Japan Arsenal Tanegashima Samurai Pistol Complete Specs and Full Gun Specifications

Tanegashima was a type of matchlock firearm introduced in Japan through the Portuguese in 1543. This Japanese tanegashima (matchlock) pistol in 8.9mm or .35 caliber is a perfect example of these early muzzle-loaded matchlock pistols that were used by samurai and that forever changed the way they fought in battle. The Japanese bought two matchlock rifles from Portuguese traders on the Japanese island Tanegashima, copied it and in the next 10 years they built over 300,000 of them. The first tanegashima guns had limited power and reach, they were slow to load and operate but the Japanese soon improved them and built a bigger caliber and with protective boxes to protect their firing mechanism from the rain. For the next 200 years tanegashima guns were the main type of firearms in Japan.