of each school to its students. I have some images from these gun manuals on my Pinterest site, here is a link. Japanese firearms illustrations through the Meiji period. https://www.pinterest.com/worldantiq...gh-the-meiji-/ |
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#24 |
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Shigeo Sugawa has a web site both in English and Japanese which is well worth taking some time to browse through, he has info on all types of Japanese firearms and other weapons etc. Shigeo is the author of "The Japanese matchlock:The Story of the Tanegashima"
Below is the must complete glossary of Japanese matchlock terms that I know of. http://www.xn--u9j370humdba539qcybpym.jp/ http://www.japaneseweapons.net/ |
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#25 |
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Hi Estcrh.
You are a wealth of information !! Thanks for the info. and Links. Most interesting. It does in fact appear that at least the rear sight was designed to accomodate a variety of different pieces to adjust the elevation or otherwise change the sight picture. This makes more sense now. I did measure the heighth of both front and rear sights on my barrel. And they are the same. What's interesting is the front sight on mine appears made to accept similar sight adjustment pieces, versus a fixed blade. Possibly to allow sight adjustment on either or both sights. (?) Curious. But thanks again for the info. and Links. Most helpful and interesting reading. Rick |
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#26 | |
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