The high quality Japanese matchlock is 42 inches in length and has the distinctive stock with short butt. The unique brass Japanese matchlock action has a serpentine that is cocked against an external leaf spring and released by a stud trigger on the lower portion of the stock. The flash pan is shielded by a brass cover that is manually rotated to expose the priming powder. The barrel is round with a flat sighting rib, raised rear sight and iron blade front sight. The top of the barrel is decorated with brass and silver peacock, floral and vine inlays. The bottom of the barrel is marked with Japanese characters. The breech end of the stock has a brass ring and plate that are engraved bamboo and leaf patterns. The lacquered stock is decorated with mums on the left side, a fu dog on the right and leafs on the rear spine. The stock is pinned to the barrel with three pins and has brass escutcheons in the shape of chrysanthemums at the fastener holes for the barrel and lock, (the pins are missing that secure the barrel).

Very good. The barrel has a smooth dark patina with some small areas of minor pitting on the underside. There is a small piece of the inlay missing on the barrel, otherwise it is all intact. The brass and silver inlays have an aged untouched patina. The stock is very good despite a 3 1/2" crack along the upper edge near the breech end of the barrel. Overall there are some scattered minor dings and scuffs with almost all of the original lacquer remaining. The ramrod is missing. The action functions properly