[Ronin48]

Should any of you have an original that you are tempted to shoot disassemble it first. In the late 1800s when westerners (southern barbarians) were numerious in Japan matchlocks were one item the tourists would bring home. Japan had switched to the bolt action Murata and apparently old "rifles" had little value. Since the long ones were to cumbersom to carry some enterprising Japanese craftsmen shortened the matchlocks by cutting the barrel at the breech end and moving the touch hole and pan forward. The breech was closed with a wooden plug and the stock shortened accordingly.

Some years ago I had a matchlock restored by Shiro Yoshita and mine was oone of the shortened ones with a wooden breech plug. He told me the above story.