Japanese Edo Period Etched Heavy Barrel Matchlock Musket

The gun has an overall length of approximately 43-1/2 inches, the stock is complete, intact, displays a fine untouched finish with two cracks at the breech. The heavy barrel measures 29-3/4 inches long, 1-1/2 inches across the breech and 1-1/2 inches at the muzzle flare with a 3/4 inch bore. The barrel of the gun is extensively etched, to include the Bonji symbol ('Bonji' being stylized Japanized Sanskrit) for the god Fudō Myō Ō, a wrathful deity and dharmapala (protector of the Dharma) who is prominent in Vajrayana Buddhism and East Asian Buddhism. Barrel also displays inlayed silver petals, areas of gold wash and Japanese kanji, identifying the arsenal as in Ibaraki Prefecture, with the gun having arsenal number 1364. Overall the gun is in very good condition with working mechanism and original ramrod. The musket is very heavy so shipping to the west coast will be 50.00.