The Tanegashima arquebuses, named after the island on which they were introduced by shipwrecked Portuguese explorers in the mid-16th century, were used into the late 19th century, long after matchlock firearms had been replaced by flintlock and percussion arms by Europeans and other western countries. This example is particularly ornate. The octagonal smoothbore barrel has a triangular front sight blade, series of silver butterflies, brass and silver inlaid floral and Japanese lion designs, and a silver mon. The lock has untranslated calligraphy at the front. The brass inlays on the stock include another lion and floral patterns.