Main part of Vietnamese or Laotian crossbow for comments

Ren Ren · 26th September 2021, 06:54 PM

This is not to say that I have no idea what thing fell into my hands

but I hold it for the first time, so I will be grateful for any comments

Ren Ren · 27th September 2021, 10:54 AM

Photos of similar items from the Branly Museum in Paris

Ren Ren · 1st October 2021, 12:24 AM

The Branly Museum exhibits quite a few traditional crossbows from Indochina. By the shape of the crossbow, as well as the design of its trigger, the origin can be relatively accurately localized. The bone insert and pistol grip are characteristic of the Muong and White Tai peoples from the Thanh Hoa and Hoa Binh provinces on the border of North and Central Vietnam.

Ian · 1st October 2021, 10:55 AM

Ren Ren, I think you are the most knowledgeable person on the Forum concerning your crossbow.

JeffS · 1st October 2021, 12:17 PM

I've seen bone inserts with crossbows of Tapuan people (Ratanakiri province NE Cambodia) but not with the downturned grip and their overall construction a bit more refined.

Ren Ren · 1st October 2021, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

Ren Ren, I think you are the most knowledgeable person on the Forum concerning your crossbow.

Thanks, Ian! I did not strive for this, but I could not pass by calmly

Ren Ren · 1st October 2021, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffS

I've seen bone inserts with crossbows of Tapuan people (Ratanakiri province NE Cambodia) but not with the downturned grip and their overall construction a bit more refined.

Thanks, this is an interesting observation! The first thing that came to my mind was Cambodia.

colin henshaw · 3rd October 2021, 12:24 PM

Hello Ren Ren. An interesting topic, thanks for posting. I have these two crossbows, but never been able to identify their specific areas of origin, except for "South-East Asia". Can you help me out ?

Many thanks.

Ren Ren · 4th October 2021, 01:10 AM

Hi Colin! You have interesting crossbows. I think I can help attribute them. Items similar to the one on the top I almost certainly met. It will take me two or three days to clarify.

Ren Ren · 5th October 2021, 09:26 PM

Hi Colin! Here are some crossbows from the Branly Museum that look a lot like one of yours.
https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explore...alete/page/10/
https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explore...bambou/page/6/
https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explore...nnerie/page/6/
They come from Vietnam, from the Central Highlands (otherwise - the Central Plateau). There are the provinces of Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak inhabited by mountain peoples such as Sedang, Bahnar, Gia Rai, Ede and others. During the Vietnam War, the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail passed through these mountains, and heavy battles of American soldiers and their mountaineers supporting them against Vietnamese soldiers and communist guerrillas took place. Participants of those events brought not a small part of the crossbows to commemorate the war.
Items from the museum date back to an earlier period - the 1930s, most of which belonged to the Sedang people.
Color photo - 1974

colin henshaw · 6th October 2021, 07:37 AM

Many thanks Ren Ren, much appreciated ! Vietnam looks right for the top crossbow in my photo, but the lower one has a different shaped stock and bone lock mechanism. Could it be from elsewhere or just another Vietnam type I wonder ?

Regards, Colin

Ren Ren · 7th October 2021, 03:10 AM

It's is my pleasure, Colin!
Your second crossbow is a fascinating mystery. I haven't opened it yet. But I'm not going to stop

Regards, Serge

26th September 2021, 06:54 PM	#1
Ren Ren Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Russia, Moscow Posts: 374	Main part of Vietnamese or Laotian crossbow for comments This is not to say that I have no idea what thing fell into my hands but I hold it for the first time, so I will be grateful for any comments Attached Images

27th September 2021, 10:54 AM	#2
Ren Ren Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Russia, Moscow Posts: 374	Photos of similar items from the Branly Museum in Paris Attached Images

3rd October 2021, 12:24 PM	#8
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Hello Ren Ren. An interesting topic, thanks for posting. I have these two crossbows, but never been able to identify their specific areas of origin, except for "South-East Asia". Can you help me out ? Many thanks. Attached Images

5th October 2021, 09:26 PM	#10
Ren Ren Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Russia, Moscow Posts: 374	Hi Colin! Here are some crossbows from the Branly Museum that look a lot like one of yours. https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explore...alete/page/10/ https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explore...bambou/page/6/ https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explore...nnerie/page/6/ They come from Vietnam, from the Central Highlands (otherwise - the Central Plateau). There are the provinces of Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak inhabited by mountain peoples such as Sedang, Bahnar, Gia Rai, Ede and others. During the Vietnam War, the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail passed through these mountains, and heavy battles of American soldiers and their mountaineers supporting them against Vietnamese soldiers and communist guerrillas took place. Participants of those events brought not a small part of the crossbows to commemorate the war. Items from the museum date back to an earlier period - the 1930s, most of which belonged to the Sedang people. Color photo - 1974 Attached Images

1st October 2021, 12:24 AM	#3
Ren Ren Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Russia, Moscow Posts: 374	The Branly Museum exhibits quite a few traditional crossbows from Indochina. By the shape of the crossbow, as well as the design of its trigger, the origin can be relatively accurately localized. The bone insert and pistol grip are characteristic of the Muong and White Tai peoples from the Thanh Hoa and Hoa Binh provinces on the border of North and Central Vietnam.

1st October 2021, 10:55 AM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,207	Ren Ren, I think you are the most knowledgeable person on the Forum concerning your crossbow.

1st October 2021, 12:17 PM	#5
JeffS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Singapore Posts: 345	I've seen bone inserts with crossbows of Tapuan people (Ratanakiri province NE Cambodia) but not with the downturned grip and their overall construction a bit more refined.

4th October 2021, 01:10 AM	#9
Ren Ren Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Russia, Moscow Posts: 374	Hi Colin! You have interesting crossbows. I think I can help attribute them. Items similar to the one on the top I almost certainly met. It will take me two or three days to clarify.

6th October 2021, 07:37 AM	#11
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Many thanks Ren Ren, much appreciated ! Vietnam looks right for the top crossbow in my photo, but the lower one has a different shaped stock and bone lock mechanism. Could it be from elsewhere or just another Vietnam type I wonder ? Regards, Colin

7th October 2021, 03:10 AM	#12
Ren Ren Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Russia, Moscow Posts: 374	It's is my pleasure, Colin! Your second crossbow is a fascinating mystery. I haven't opened it yet. But I'm not going to stop Regards, Serge