THU SEPT 29, BRITISH EXPORT MODEL 1871 SNYDER BREECHLOADING MUSKET & SERGEANT’S BAYONET, WWII VET BRINGBACK FROM JAPAN, USED IN THE SATSUMA REBELLION

In antique fair condition, we have a WWII era 1946 US G.I. bringback from Japan, British Export Model 1871 Snyder Breechloading Musket and Sergeant’s Bayonet.  There are no Japanese markings per se, however this was brought back from Japan and it is well known that the Imperial Japanese Government purchased large quantities of these Muskets from the British following the end of the Boshin War, which was the birth of the Modern Imperial Japanese Army.  This Musket probably saw action with the Imperial Army during the Satsuma Rebellion.  You may be familiar with this little affair from the movie “The Last Samurai”.  

If you collect Japanese Military Arms this is a great place to start.