MATCHLOCK MUSKET FOR ID

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Cerjak

I've attached a few photos of one matchlock gun from Asia, there is no one mark on it.
I 'm wondering if this musket is from VIETNAM and if it is a work from the 19 or 20 century
Thanks in advance for any info!

Salaams Cerjac,

This looks like a Japanese Teppou.(or Teppo) See http://www.samurai-archives.com which says quote:

"A look at the teppo~Manufacturing of this new firearm was simple; the barrel of the rifle was simple to create, simply by wrapping hot iron around a rod and force welding it shut made it, then fitting it into the stock of the gun. The gun’s firing mechanism was made from solid brass.

The Japanese teppo was not only easy to construct but also simple to operate. The gunner would simply hold the teppo straight using his shoulder as a brace. After opening the priming pan and pulling the trigger a spring would release the serpentine, which holds a lit fuse. As the burning fuse hit the priming pan full of powder, the matchlock would fire. Excess lengths of fuse could be wrapped around the stock of the gun or the gunner’s forearm.

Compared to the Japanese bow, the teppo had a more superior range. The matchlock had an effective killing range of 50 meters and a maximum range of 500 meters, compared to the bow, having a killing range of 30 meters and a maximum range of only 380 meters. Ammunition for the teppo came in a variety of sizes, which was measured in weight instead of diameter. Sizes ranged from as small as 1 monme (8.5mm) to as large as 100 monme (48mm, or nearly 2 inches in diameter). Many large caliber teppo (also known as “wall guns”) had large recoil, that bails of rice were used to support the gunners back.

Although the teppo came in a variety of calibers, many daimyo standardized their teppo’s bores; this allowed for quick loading and allowed soldiers to use each other’s ammunition, when ammo became short.

Ammunition for the matchlock was made from casting solid lead. The lead that was being used for the ammunition was a major import from Europe. It was a suitable metal because of its malleability and high density".Unquote.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.