Matchlock named ‘Suminawa’

This matchlock gun has the following story: one day, Kuroda Nagamasa, the first lord of the Fukuoka domain, and Tachibana Muneshige, the first lord of the Yanagawa domain, discussed the relative merits of guns and bows with each other. Nagamasa stated the advantages of using guns and insisted on abolishment of bows. Muneshige objected and explained that each weapon had advantages and disadvantages. Then, they decided to compete, attempting to hit a metal rod as a target. Nagamasa used his gun while Muneshige used his bow, and the winner would get the loser’s weapon. As a result, Muneshige won the contest and was given this matchlock called ‘Suminawa’ by Nagamasa. In return, Muneshige gave Nagamasa his bow. The name comes from the carpenter’s inking string, known as a Suminawa, used to draw a straight line. It is thought to have been named after the movement of the bullet of this matchlock.