Product Details
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE 100-BORE PERCUSSION-PISTOL DISGUISED AS A JAPANESE TANTO DAGGER,
Japanese circa 1860, with blackened iron, round, 5 1/2in. barrel, the surface of the barrel inlaid with engraved silver oriental dragons frolicking in clouds with further gilded detail, squared boxlock action to rear with long top-hammer inlaid with a gilded signature and a concealed folding trigger below, the sides of the action with gilded 'mon' devices, iron rammer retained via a thread mounted to the top of barrel, silver-alloy mount joining the action to the tang, silver-alloy oval 'tsuba' guard carved to both sides with an oriental dragon, engraved en-suite silver-alloy mounts with applied gilt 'mon', the majority of the silk grip-binding absent, together with its laquered 'saya' also with matching mounts and applied 'mon', the steel-grey laquer impregnated with flecks of mother of pearl and precious metals (cracked with losses to both seams) and provision for a companion knife (missing)
Other Notes: The 'mons' on this piece are those of the Tokugawa Shogunate. This pistol was recovered and brought back to England by the vendor's grandfather, Sir Henry Norman M.P. in 1880. Sir Henry later went on to pen the title 'The Real Japan' in 1892
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Estimate £800-1,200