Original Japanese Ornate Edo Period Matchlock Tanegashima Musket with Ball Trigger, Inlaid Barrel & Figured Stock U.S. Marines USMC The scabbard throat flange is

The scabbard throat flange is stamped "US M8" or "US M8A1" on the flat steel part along with manufacturer initials

He passed away in 2009 and his obituary can be found at this link

The blade tip is still intact

but with the materials here in this grouping

the 47th Regiment soon took possession of the town of Sergy

Original Japanese Ornate Edo Period Matchlock Tanegashima Musket with Ball Trigger, Inlaid Barrel & Figured Stock U.S. Marines USMC The scabbard throat flange isOriginal Item: One of a Kind. This is an extremely interesting weapon, especially considering the historical impact of firearm development in Japanese history. It was crafted probably in the late 1700s or early 1800s as a matchlock firearm using black powder and a very primitive ignition system, far behind the rest of the world. This type of gun is often referred to as a Tanegashima (), after the island where a Chinese junk with Portuguese adventurers