Japanese Matchlock Barrel

[bluelake]

Originally Posted by rickystl

Hi bluelake. Thanks for the confirmation - and the pic of your barrel. So, your's is both signed AND numbered. I looked real close under magnafication before I re-assembled the gun. But no signature, not even a trace. I'll try to get marking on the inside of the stock and the tiny piece of rice paper translated. Might you know what they mean? See photos. Thanks again, Rick.

Hmmm... The barrel bed writing is not very clear and fairly elaborate, so I'm not really sure what it says. The writing on the piece of paper seems to be incomplete; It kind of looks like an upside-down "2" (二), although the brush stroke would be opposite, I think. Maybe an incomplete character like 川 ("river"), but it's hard to say.