AN 18 BORE JAPANESE SNAP-MATCHLOCK MUSKET (TANEGASHIMA, TEPPO OR HINAWAJU), EDO PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY

with heavy tapering sighted iron barrel strongly moulded at the muzzle, inlaid in silver with silver mokko mon of the Oda family over the breech and signed and inscribed beneath, block-shaped back-sight, integral pan with brass pivot-cover, brass action with long plate fitted with faceted iron serpentine, full figured stock, brass trigger and brass finger rest, and associated wooden ramrod, 71.5 cm barrel

The barrel is signed: Settsu ju (Osaka area, province) Kagotani Gonbei, Biei (maker) and inscribed Jitetsu Somakibari (the whole wrapped with iron).