Magnificent Possibly Unique Full Silver Mounted Japanese Matchlock Musket (Tanegashima)

41 and 5/8th inch octagonal barrel .45 caliber. Barrel has unusually finely formed bulbous muzzle. Front and rear sights. Unique engraved silver lock plate with brass serpent, silver mainspring, fence, and pan cover. Unusual brass pan. Breech band in silver engraved with a helmeted samurai warrior (normally one only sees a stylized helmet). Silver triggerguard and trigger.

The full stock of incredibly dense exotic wood with incredible figure resembling rosewood. The stock is elaborately inlaid with silver comprising a large playful shish, birds, flowers, the “prayer wheel” of silver, copper, shakudo, and silver. The butt’s end completely encased in engraved silver. Chidori in flight executed in alternation silver and copper adorn the fore-stock ahead of an elaborate 14 inch reinforcing panel of engraved copper, brass, and silver.

The barrel with long signature Kawachi Masa (?) and exhibits a beautiful deep age brown patina. Condition of the mounts and stock is excellent overall. Action works perfectly and bore is good.

This is the only silver mounted matchlock we have seen in 45 years and the only such tanegashima out of the dozens we have sold. It is an incredible Japanese musket and will delight the collector of matchlocks or high art firearms. 54 inches overall. Weight nearly 10 pounds.