Military antiques collector Graeme Acton feels that his luck with a rare Japanese Samurai matchlock cannon finally changed when it arrived after nearly seven months stuck in Customs.
Around 94cm long, the cannon is about 300 years old and dates back to the early Edo Period of Japanese society, says the owner of central Geelong’s Armor Antiques Military Museum.
Words chiselled into the underside of the barrel read: Yahata daimyojin Chikuzen juno Nobukuni Kichiyoshi.
“Kichiyoshi was a gunsmith of the Chikuzen Nobukuni School. This school was employed by the Kuroda family until the early Meji Period in 1912,“ Graeme explains.
He’s thrilled to have the cannon finally on display in his museum after the long wait.
“There are some great people working at border force and perhaps sometimes red tape and unusual conditions can delay or even make what should be a normal straight forward decision take way too long,” Graeme says.
“As the law stands in Australia, there’s no restriction or law against owning the cannon as a genuine antique over 100 years old. It does not have to be licenced.
“However, if the calibre size is too large then depending on the situation it may not ever be allowed to be imported into Australia.”
Graeme buys and sells all sorts of relics and gear at his two-storey shop and museum.
Some of the antiques on display include swords, guns, helmets, badges, uniforms, medals, and books.
Graeme also stocks a large range of authentic Samurai armour.
Armor Antiques Military Museum is at 200 Moorabool Street, Geelong.
More information is available by visiting armorantiques.com or by phoning 52218662 or 0416 941 566.
