Vietnamese Flintlock

ward · 29th September 2007, 08:41 PM

This is a good example of a typical Montenyard gun. The lock on all of these is detachable. octangle barrel,silver barrel bands. Some of the later versions of this rifle use aluminum barrel bands and were shooting previously fired m16 rounds. These were still in active production and use into the early 1970's. The lock I find interesting different form than any other culture I have seen.

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.

29th September 2007, 08:41 PM	#1
ward Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 637	Vietnamese Flintlock This is a good example of a typical Montenyard gun. The lock on all of these is detachable. octangle barrel,silver barrel bands. Some of the later versions of this rifle use aluminum barrel bands and were shooting previously fired m16 rounds. These were still in active production and use into the early 1970's. The lock I find interesting different form than any other culture I have seen. Attached Images

29th September 2007, 11:11 PM	#3
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	#6
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	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,780	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	#4
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury 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	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,896	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	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,780	Great picture. Do you think the pistol grip type could be used that way? rather them than me.