Japan's First Military Revolver: the S&W No.3

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When Commodore Perry sailed into Tokyo Bay in 1853, he began a serious upheaval of Japanese life. Among other things, the insular Japanese society had been virtually the only nation to ever successfully implement gun control, with a virtually complete prohibition of any arms manufacture or import. This was done to preserve the position of the Samurai nobility. As European aristocrats discovered, the lifetime of martial training of an expert mounted swordsman in armor is handily ignored by a handful of peasants with simple firearms.
At any rate, Perry brought quite a lot of firearms with him, and within a few decades many Japanese government agencies began importing and using handguns - their possession by civilians even became legal. This led to substantial importation of European and American arms into Japan, and eventually to the adoption of a standard handgun by the Imperial Army and Navy. This first official standard sidearm was the Smith & Wesson No.3 revolver, chambered for .44 Russian. The Japanese military made dozens of small purchases of these revolvers from 1878 until 1908, totaling some 17,000 (including nearly a third of all No.3 New Model production, and more than any other export customer except Russia).
Japanese purchases actually included 2nd and 3rd pattern Russian Model guns, New Model guns, and even at the end, Frontier Model guns (these fitted with .44 Russian cylinders instead of the normal .44-40 cylinders, so they could continue to use the standard Japanese ammunition). Japan liked the top break system enough that when they decided to produce their own domestic revolver, it (the Type 26) would be a top break type as well.
Many thanks to Mike Carrick of Arms Heritage Magazine for providing me access to film this example!
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle 36270
Tucson, AZ 85740

[@michelguevara151]

USA : "we want a coaling station" Japan : "give us smith and wesson"

[@maschinenkrafter7845]

I just thought of Japanese pronunciation of that. "Su-Mi-Fu & We-So-Nu", lmao

[@thdark]

@@maschinenkrafter7845 I believe Smith & Wesson would be スミス＆ウェッソン in Japanese, so phonetically "Su-Mi-Su & Uu-Eh-Son", more or less.

[@andrewsuryali8540]

While peasants armed with guns did end the samurai at the END of the Shogunate, in the beginning the firearms control laws were not meant to prolong the privileges of the samurai but to curtail them. Samurai were landholders and village leaders in the sengoku era, and firearms increased their independence BECAUSE it was a force multiplier for their peasant subjects. A samurai able to procure firearms for his personal subjects had the freedom and independence to venture out and join any lord or try to set up his own fiefdom by challenging nearby samurai. This was how many of the minor warlords near the end of the sengoku got their start, and it was the greatest fear of the Toyotomi Regency when they gained control of Japan. Hideyoshi was the one who started a "sword hunt" and eliminated the smaller centers of firearms manufacture in Japan, consolidating a proto-arsenal system. His problem was that he couldn't prevent some allied clans like the Tokugawa and the Date from keeping their clan arsenals. The Tokugawa, once they took over, made damn sure none of the other samurai clans could repeat their successful takeover by expanding on the Toyotomi's firearm ban. So during the entirety of the bakufu, the ban wasn't meant to give the samurai an advantage but to diminish them, reducing their ability to arm their retinue and make war. They never had any qualms about arming their retinue and subject peasants because the social norms prevented actual peasant revolts from starting. In fact, the success of the samurai clans that eventually destroyed the bakufu came from them arming their peasants with guns ahead of the bakufu. It was only later that the newly minted imperial elites (most of whom were samurai themselves) deliberately broke the traditional social norms and triggered the class warfare between peasants and samurai to secure their rule by enlisting the support of the commoners.

[@nolanolivier6791]

Comprehensively nailed it, imho...

[@SA_Vengarr]

Yep! The samurai loved matchlocks and were continuously improving their design right up until Perry sailed in and made them obsolete.

[@StAlchemyst]

I caught that too. Pretty universal huh? The independence they inspire in the common man and the fear they inspire in autocracies.

[@Gabriel-ip6me]

It was a little bit of both. Part of it was, as you say, to curtail the nobility in order to prevent more uprisings. Part of it was to keep the peasants down since the lords of Japan had had decades of trouble with the Ikko Ikki and didn't want that to happen anymore. And part of it was to preserve the social order since there was a lot of social mobility, in both ways, during the civil war and the Shogun wanted to put and end to that (ironic since he was of low birth himself).

[@MGood-ij1hi]

Wouldn't the possession of firearms be a force multiplier for peasant subjects who no longer wanted to be controlled by a given Samurai master?

[@Waldemarvonanhalt]

Something worth pointing out: both the Shogunate and pro-Imperial forces during the Boshin war (and later Satsuma rebellion) had access to modern weapons and both of them used them extensively. Nothing like in the Last Samurai.

[@nolanolivier6791]

That movie was a certified hackjob. I hate how loyal the Weaboos are to it, and how offended they are when their bubble is shattered. I once visited a militaria shop in Nottingham; mostly swords, decommissioned rifles, helmets, etc. The proprietor had branched out into Japanese antiques (or so he thought). He told me clearly artificially aged yoroi he was selling dated from the late 19th century. It had clearly been modified to appear as though it had been used in combat. I immediately suspected that he had either been made or was deliberately attempting to defraud customers. I explained to him why his assertions as to its authenticity was questionable, given the stated time period, the relatively low asking price (no way on God's green Earth is a suit of authentic Japanese armour sold for less than £2000!) and the availability of modern reproductions. His outright answer (I swear by all that is sacred) was: 'well, what did they fight the Americans with then? Have you seen 'The Last Samurai'?' I suspect he was genuinely misinformed, given the expression on his face when I explained what was wrong with his assumptions. He had a shinken for sale for £3500 - which he claimed dated to the 15th century! Either he was a shameless fraud or else he was a gigantic imbecile...

[@crosshp9266]

The revolver played great role during boshin war in japan. The 5 or 6 shot gave non shogunate army great advantage to counter the samurai charge. Most of the samurai are armed with yumi bow and matchlock rifle which slow and cumbersome compare to the revolver. Japanese politician Sakamoto Ryoma carry smith and wesson model 2 in 32 rimfire, he describe it as wonderful weapon. Weapon that smaller than wakisazhi but have range and power like yari spear.

[@crosshp9266]

@based sadly Ryoma was killed in omiya inn he was attack while unprepared. The assassins knock down the oil lantern make the room completly dark. Rumour said Ryoma fired many times with his smith and wesson but his trusty weapon cannot protect him from the mobs of assassins, and he found dead in the next morning

[@ScottKenny1978]

@based the Meiji Restoration and Boshin War are fascinating chunks of time.

[@fabiovarra3698]

it would be more accurate to say that more modern fireweapons give the rebels an advantage against the more numerous shogunate forces, as both side were made up by samurai class

[@murphy7801]

@@fabiovarra3698 indeed think people conflate Shogun and samurai way too often. Foot soldier which at worst is just above a farmer socially for a samurai. To effectively ruling class / court room political class (depending on the age).

[@9mmpeter255]

Also the balbowa war

[@poltpickle2530]

*America Shows Up* “A pistol for you sir, a rifle for you,”

[@MrMikhail77]

Ian: "It's a gun... it honestly could have been tossed into the ocean by a pissed off samurai, landed on a plank of wood barely able to support it, and floated to america."

[@dragon12234]

There were a time period of a couple of decades where you could have a Samurai, Victorian Gentleman, Cowboy, and an elderly Carribean Pirate, adventure togheter in Mexico

[@ratbasher5890]

@@dragon12234 Better work on that screenplay before someone else steals it.

[@yorick6035]

@@dragon12234 Sounds like a normal group for Dungeons and Dragons

[@Jsay18]

@@yorick6035 That's because it is. Reality is what we make of it. The Awakening happened, the Goblinization is happening. D&D was our past that was obscured! FIND HYPERBOREA! /sarcasm

[@dave.of.the.forrest]

@@dragon12234 that could be a great movie

[@terry7907]

“There are lots of ways these could have gotten into the US.” Ah, the good old days.

[@zanenevada7327]

@@kvonkirk2340 maybe some day brother

[@vrisbrianm4720]

Actually the Shogunate predominantly banned the use of samurai swords amongst the peasantry, not firearms, and only the Shogun's capital region had actual strict gun laws in force for security reason. A lot of the peasants still kept matchlock muskets for hunting and the samurais would maintain muskets in their castle garrisons. The 2 centuries of peace did however stop any further firearms development until the mid 19th century.

[@brittakriep2938]

Some muskets with more modern matchlock type ( in german Luntenschnappschloß) had been converted to percussion.

[@Moonhermit-]

I wonder if this would've also meant that gunpowder production was mostly just done by private individuals, since the demand would've been very low. Or maybe just a very select few facilities spread around the country supplying both government and civilians. Any experts on pre-Meiji gunpowder production in Japan?

[@Twilit777]

@@Moonhermit- Not an expert, but you're broadly correct. Gun control was achieved by black powder control. There was "private" enterprise (not individuals, usually extended families) that did both military gunpowder and fireworks but it was highly regulated (and profitable). Most of what they did would have been fireworks and I'm not sure the difference in grade between the black powder used fireworks and gunpowder.

[@Calvin_Coolage]

So their gun control was actually less restrictive during the reign of the shogunate. Neat.

[@Twilit777]

@@Calvin_Coolage I mean, if you couldn't account for why you had a gun, the penalty was death. Basically every law around guns had penalties of "maiming" or "death." So there's that. You'd also be prime conscript material but I'm not clear if Japan still has that.

[@GCho733]

Perry: Open the country. Stop having it be closed.

[@GondolaofBenisCity]

and then they died in a tornado

[@CompuHacker]

@@GondolaofBenisCity (actually a typhoon)

[@HappiKarafuru]

So Japan can't do anything, so they allow US, Britain, Russia and Netherlands visit Japan whatever they want.

[@Joshua_N-A]

Japan: Please give me modernity *90 years later*

[@jameskazd9951]

"Why are you closed, let me talk to your manager" Karen Perry

[@RedXlV]

I'm pretty sure the reason why these revolvers (and other Japanese military pistols) aren't stamped with the chrysanthemum is that they were (as was typical in the Western militaries that Japan was copying) the personal property of an officer, who had to pay with his own money for a handgun. Whereas rifles were the Emperor's property, and issued temporarily to his soldiers, and thus stamped with his chrysanthemum. While those postal service S&W No.2 revolvers *were* the Emperor's property, and thus carried his chrysanthemum.

[@therealcarlxii]

Japanese firearms...someone should write a book about that topic...

[@lordbyron9950]

Maybe someones dad

[@shermanfirefly5410]

Fact: They suck

[@JohnDoe-be5zx]

In all seriousness Ian's father did.

[@LoneWolf051]

I was half-expecting Ian to be wearing a Japanese Kimono with a glass of Sake

[@dutchdenson8156]

That would be cool

[@duneydan7993]

The S&W no. 3 is just my favourite revolver. It looks elegant and really sturdy.

[@Oblithian]

I think my favorite is the colt... dragoon? Is that right? Is that a thing? But I am also quite fond of these

[@corneliussulla9963]

@@Oblithian These S&W revolvers which eject empty cartriges all at once are the only early metallic cartrige revolvers which I would prefer over the older cap&ball revolvers. If I had to chose between a Reichsrevolver, Colt Single Action Army and an older Remington 1858 NMA, I would pick the Remington New Model Army any day. With paper cartriges they are still quicker to reload than the metallic cartrige revolvers where you have to get spent cases out one by one. And usually the percussion revolvers take a greater powder charge.

[@hailexiao2770]

@@corneliussulla9963 Plus you can load all six since there are safety notches between cylinders.

[@paweandonisgawralidisdobrz2522]

1:00 the samurai used guns as soon as they appeared and used pike and shot tactics same as europe. Its myth that samurai and knights resented guns they used them as soon as they could

[@JapanatWar]

Yes! Exactly, in fact certain guns were only allowed for the Samurai class.

[@edi9892]

Actually European nobility cried a lot over the introduction of first the crossbow and then the musket, whereas the Samurai was far more pragmatic. Either way, it reduced the value of armor and thus the advantages of the nobility and elite troops as long as the opponent could get their hands on them... The same goes for cannons. Even a single one was a game changer for entire campaigns and could cause the fall of multiple castles!

[@paweandonisgawralidisdobrz2522]

@@edi9892 cuirassiers. Carakole

[@tihspidtherekciltilc5469]

Same with Native American's or should I say the people that came via the ice bridge from what's known as Siberia.

[@JapanatWar]

@@edi9892 In Japan armour never went out of fashion, and it kept going all the way to the Meiji restoration in one form or anouther.

[@johnphilipdesesto4159]

I just wanna clarify and add a bit to what Ian said about the Japanese government (Tokugawa shogunate) plus what they later acquired. First of all, they did not limit the sale and manufacture of guns cause they were afraid of the peasantry. They were afraid of other Japanese samurai clans to overthrow them. We have to remember that the Japanese society then had a caste system that if you were born a in a certain level of society, you stay in that level until you die. Very unlikely that the bakufu would be afraid of an army of untrained peasants. Infact, during the Boshin war, most of the armys form were composed mainly of samurais or former samurais. Only few were from the commoners (such as Kondo Isami, Hijikata Toshizo, etc.) Next, there were still some commoners who had access to guns during the shogunate, although they were limited to small caliber guns and were mainly used for hunting. Lastly, when Ian said the Japanese acquired a few models later in the shogunate, they were not purchased by the central government, but rather purchased individually by samurais or by individual clans. The models that the clans acquired depended on which foreign power they allied themselves to. For example, the Tokugawa allied with the French, so they got Lefaucheuxs and other French models while the opposing Sat-Cho, since they allied with the Americans and British, they got Smith & Wesson revolvers and Enfield rifles. Also the holster appears to be matching with the gun since It's black. Black leather ware was used by the navy.

[@paperclipcereal5896]

I had read somewhere that Japanese peasants had to apply for a permit with the local magistrate in order to obtain powder or a gun during the Edo period. Do you happen to have any information on this topic?

[@jamesallred460]

Whoah, what a beauty

[@SeidenFisk]

I see the Japanese postal service takes their job very seriously

[@Soff1859]

I thought i was the only one who noticed that! How does the postal service need firearms more urgently than the army?

[@michalsoukup1021]

@@Soff1859 well you need to be able to comminucate to run a country be it at peace or at war.

[@sharonrigs7999]

@@Soff1859 bandits?

[@ZGryphon]

"Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night nor Tokugawa revanchists stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

[@mr_gerber]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jarVdmZ8iLpjZ9k

[@iirainey]

In Yojimbo (1961) The main antagonist has a S&W Model 2. Perhaps the prop dept got ahold of one of the old government pistols.

[@45auto]

Being a fan of the .44-40 (44WCF), getting a New Model No. 3 Frontier would be a dream come true.

[@rizaradri316]

It is interesting that Japan is implemented a strict gun law and then loosen it and then tighten it again. To this day Japan is one of many countries with very strict gun law.

[@Francois15031967]

In a country where there are "suicide forests" you're better off with strict gun laws :D

[@axelpatrickb.pingol3228]

@@Francois15031967 That doesn't stop the suicides even one bit. They even have to ban one Kabuki play due to the rise in suicide deaths following its performance on stage...

[@LimburgLimbo]

@@Francois15031967 You could say the same about "suicide bridges" in the West, aka just about every bridge near a major city.

[@Joshua_N-A]

@@Francois15031967 Aleph, Akihabara, Kyoto Animation comes to mind.

[@Joshua_N-A]

@@Thoroughly_Wet Malaysian here. My country is multicultural and multiethnic, as for our country's gun law, California's current gun laws is more liberal than ours.

[@mp3545]

Japan: These revolvers are outdated, but they’re pretty good. We can keep using them in the rear all the way through ‘45 Russia: These revolvers are outdated, let’s replaced them with something objectively worse

[@luisnunes2010]

Well that trigger is very objectively very much worse.

[@mp3545]

@@luisnunes2010 as is the cartridge

[@luisnunes2010]

@@mp3545 but at least it's double action and top strap.

[@luisnunes2010]

@@nickaschenbecker9882 Production of the Nagants starts in czarist times...

[@luisnunes2010]

@@nickaschenbecker9882 No need for apologies. Shockingly, this channel is full of sticklers for historical accuracy, like me. 😏

[@mortarbackmusic8511]

The No.3 is my all time favorite style of revolver. Good to know that Japan admired them over the colt single-action.

[@tanysby262]

Your videos are awesome I love learning all the history behind these guns

[@honeybuns6561]

RE4 fans know it as the Broken Butterfly.

[@thitipongkasemwarit3560]

RE4 Merchant: I see you have an eye for things. Gun's not just about shootin. It's about reloadin. You'll know what I'm talkin about. Buy RE4 Merchant: Is that all stranger? Purchase RE4: Hehehehe.....Thank you.

[@frankbrowning328]

A beautiful graceful revolver from S&W.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian

[@gk.spinoza]

I never get tired of the S&W model #3... I would also love to see a forgotten weapons episode profiling the three versions of the S&W model 1½ .32 cal. revolver...the first two versions were tip up rimfire revolvers and the third version called model 1½ "single action" and was chambered for .32 cal. center fire cartridges.

[@yourownuncle5648]

I think this is the earliest I’ve ever been to a new upload.

[@Extrakwispy]

Welcome to the club then

[@ramon673]

same. 3 minutes after uplaod

[@randallslatton8284]

Technically midnight is the earliest part of a new day, sooo.....

[@MyMillionMeterLife]

Great work as always

[@eternalrecurrence6042]

Great video ian, really neat piece.

[@lancereyes5645]

I see Single-action revolver, I press "like"

[@neoxenia7014]

I see “I see single-action revolver, I press like” I press like.

[@theme7363]

i see “i see “i see single action revolver, i press like” i press like” i press like

[@Joshua_N-A]

*insert Xzibit meme here*

[@lancereyes5645]

I see "people who pressed "like" on my comment", I press "like"

[@gustavocastillo9954]

Twelve shots. This time I've got twelve shots.

[@jamesyoung1547]

I just held one of these in nickel plating. Was a bring back gun from what gentleman had been told by previous owner who was a WW2 veteran

[@Mrgunsngear]

Thanks

[@dangle3392]

The design looks magnificent

[@trainsbangsandautomobiles824]

Hmm... "Type 26 to Howa Type 89, Japanese Domestic Arms"..... Has a nice ring to it eh?

[@tatedelarosa3307]

I hope i always wanted to see the series

[@agustinperretta1043]

I really want to see the Howa rifles being shown by Ian

[@Calvin_Coolage]

@@agustinperretta1043 How the hell would he even get his hands on one? None of Japan's modern domestic military small arms have export or civilian models, as far as I know.

[@agustinperretta1043]

@@Calvin_Coolage I know, but I hope someday he can somehow get his hands on one of those and share it with us

[@J.DeLaPoer]

I'm not sure how practical the trigger guard spur is, but I've always loved them. Combined with the grip curve and elongated, action-forward design the Russian type 3's are the most elegant and aesthetically pleasing revolvers ever made.

[@hailexiao2770]

The spur is fantastic for cocking the hammer for those of us without gigantic hands.

[@J.DeLaPoer]

Interesting! I've never had the pleasure of trying any type of No.3, and wasn't aware what the spur's official purpose was. I've seen them on old flint and cap/ball dueling pistols but pretty much nowhere else.

[@amphibiousone7972]

Nice history lesson Ian. Yes I did indeed learn something today. Thank You Good Fortunes Great Successes Many Blessings 🤘💥

[@masahige2344]

This feels like a wild coincidence, I just published an article on revolvers in Japanese service. Remarkably, the No. 1 Break-Action Pistol (as the No. 3 was called in Japanese service) was classified as a frontline-issue weapon by the army until the end of the Siberian Expedition, being reclassified as 'reserve' after that.

[@jameslawrie3807]

Another theory re: European Knights and Gunpowder is that gunpowder, rather than killing off the knights in expensive armour which wasn't really the situation in most places actually found that those same knights could know outfit an enormous amount of men with gunpowder weapons that took comparatively little training compared to say a cranequin crossbow or a longbow (both of which struggled to penetrate late 15 century+ harness). Now that armies had ballooned in size the knights, always few due to the high cost of equipment, horses and incessant training, instead developed into an officer class.

[@stephengloor8451]

Might want to have a look at Japanese firearms history. For example: “As a result, in the year 1567, Takeda Shingles announced that "Hereafter, the guns will be the most important arms. Therefore, decrease the number of spears per unit, and have your most capable men carry guns".[13] At the Battle of Nagashino in 1575, 3,000 arquebusiers helped win the battle, firing by volleys of 1,000 at a time, and concealed across a river and breastwork to effectively stop enemy infantry and cavalry charges while being protected.[14] In the year 1584 Ikeda Sen led a troop of 200 women armed with firearms at the Battle of Komaki and Nagakute and in 1600 at the Battle of Sekigahara, a rare example of a Teppō unit, or musketeer unit consisting only of women.[15] Japan became so enthusiastic about the new weapons that it possibly overtook every European country in absolute numbers produced.[9] “ en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearms_of_Japan

[@Rabhadh]

1600 is a long way from the 1860's, the period Ian is talking about

[@stephengloor8451]

@@Rabhadh True and the Japanese were using guns right up until Perry. From the same source “The internal war in Japan was won by Tokugawa Ieyasu, who established the Tokugawa shogunate, a powerful entity that would maintain peace and prosperity in Japan for the following 250 years. From the mid-17th century, Japan decided to close itself to interaction with the West through its policy of Sakoku. Guns were used less frequently because the Edo Period did not have many large-scale conflicts in which a gun would be of use. Oftentimes the sword was simply the more practical weapon in the average small-scale Edo Period conflicts; nevertheless, there were gunsmiths in Japan producing guns through the Edo Period.”

[@markbecht1420]

"Giving Up The Gun" (in the bibliography of that article) is a fascinating read. Bit of a modern bias,but that doesn't get in the way of the information.

[@demonprinces17]

And soon as he became king got rid of anything that could be used against him

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@stephengloor8451 yes, the Japanese were still using 1540s matchlocks in 1860. Also, those matchlocks were the property of the daimyos/government.

[@cameronmccreary4758]

Smith and Wesson revolvers in Japan: Give us S&W revolvers or give us death!

[@zefdin101]

Channel is AWESOME!!! New sub here!

[@DarthWillSmith]

"Warfare can look suspiciously like banditry" - Shogun 2, Fall of the Samurai

[@kenibnanak5554]

Japan also inherited the S&W and S&W style clones the Spanish left behind in the Philippines when they surrendered it to America. We put the Spanish guns in storage there and later Japan got them. My point is the finding or capture of American S&W top breaks by GIs and Marines was not unusual as we took the different islands. Many were sent or brought back to America. Some Colts too. Japan used whatever they had available, especially after 1943 when their own manufacturing capability was not able to keep up with supply demands.

[@Darren_Xero]

First, that revolver made for the Russian Empire. Then, the Japanese bought that service revolver too? That's cool

[@jameskazd9951]

and then they probably were shooting at each other with the same pistol in the Russo Japanese war a couple decades later

[@korbetthein3072]

It also was the best selling pistol in the U.S. for almost 30 years.

[@jameskazd9951]

@@Victor-056 true, but i'm sure it was still around, just look at how many black powder weapons were still being used in WW1

[@korbetthein3072]

@@nickaschenbecker9882 Yes, but still 15 years difference between the initial adoption of the two. That, and the fact that the type 26 was mostly Galand inspired.

[@redlock4004]

I still miss the musical intro of the older videos. Please do it again for a few videos, just for old times sake.

[@sergiosanmuahahaha]

That's one good looking gun

[@Ramerous]

Man I love the No. 3. I've got an Uberti reproduction chambered in 45LC, and it is such a joy to shoot.

[@HodgyE5]

thank you

[@Ostenjager]

Man, I would love to get my hands on one of these.

[@TheDarkfrostElf]

That looks really elegant in the thumbnail!

[@RalphReagan]

One of my favorites

[@davidbrennan660]

Equipping the Navy in its war with the Army.

[@Joshua_N-A]

Navy >>>> Army

[@JohnnyLouisXIX]

@@Joshua_N-A The Japanese army severly outperformed the navy in WW2.

[@Joshua_N-A]

@@JohnnyLouisXIX also they're known for their infamous track record especially in mainland China. Showa IJA looks different compared to Meiji and Taisho.

[@kylesnake7297]

Love this revolver.

[@charles_wipman]

Look good to me for it's time, even the sights are good sights.

[@georgeboatright6635]

A good book related to this: "Giving up the Gun" by Noel Perrin.

[@bushmansa518]

Great history lesson !

[@matthewanderson9754]

That's an absolutely beautiful weapon!

[@gregcampwriter]

Commodore Perry, the Ur-Karen, sailing into the harbor and demanding to see the manager.

[@mbr5742]

When Karen shows up with 150 pounder Parrot rifles and 9 inch Dahlgrens - it is time to call innthe airstrike

[@ScottKenny1978]

When the locals are killing shipwrecked sailors...

[@thatguyyouknow1512]

Guns like this are incredibly cool! I just wish more of them survived the test of time.

[@ahandgrenade3640]

It looks really nice.

[@donnymcjonny6531]

One of the most beautiful guns ever made.

[@othellotyrant3152]

Thanks Ian. I've only seen pictures of the Russian S&W model in magazines. I never knew that Japan also had interest in buying these beauties.

[@jubuttib]

The nobility would probably have been mainly carrying spears and bows when in armor, with the sword there as a backup. Out of armor, i.e. not expecting combat at all times, the sword would probably have been more likely to have been drawn out. =)

[@Friedbrain11]

I still want a Schofield break open myself. The S&W looks good though and 44-40 would be just about right :)

[@jackashmore]

I don’t think I’ve ever watched one of these new. They are usually 3-4 years old.

[@Schrodingers_kid]

same

[@shawnr771]

He puts a video out almost everyday.

[@KingdomOfApple]

Then clearly your priorities are WAY out of whack. Forgotten Weapons videos > everything else. It's just science...

[@douglasfrompa593]

I would recommend a free subscription to this channel. And definately hit the notification bell.

[@jeffreys.nicholas9456]

You should subscribe Ian has one of the best firearms channels on KZbin!

[@keitelfegelein6964]

Sick Revolver!

[@andrewallason4530]

Beautiful revolver. On a side note, that finger rest on the trigger guard gives me a thought for more modern sub-compact / pocket pistols, especially the new wonder-micro-nines, etc. Everyone complains about the lack of a pinkie finger rest, with the resultant (perceived) loss of control and accuracy. If this type of spur-rest were installed on the micro pistol, with a two finger forward, two back grip, would that improve the ‘feel’ of the pistol?

[@EmperorHirohito-kv2uc]

Boats with guns. Gunboats Open the country, stop having it be closed

[@Nick3889]

I was waiting for these comments as soon as he mentioned perry

[@jidk6565]

I dont get the reference

[@Tricerius]

@@jidk6565 history of Japan video.

[@EmperorHirohito-kv2uc]

@@jidk6565 There was a guy named Bill Wurtz who made "history of japan" (which is where the reference is from) and "history of the entire world, i guess, worth a view

[@pyrocynicalreal8405]

@@EmperorHirohito-kv2uc🎵 the sun is a deadly laser🎵

[@whotoobe]

Is the Takata that imported the S&Ws back then the same Takata distributor that later got in big trouble over the shrapnel airbag recalls around the world recently?

[@alexbarnett8541]

I had a S and W model 1. 22 call revolver.

[@alexanderren1097]

For a second I thought he was going to say "When Commodore Perry sailed in amd demanded to speak to the manager."

[@testpleaseignore]

I love the detail that the first guns were issued to the post office instead of the military... I'm genuinely interested in why Japan's post office needed more firepower than the military

[@twforster15]

Have you seen fallout new Vegas? The Japanese knew the shit the postman could go through.

[@brasstard7.627]

My grandfather brought a Tula made No.3 back from Japan. Made in 1889.

[@jimcrelm9478]

"Well that left them in a sticky spot when Commodore Perry shows up with a lot of firearms." So what you're saying is that a small elite sabotaged their nation's progress in order to hold on to their obsolete privileges? Reminds me of Argentina.

[@walmorcarvalho2512]

This is also Brazil x10.

[@StoopidAnimul]

It's true everywhere. Nothing has changed.

[@hailexiao2770]

@@StoopidAnimul It's true anywhere the elite are more invested in extractive (real estate) than productive (industries and services) sectors of the economy.

[@publiusventidiusbassus1232]

@@nickaschenbecker9882 Except the renaissance was directly funded by Europe's elite and the Catholic Church.

[@monsterkitty6921]

Ehhh, the samurai had been kicking their production and purchase of firearms into high gear before Matthew Perry even arrived. Keep in mind that in 1839, Britain fought a war with the Qing Empire, which the Tokugawa Shogunate watching quite closely. It persuaded them to begin adopting more and more firearms.

[@brendonbewersdorf986]

I love the no3 they are cool guns I'd love to own one someday

[@d.b.1176]

Very nice looking gun.

[@BSKustomz]

Damn it... I've wanted a model three... and I've been getting interested in Japanese guns lately.... This is going to be expensive isn't it...

[@ScottKenny1978]

The reproductions aren't bad, even blued/color case hardened. It's the nickel ones that are spendy.

[@Scruffy72]

Bought myself an intact mum arisaka. Ammo for it is NOT CHEAP. 3.65$ a round now.

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@Scruffy72 oof. Definitely time to start rolling your own! Is that PPU or someone else making the ammo? I know that I'd want to use PPU brass for any oddball calibers. Their factory powder is a bit dirty (leaves lost of black behind), but the brass is good.

[@Scruffy72]

@@ScottKenny1978 i get mine from Norma when it's rarely available.

[@Scruffy72]

@@ScottKenny1978 I've also been policing my brass like a stasi agent.

[@christianweibrecht6555]

One thing about Japanese gun culture I just don't understand is why during its civil war it happily embraced guns but not cannons

[@thenorthstarsamurai]

They were heavy and Japan can't support the cannons because of Japan's land structure

[@john-paulsilke893]

Bad roads designed for feet not wheels.

[@ScottKenny1978]

Mostly the logistics of moving them. Most of the roads were designed for foot traffic, not wheeled carts. This isn't to say that there were no big cannon, but up to 1868, the Japanese were using 1500s firearms. Matchlocks and siege cannons, not field guns on wheeled carriages. Edit: also, Japan is very steel poor. They just flat don't have the steel to make thousands of cannon. Any cannon they could make would be bronze, which are heavier than iron cannon because the metal has to be thicker (and is denser to begin with)

[@JapanatWar]

THE COLD SAMURAI said it, heavy cannons weren’t practical in many areas due to the geography. Japan has produced several weapons to fit the cannon role though, so if it had been practical they would’ve!

[@thenorthstarsamurai]

@@JapanatWar and cannons were mostly used as castle defenses instead of frontline battles

[@killyekfael4909]

Thanks to Mike Carrick of arms heritage magazine

[@Doug_Narby]

I’d like to know more about why the 19th century Japanese postal service needed arming.

[@hendriktonisson2915]

I really like Japan. Japan managed to technologically modernize but unlike China they also managed to preserve their ancient culture and traditions.

[@dragon12234]

Mmh, China had the issue of modernizing with Revolutions, which by definition tend to not like the past. Hell, that was the purpose of Maos Cultural Revolution, to destroy the "ancient and outdated" parts of their culture. Meanwhile, In Japan it was kinda the reverse, where it was the ancient powers (The imperial court and the Emperor) that drove a lot of the modernization,as part of the campaign to restore their power against the Shogunate.

[@thesmallestminorityisthein4045]

Which is why I want to visit Japan, but won't set foot in West Taiwan.

[@axelpatrickb.pingol3228]

You should read more. Japan was caught in a very big debate about whether or not they should emulate the foreigners to beat them at their own games or stick with tradition no matter what. Emperor Komei (father of Emperor Meiji) declared that all foreigners and lovers of foreign things are to be killed which led to an increase in assassinations of known Westernphilic men. Even after that and the successful modernization (even as late as the 1920's), a lot of critics said that all this modernization is killing Japan culturally...

[@johnhoyle6390]

I hope someday he does the Howa Model 300 semiautomatic rifle that they sold in the US in the 60's / 70's.

[@johnhoyle6390]

PS: if anyone knows of a video on the Model 300 - Plz link it . I can't find anything on it on YT anywhere.

[@maxkronader5225]

It's a double like for me: Forgotten Weapons, and top-break revolvers.👍😁

[@JackkDevil]

After seen so many German, Austrian guns it is kinda bothering that the screws are not identical. Strange I know but it is such a beautiful little detail and a mark of true craftsmanship.

[@italianduded1161]

amazing gun

[@gayluigi4122]

I was going to "um ackshully" about the numbering (I thought maybe you read it upside down by mistake) but at this time they were writing left to right

[@kibalicious]

Hey I caught a video early after post, a seemingly interesting one too

[@adamak47miller90]

That piece is a beaut Clark

[@kleinerprinz99]

Amusing fact is that Tokugawa - who became the final shogun and would set this no firearms and no weapons for peasants or any other citizen than a samurai - won his most important battles by using peasant formations with lots of muskets from the Portuguese. Its a myth that warlords back then shied aways from muskets because of Honor. Honor does not serve you well if you cannot stay in power or still be alive.

[@MrMakabar]

The Japanese never gave up guns, they always had matchlock rifles made in Japan, commonly refered to as Tanegashima.

[@naricky8408]

I think only few S&W Model 2 Army and "Mikado' Colt SAA has Mum on the grip.

[@j311ycaa5]

Great video! Would these revolvers have been issued with blackpowder cartridges after the advent of smokeless powder?

[@cipherthedemonlord8057]

Love Model 3s

[@hekkenschutz]

S&W got around the world

[@alexletourneau2495]

My grandfather had one

[@juiceFORfunNOTyet]

Спасибо за видео, комментарий в поддержку вашей работы

[@francismacomber4650]

Ok Ian! What is your definitive answer to the question of the purpose of the spur on the trigger guard?

[@Irondrone4]

Commodore Perry: "Ah, yes, um...we'd like um...one International Trade, please." Japanese Port Authority: "I'm sorry, Sir, but we don't have those." Commodore Perry: "I want to speak to your manager!"

[@Sunrie]

When the populace is armed and can defend themselves, any and every government gets terrified. It's why we need them

[@bob733333]

Because government is guilty of treason.

[@murphy7801]

Sure but no population can defend itself from modernized cyberwarfare resources from a government. Information and the control of it is currency of the day.

[@bob733333]

@@murphy7801 Turn the Tv off?

[@captainswoop8722]

you are funny

[@murphy7801]

@@bob733333 unfortunately if it's a smart TV it still listens we especially if it's a cheap chinise one. DW not a conspiracy theorist, I work in the field. Impressive how a country like USA where you have plenty of guns, the government basically commits mass surveillance at leasure.

[@demonprinces17]

Was sales to officers marked to show if naval or army ?