The Japanese match lock has a unique history that spans more than 300 years. These unique weapons; with their long pistol-shaped stocks and all-brass locks are based on Portuguese snapping match locks from the early 16th Century. Considering Portugal's colonial involvement in Asia during the 16th and 17th Centuries, its not surprising that the Japanese "Tanegashima" bares a resemblance to the weapons used by Portuguese explorers in the region.
The Tanegashima was a favored weapon of the Samurai. As experienced archers, the Samurai clans were quick to see the advantage of firearms as both weapons of war and status symbols. As a result surviving Tanegashimas are often encountered with vary degrees of decoration. From the plain guns of the Samurai clan infantry to the ornately engraved and inlayed pieces used by the Samurai lords themselves.
This particular Tanegashima is in excellent condition and was originally built in the early 18th Century. While most Tanegashimas remain in their original matchlock configuration, this particular example was converted to percussion during the Meiji Restoration period (the late 1860's through the early 1870's). The Meiji movement removed political power from local Shogunate lords and consolidated most of the countries' political influence in a centralized Emperor. This consolidation of power stripped the Samurai clans of the political influence that they had enjoyed in Japan for several hundred years; which naturally led to a series of riots by disgruntled Samurai.
In 1877, tensions flared into in outright Civil War between the Samurai and the newly-formed Japanese Imperial Government. Known as Satsuma's Rebellion, the war was waged by Samurai clans striving to maintain the cultural and political traditions of Japan. In keeping with their traditional beliefs, the Samurai who fought in Satsuma's Rebellion were armed with traditional weaponry; including Katanas and Tanegashimas. However, realizing that their matchlock weapons would easily be outclassed by the percussion weapons of the Imperial Army, a number of clans that fought in Satsuma's Rebellion opted to have their matchlock Tanegashimas converted to percussion.
The conversion work was performed by local gunsmiths, and the quality of the workmanship is outstanding; including the addition of a new steel hammer, main spring, and a high quality brazed percussion bolster added to the barrel.
Unfortunately, despite the "modernizing" of some of their weaponry the Samurai of Satsuma's Rebellion were summarily defeated by the Imperial Japanese Army in less than 9 months, and the country continued to grow more "Western" throughout the remainder of the 19th Century and into the 20th; eventually culminating in the small island nation playing a major role in the Second World War. Still Satsuma's Rebellion stands as the last gasps of a proud Japanese tradition that lasted more than 700 years, and also served as the basis for Tom Cruise's 2003 epic The Last Samurai.
This particular Tanegashima was one of the few guns that was converted to percussion during Satsuma's Rebellion. Like the rest of the percussion-converted Tanegashimas, the conversion work done to this piece is outstanding and the gun remains fully functional (it's previous owner actually shot the gun occasionally, and installed a "new" 19th Century nipple to insure reliable ignition).
This gun remains in excellent condition. Its stocked in red oak with no cracks, rotten spots, or other damage. According to Shigeo Sugawa, in his book The Japanese Matchlock a majority of original Tanegashimas were stock in red oak harvested from the island of Formosa; which is now known as Taiwan. The finish is red lacquer. Multiple brass inlays can be found in the stock, including a lion, cherry blossoms, clan markings and a Samurai's head clad in a traditional helmet.
The brass lock is the Geki type. Geki locks have five setting positions to adjust trigger pull. It functions reliably with a solid full cock (these weapons were not designed with a half cock).
The smoothbore barrel is 38" long and the bore is in fair condition with some light rust and scattered pitting. However, the gun is very accurate with the weapon's former owner reporting excellent groups at 25 yds.
This rare and historic Japanese Samurai Tanegashima would make an excellent addition to anyone antique firearms collection. It remains an excellent study piece that can also be used as an occasional shooter. We recommend a load of 30-35 grains of FFg, a thin linen patch, and a .433 round ball.
