Main part of Vietnamese or Laotian crossbow for comments

[Ren Ren]

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]

Photos of similar items from the Branly Museum in Paris

[Ren Ren]

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]

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

[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.

[Ren Ren]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Hi Colin! Here are some crossbows from the Branly Museum that look a lot like one of yours.
https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explorer-les-collections/base/Work/action/show/notice/49820-arbalete/page/10/
https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explorer-les-collections/base/Work/action/show/notice/658956-arbalete-en-bois-avec-corde-de-bambou/page/6/
https://www.quaibranly.fr/fr/explorer-les-collections/base/Work/action/show/notice/968454-environs-de-banmethuot-arbalete-carreaux-et-vannerie/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]

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]

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