Japan - 18th century - Matchlock - Musket

This type of musket is referred to as a Tanegashima after the island “Tanegashima”. This particular Tanegashima is dating to the EDO period (1615–1868) and it is very probably crafted after 1700 before the early 1800s It has been used and fired as a matchlock firearm, which is muzzle-loaded using black powder a lead ball and a matchlock ignition system. It has a smooth bore barrel of 39" with a flared muzzle with an overall length of 51". The wood stock is extensively inlaid with engraved brass panels and decorated plaques. There are large brass flowers on the butt stock, surrounding holes in the stock, which were used to direct the excess match lock wick through the stock and out of the user's way. The matchlock action is all brass. The trigger is brass of button form protected by a simple brass bow trigger guard. The barrel is inlaid with a brass dragon which partly faded out. The flash pan cover is missing