Portuguese Matchlock?

[fernando]

Hi, Bluelake welcome to the forum,
While members with more expertize don't show up, let me try and give a little empyrical aproach to the subject.
The so called Portuguese matchlock introduced in Japan, derives from the Bohemian Schnapp-Lunte, brought to Portugal and later taken to the Goa arsenals where it was subject to a local fusion, by influence of Portuguese Vice-Roys. It was from here, namely from the 'house of ten thousand muskets' that these weapons were spread to all Asia, including their introduction in Japan.
It is this system evolution that achieved the current name of Indo-Portuguese matchlock.
I guess it is not easy to find originals of these weapons; i have read that the Japanese officials have tried hard, and all they could find was some late versions.
If you care for some sketches, allusive designs, replicas and the like, i can post some material in this thread.
Fernando