Produced by an exceptionally gifted unknown smith, the swamped round barrel a blade front and cubic block rear sight on the flat filled top, and is decorated across the length with fine maroon lacquer, which serves as the background for a five inch long polychromatic flying dragon between the sights, the triple hollyhock mon of the Tokugawa Clan behind the rear sight, and a pair of untranslated gold lacquer symbols at front and rear. There is a tiny five character Kanji mark on the left side of the barrel towards the rear, followed by another, even smaller, three character mark. The first appears to be a date, but both are partially obscured by the lacquer. The iron match holder, trigger guard, and ramrod are carved with vines and flowers inlaid with gold and silver. The brass trigger is carved with spiral lines, and the brass lock plate has an internal mainspring and two single character cartouches at the front. The black lacquer case is 21 1/8 inches long, 5 7/8 inches wide, and 3 1/8 inches thick, with a black velvet inner lining, French-style close contour recess for the pistol, and a separate lid decorated with three feathers rendered in gold, silver and red lacquer. Attributed to the collection of Dr. William Funderburg.

Excellent, with a few light handling marks in the paint accented inlay overall, and a few absent sections of hammer inlay. The action needs minor adjustment. There is a small chip in the lacquer on one end of the lid of the case.