Rare 19th C. Japanese Samurai Matchlock Carbine ~

Rare 19th C. Japanese Samurai Matchlock Carbine ~ French Military Advisors of Tokugawa Shogunate. This signed matchlock carbine has traditional Japanese Gold and Silver wire inlay work on the barrel, featuring a dragon, and a large Fleur-de-Lis inlaid in gold. The fleur-de-lis, a French symbol, was not seen in Japan until the late 1860's A.D. when 15 French military advisors were sent to Japan to train the Tokugawa Shogunate in modern methods of warfare. Tom Cruise's character in the 'Last Samurai', Nathan Algren, was based on a French Officer, Jules Brunet, who fought with the Samurai against the modernizing Japanese Imperial Government. The fleur-de-lis gold wire inlay is work that dates from 125 to 150 years ago. It is possible that the fleur-de-lis was added to this much-older matchlock during the late 1860's by a Japanese gunsmith after the Tokugawa Samurai met and were trained by the French, and were exposed to the fleur-de-lis design for the first time in Japan's history. The overall length is 29 1/4".