AS24784 Hinawa Ju (Matchlock gun)： Mumei

Hinawa Ju (Matchlock gun)

Signature： Mumei

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku, and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Jyo Saku for Kunitomo Kyūbē.
Total Length: 118.9 cm (46.81 in)
Barrel Length: 55.5 cm (21.85 in)
Caliber: 1.0 cm (0.39 in)

Features: The entire piece is adorned with engravings, and it has a beautifully crafted cover made of silver and brass.

Aoi Art’s Comment: The matchlock gun was first introduced to Japan in 1543 (Tenbun 12).
In August of that year, Portuguese sailors drifted ashore on Tanegashima Island, bringing two matchlock guns.
Tanegashima Tokitaka, the lord of Tanegashima, purchased the guns for a large sum of money.
Through Tanegashima Tokitaka and the Shimazu clan, the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiharu acquired a matchlock gun and immediately attempted to produce domestic versions.
The swordsmiths of Tanegashima and Kunitomo in Ōmi were tasked with this replication, and it is said that they successfully produced domestic matchlocks within just one year.
Subsequently, Kunitomo and Hino in Ōmi, Negoro in Kii, and Sakai in Izumi became major centers for firearm production.
Initially, matchlocks were expensive weapons used exclusively by samurai.
However, as production increased and they became more widespread, they eventually became weapons for foot soldiers.
During the Edo period, strict gun control laws were enforced, prohibiting anyone other than samurai from owning firearms, except for hunting or protecting against wild animals.
The production of short-barreled guns was also prohibited, leading to the clandestine manufacturing of matchlock pistols, most of which were unsigned.
As a result, these weapons were scarce.
Even fewer have survived to the present day, making them highly rare and valuable.
(Cited from Wikipedia)

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