Traditional Muzzleloading Association

Traditional Firearms => Pre-Flintock Firearms => Topic started by: bluelake on April 19, 2009, 03:46:43 AM

Title: Japanese Matchlock
Post by: bluelake on April 19, 2009, 03:46:43 AM: Just the other day, I ordered a Japanese matchlock from John Buck. He told me he hadn't made one before, but had good plans for one. I'm really looking forward to it, both for work on my dissertation and also just for fun.

Here's a page with all kinds of different Japanese matchlocks. If you click on a picture, there are other pictures showing all different angles and even ones with the matchlocks taken apart.

http://seiyudo.com/antiqueguns.htm

(http://seiyudo.com/assets/images/shohin02/GU-08135-600idx.jpg)
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Post by: Spotted Bull on April 19, 2009, 05:31:32 AM: Those are really cool...gotta get a matchlock for myself some day.
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Post by: Craig Tx on April 19, 2009, 11:27:34 AM: They do be fun RB...

Nothin' like a few matchlocks in a pike square for a fun afternoon...

Craig
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Post by: Minnesota Mike on April 21, 2009, 11:30:28 AM: You gonna get the outfit that goes with it?

r/
MM
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Post by: Indiana on April 21, 2009, 12:15:58 PM: That's a gorgeous rifle. What kind of wood did the Japanese use to make their matchlocks with?
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Post by: Spotted Bull on April 21, 2009, 12:19:44 PM: Quote from: "Minnesota Mike"
You gonna get the outfit that goes with it?

r/
MM

Not sure that I would fit in at the local vouz in that getup...but hey I'm game!
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Post by: bluelake on April 21, 2009, 07:00:04 PM: Quote from: "Indiana"
That's a gorgeous rifle. What kind of wood did the Japanese use to make their matchlocks with?

I believe Japanese (flowering) cherry.
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Post by: bluelake on April 21, 2009, 07:10:06 PM: Quote from: "Minnesota Mike"
You gonna get the outfit that goes with it?

r/
MM

If I ever got any outfit to go with it, it would probably be that of a Korean Joseon dynasty soldier (look at the videos I posted on Korean cannon for reference), but as I'm not a re-enactor it probably won't happen. I did once wear a Joseon dynasty officer's uniform for a Korean archery demo.

(http://www.koreanarchery.org/classic/ETAR2002/etar30.jpg)
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Post by: bluelake on April 26, 2009, 09:36:58 AM: Today, I spent the afternoon translating Korean text into English in a book chapter about black powder (very interesting reading that will be very useful in my dissertation). While flipping through the rest of that chapter, which is on Korean Joseon dynasty guns of all sizes, I ran across the mention of one peculiar piece. It was an extra-long smoothbore matchlock: 65" overall length with an approximate 51" barrel (and weighed in at 22 pounds). There is an even longer example in a museum in Incheon with a 68" overall length and approximate 53" barrel (and .91 caliber). They were recorded as shooting 1,000 paces (over 3/4 of a mile). Was there anything comparable during the same time period (~18th and 19th centuries) in the West?
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Post by: bluelake on June 24, 2009, 12:51:17 AM: Well, I had an e-mail from John Buck, and he's finishing up my matchlock; he hopes to have it done this weekend. I'm really looking forward to receiving and shooting it (I'll let the UPS guy get out of the way first, however ). I plan to take a lot of video and stills this summer; I'll share what I do when I get it all sorted.

My plane takes off tomorrow morning and, after nearly 24 hrs. of traveling, I should be at my folks' place.
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Post by: bluelake on July 09, 2009, 06:44:38 PM: My Japanese matchlock is somewhere between VA and MI (coming by USPS). John Buck and I talked on the phone today for over an hour. He's a really interesting fellow to talk with. Anyway, I'm really looking forward to my matchlock to arrive, as it is the main part of my dissertation research, so I need to make lots of smoke with it by the end of the summer.

BTW, the barrel is probably 100-150 years old and has never been fired.
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Post by: bluelake on July 10, 2009, 01:02:13 PM: Yeehah! She came today and what a beauty she is. John Buck sure did a nice job. I'm planning to go make a little smoke this afternoon if it doesn't rain.

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/jochong%20001.jpg)

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/jochong%20002.jpg)

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/jochong%20003.jpg)

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/jochong%20004.jpg)

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/jochong%20005.jpg)

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/jochong%20006.jpg)

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/jochong%20007.jpg)

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/jochong%20008.jpg)

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/jochong%20009.jpg)

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/jochong%20010.jpg)

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/jochong%20011.jpg)

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/jochong%20012.jpg)

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/jochong%20013.jpg)

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/jochong%20014.jpg)

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/jochong%20015.jpg)
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Post by: bluelake on July 10, 2009, 07:20:59 PM: Well, I went out and made some smoke today. It is a smooth shooter and I hardly felt anything at all. I started out with 25gr. and went up to 40gr. I used the Korean method of loading a paper wad (I used Korean mulberry pulp paper) after the powder and ball were seated. Finally, I had a hangfire and decided to call it a day. I ended up using a bullet puller. I'll clean it out tonight and try again in a couple days (I'm heading to the long range artillery competition tomorrow).

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/ballpull.JPG)
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Post by: bluelake on August 02, 2009, 09:19:53 AM: I've been having a great time with the matchlock, although the wet weather we've been having here has dictated a bit when I'm able to go out and shoot. Here is a pic from about 1903 in Korea with tiger hunters and their matchlocks:

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2419972390_42c998c015.jpg)
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Post by: Forager on August 02, 2009, 10:06:09 AM: What's the proper shooting hold for one of those?
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Post by: bluelake on August 02, 2009, 04:19:30 PM: Quote from: "VAnimrod"
What's the proper shooting hold for one of those?

It has a cheek stock. The best hold I found is like in the following:

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/matchlock/tigerhunter/IMG_6785.jpg)

My interpretation of the fellow on the left in the 1903 pic:

(http://www.shinmiyangyo.org/matchlock/tigerhunter/IMG_6774.jpg)
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Post by: bluelake on August 28, 2009, 03:43:19 AM: Here is a little one-minute video of a few of my many shots this summer (matchlock smoothbore and flintlock pistol).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlUCUVNdMsQ
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Post by: Swamp on August 28, 2009, 09:11:18 AM: Very cool Bluelake! I like that rifle. The action seems fast.
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Post by: bluelake on August 28, 2009, 09:46:35 AM: Thanks, Swamp. I really, really like it; it just feels so sweet when it's touched off. John Buck really does a great job (and he's a really great guy to do business with).
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Post by: bluelake on September 18, 2009, 09:53:44 PM: I found Japan's association: Muzzle Loader's Shooting Association of Japan: http://www.mlsa.jpNow, if I can either find something like that here in Korea or get something like that going...

Here is a clip I found: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKbJHddWvMY Interesting style...
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Post by: butterchurn on September 19, 2009, 07:47:14 PM: Way cool! Now if I can only get John Buck to send me my matchlock he has been siting on for a year and a half +
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Post by: bluelake on September 19, 2009, 08:17:16 PM: Quote from: "butterchurn"
Way cool! Now if I can only get John Buck to send me my matchlock he has been siting on for a year and a half +

I'd give him a call. He doesn't check e-mail a lot. What kind of matchlock is it?
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Post by: butterchurn on September 20, 2009, 10:12:11 PM: It is an English Civil War style, but in 20 gauge. I have called him a number of times. At first he told me to call him after 3 months and I did and it wasn't done. I waited another 6 and he told me he had a movie contract he did. So I waited all summer and tried calling him in August. He had misplaced my paperwork and the last time I called he said he was working on it and to call beack in a week. It has been two and I haven't heard anything. I will call him again tomorrow.

I am very patient, but after giving way more time than he said it would take, I'm becoming annoyed. I know he is a good guy. I would like to shoot it before another winter begins.