Vietnamese Flintlock

Tim Simmons · 29th September 2007, 09:10 PM

I had something very similar. The barrel was from a 19th century Belgian sporting gun. The barrel had originally been bound to the stock with rattan, which had been replaced with aluminium. These are more like a big pistol or I would think fired from the hip. Fascinating things, I wish I had kept mine now but you live and learn. Rather like the very first guns in the early medieval period.

ward · 29th September 2007, 11:11 PM

I believe it was fired from check. slightly different culture but same idea

fernando · 30th September 2007, 12:46 AM

A great piece, Ward.
Could you some time post pictures with different positions ? maybe the action becomes more clear ?
Thanks
fernando

Jim McDougall · 30th September 2007, 01:15 AM

Very interesting weapon! Shows clearly that a weapon need not be 'old' to be a unique ethnographic example and outstanding perspective in a collection. The various tribes known collectively as Montagnards were truly amazing warriors.
Thank you for posting this Ward.

ward · 30th September 2007, 01:55 AM

Here are closups of lock 2 position. the cord is used to pull the hammer. a sticky glue holds the flint on.a piece of deer skin between the hammer and pan acts as a safety.There are 3 springs one for the cocking mechanism. The other for the strike plate and a small one to put tension on trigger.The large piece of deer skin covers the whole mechanism to keep rain out of it.starting in the 1960's they started using a form of cap gun caps in the primer pans. I have talked to a number of vietnam vets who saw these guns in use. this particular example is probaly 1900-1950.this type as far as I aware was used from 1850-1970's

Tim Simmons · 30th September 2007, 09:14 AM

Great picture. Do you think the pistol grip type could be used that way? rather them than me.

fernando · 30th September 2007, 12:38 PM

Fascinating.
It looks unreal.

ward · 30th September 2007, 02:15 PM

I think either by the check or maybe holding a foot from face.This gun uses solid bullets not shot. shot weapons such as shotguns or blunderbusses are the only weapons I know of that are fired from hip. You would need to sight down the barrel to aim.

Fernando I do not understand Unreal. This is not a unique piece. There are more of this type in the market scarce but out there

29th September 2007, 11:11 PM	#2
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	I believe it was fired from check. slightly different culture but same idea Attached Images

30th September 2007, 01:55 AM	#5
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	Here are closups of lock 2 position. the cord is used to pull the hammer. a sticky glue holds the flint on.a piece of deer skin between the hammer and pan acts as a safety.There are 3 springs one for the cocking mechanism. The other for the strike plate and a small one to put tension on trigger.The large piece of deer skin covers the whole mechanism to keep rain out of it.starting in the 1960's they started using a form of cap gun caps in the primer pans. I have talked to a number of vietnam vets who saw these guns in use. this particular example is probaly 1900-1950.this type as far as I aware was used from 1850-1970's Attached Images Last edited by ward; 30th September 2007 at 02:15 AM.

29th September 2007, 09:10 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	I had something very similar. The barrel was from a 19th century Belgian sporting gun. The barrel had originally been bound to the stock with rattan, which had been replaced with aluminium. These are more like a big pistol or I would think fired from the hip. Fascinating things, I wish I had kept mine now but you live and learn. Rather like the very first guns in the early medieval period.

30th September 2007, 12:46 AM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	A great piece, Ward. Could you some time post pictures with different positions ? maybe the action becomes more clear ? Thanks fernando

30th September 2007, 01:15 AM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,189	Very interesting weapon! Shows clearly that a weapon need not be 'old' to be a unique ethnographic example and outstanding perspective in a collection. The various tribes known collectively as Montagnards were truly amazing warriors. Thank you for posting this Ward.

30th September 2007, 09:14 AM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	Great picture. Do you think the pistol grip type could be used that way? rather them than me.

30th September 2007, 12:38 PM	#7
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Fascinating. It looks unreal.

30th September 2007, 02:15 PM	#8
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	I think either by the check or maybe holding a foot from face.This gun uses solid bullets not shot. shot weapons such as shotguns or blunderbusses are the only weapons I know of that are fired from hip. You would need to sight down the barrel to aim. Fernando I do not understand Unreal. This is not a unique piece. There are more of this type in the market scarce but out there