Japanese Fuse-powered Teppō (tanegashima) – Late Edo Period (late 18th Century)

A remarkable Japanese matchlock teppō (tanegashima) of great length, manufactured during the late Edo period. It features rich decoration as well as a gunsmith’s signature engraved beneath the breech of the barrel. This inscription appears to correspond to a craftsman based in the former province of Settsu, one of Japan’s major historical centers for firearms manufacturing, although its interpretation and definitive attribution remain pending further specialized study.

The firearm is equipped with an octagonal barrel at the breech, which then becomes circular, with a smooth bore of approximately 12 mm caliber. It retains its complete matchlock mechanism, which is in working order.

The barrel’s decoration is particularly remarkable, featuring a dragon rendered in gilded metal inlays, as well as numerous brass ornaments distributed throughout the mount. It also retains a Mon (Japanese family crest) in silver inlaid on the barrel, although there is some partial loss of the silver.

Condition: very good, consistent with its age. The barrel has a uniform patina and a few superficial pitting marks. The mechanism is functional.

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