The Bajozutsu and Tanzutsu — The Japanese Matchlock PistolIn Europe the matchlock musket becam
The Bajozutsu and Tanzutsu — The Japanese Matchlock PistolIn Europe the matchlock musket became a common weapon among armies around the early to mid 16th century. However matchlock pistols did not proliferate. Instead pistols only became popular in the west with the development of the wheel-lock and later flintlock mechanism. However in the east, especially in Japan, the matchlock pistol flourished.Firearms were first introduced to Japan by Portuguese, the tanegashima matchlock musket become very popular among the soldiers and warrior classes of Japan. However, unlike in Europe, Japanese gunsmiths were quick to produce smaller, easier to carry forms of the tanegashima. Japanese pistols for the most part come in two forms. The bajozutsu and the tanzutsu.The tanzutsu was equivelent to a holster pistol in the west. The tanzutsu was made to be small, compact, easy to hold with one hand, and easy to conceal.The bajozutsu was closer to a carbine in size and length. It was typically used by mounted samurai, cavalry, and other mounted troops because it was easier to load and fire from horseback than a full sized musket.The form and decoration of a Japanese matchlock pistol (or musket) differed depending on the makers clan, daimyo lord, family, or shogun. Usually Japanese firearms are clearly marked with the family crest of the lord who the weapon was produced for. The vast majority of Japanese firearms are matchlocks. In 1600 the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu seized power in Japan and managed to unite the country. Among his new policies as ruler of Japan was the banishment of foreigners and a strict doctrine of isolationism. As a result Japan was left unaware of the technological progresses in the west. Thus, Japanese firearms never progressed past matchlock technology. Some gunmakers did create some interesting designs, however. One of the rarest and most interesting creations was a multishot matchlock pistol with three rotating barrels. Such models are exceedingly rare. -- source link
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