Bidspirit auction | Antique Japanese 'Tanegashima' Percussion Rifle

Antique Japanese 'Tanegashima' Percussion Rifle - Early Japanese percussion or Tanegashima rifle, Edo Period 1603-1868 with dark brown wood stock. Brass mounts and lock. Long round steel barrel with rear and forward sight. Signed to the barrel in gilt brass or gold. Introduced to the Japanese by the Portuguese Empire in 1543. The arquebus matchlock rifle was popularized by the Samurai and their Ashigaru foot solders changing conflicts in Japan forever. Size 47 1/8” L Ex-Southern California Collection Condition: very good with light stabilized oxidization to barrel.