A gun....origin ?

[Freddy]

Recently, someone proposed me this gun in a trade. As I know almost nothing about these pieces, I thought it would be wise first to show it to the forum in order to get some opinions.

My guess is that it's oriental. The length is 145 cm and there is a small 'amulet' (?) of animal fur attached to it.

So here are the pics I got :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/DSCN6861.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/DSCN6840.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/DSCN6836.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/DSCN6860.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/DSCN6879.jpg

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Freddy,
While I certainly have little knowledge on these type of guns, it seems I have seen something very similar in Vietnamese guns used by 'hill' tribes or Montagnards as they became known . I believe these were a matchlock type gun based on old Chinese forms, though the action on this seems more like a flintlock from what it appears. It always has amazed me that such anachronistic guns were used into recent times, for that matter even present times. I am looking forward to hearing more from our specialists on these regions, but these are my thoughts at cursory glance.

All the best,
Jim

[Jim McDougall]

In searching more on these I found the extremely interesting article on the Seven Stars Trading site written by Philip Tom, "Firearms and Artillery in Pre Colonial Vietnam" in which he describes these matchlock guns as 'sung hoa mai'..again this seems a modern version with a flintlock to my untrained eye.
This article is outstanding and the illustration shown of an Chinese individual holding one of these type guns appearing to be from around 19th c. is from this article.

All best regards,
Jim

[Rick]

:) :)
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=10912&highlight=vietnam%2A

[VANDOO]

I SAW A HUNTER BY THE ROAD WITH A DEER HE HAD KILLED WITH A SIMULAR GUN IN SZECHWAN PROVENCE IN CHINA IN 1995. THEY ARE STILL MADE BY LOCAL VILLAGE SMITHS AND USED IN SOME PARTS OF CHINA TODAY. INTERESTING AND FUNCTIONAL GUNS AND IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW THEIR HISTORY.

[Freddy]

Great info, guys. I knew you would find something :)

My contact told me that there was a part missing on the gun. My next question : would it be easy to replace this ? He has put a match where the missing piece should be.

Here are some additional pics of the piece.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/DSCN6864.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/DSCN6876.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/DSCN6879-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/DSCN6873-1.jpg