AS24783 Matchlock Gun (Hinawaju)：Senshu Ju Tsutaya Kihachiro Shigetaka Saku

Ordering Number: AS24783

Matchlock Gun (Hinawaju)

Signature: Senshu Ju Tsutaya Kihachiro Shigetaka Saku
泉州住蔦谷喜八郎重高作

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku, and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Jyo Saku.

Total Length: 130.4 cm (51.34 in)
Barrel Length: 98.5 cm (38.78 in)
Outer Diameter: 3.1 cm (1.22 in)
Inner Diameter: 0.7 cm (0.28 in)

Features: The entire piece is engraved and beautifully decorated with 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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