21st January 2023, 09:24 AM | #1 |
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Unknown firearm
I need help identifying this weapon. I found it in an old French collection that I just bought. I have no idea about this 21 inch long pistol or rifle. The barrel is in bronze, (diameter 0.47 inches) and looks old. The firing system must be fuse. I think the weapon must be of Asian origin but I have not found any other weapon with a butt of this shape. If someone has an idea ...
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21st January 2023, 02:17 PM | #2 |
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It appears to be an older decorative piece. No place for a lock so it really cannot fire unless you hold a flame to the pan. The pan suggests flintlock.
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21st January 2023, 08:35 PM | #3 |
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It's a type known as a touch-fire among other names, and they turn up all over the East as a simple low tech shooter. I will stick my neck out and say South East Asia, somewhere under Chinese influence. Nice item, one to enjoy.
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22nd January 2023, 08:07 AM | #4 |
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Chinese or vietnamese is a good guess. With the symbol, french history, and Mother of Pearl inlay, i would go toward Vietnam
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22nd January 2023, 12:07 PM | #5 | |
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Quote:
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22nd January 2023, 12:18 PM | #6 |
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touch-hole guns were primitive guns all over the world and came in all sizes in Asia (but existed in Europe too)
Last edited by milandro; 22nd January 2023 at 12:41 PM. |
22nd January 2023, 12:31 PM | #7 | |
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Quote:
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22nd January 2023, 01:16 PM | #8 |
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thank you all for your information. I think the stock heel is ivory
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23rd January 2023, 01:55 PM | #9 |
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Does anybody have an idea of the era of this gun?
Last edited by Lee; 24th January 2023 at 08:18 PM. |
25th January 2023, 12:07 PM | #10 |
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I am not sure that one can affirm without any doubt that this is an ancient made weapon But hand cannons (which this is) are very old indeed , however their use extends to modern days too
"....Cannons are attested to in India starting from 1366.[33] The Joseon kingdom in Korea acquired knowledge of gunpowder from China by 1372[34] and started producing cannons by 1377.[35] In Southeast Asia Đại Việt soldiers were using hand cannons at the very latest by 1390 when they employed them in killing Champa king Che Bong Nga.[36] Chinese observer recorded the Javanese use of hand cannon for marriage ceremony in 1413 during Zheng He's voyage.[37][38] Japan was already aware of gunpowder warfare due to the Mongol invasions during the 13th century, but did not acquire a cannon until a monk took one back to Japan from China in 1510,[39] and firearms were not produced until 1543, when the Portuguese introduced matchlocks which were known as tanegashima to the Japanese.[40] The art of firing the hand cannon called Ōzutsu (大筒) has remained as a Ko-budō martial arts form.[41][42]..." So, I would call this a small hand cannon Some of these, In Japan, are contemporary made. I am not saying that your piece is, but It doesn't apart to be hundreds of years old. Assuming it is a functional weapon (?) it may be a relatively old weapon or a more modern reproduction. Last edited by fernando; 25th January 2023 at 06:10 PM. |
25th January 2023, 06:09 PM | #11 |
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milandro, you know that forum rules are that images ought to be uploaded using forum attachment features. You should save your pictures in your disk and then attach them to threads.
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25th January 2023, 06:44 PM | #12 |
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sorry, I didn't know that, these pictures aren't mine and since the feature existed I thought it was ok
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25th January 2023, 08:06 PM | #13 |
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Still you know where the pictures were; you may always save them and upload them with forum (manage attachments) features, found hereunder. This way pictures remain permanently in respective threads; will not vanish when host links are broken.
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25th January 2023, 09:10 PM | #14 |
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Thanks, won't forget it
I managed to retrieve some of the images So, I would call this a small hand cannon Some of these, In Japan, are contemporary made. I am not saying that your piece is, but It doesn't apart to be hundreds of years old. Assuming it is a functional weapon (?) it may be a relatively old weapon or a more modern reproduction. |
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