Need Help Identifying an antique firearm

Jim McDougall · 13th July 2013, 07:35 AM

Actually for me I would consider my input to be more recollection of material from various notes and references concerning Viet Nam era souveniers and research on a dha brought back also in the 60s. That case resulted in some contact with a professor of anthropology at University of California who was at that time studying the Hmong tribes of Montagnards.
These tribal groups were key allies with American troops in Viet Nam, and many resituated in Southern California.
I grew up in Southern California and am quite familiar with Trabuco Canyon and so on.
As you are well aware, many donors to museums unknowingly pass on data with items which unfortunately corresponds to family lore and often broad assumptions. As with most forms of antiquities or collected items, often exuberant optimism leads to misidentifications, so your further research is clearly prudent and well placed.
As you have seen, the character of this piece seems quite modern,though some of the components seem well aged. In these regions in Viet Nam, use of old components which certainly may have been around in degree, was not uncommon for these Montagnard tribes in these instances.

I am not aware of any specific publications, however many of the gun magazines have had numerous articles about weaponry used by these Montagnards during the Viet Nam war so I would check thier indexes.
Also Scott Rodell of Seven Stars Trading in Virginia and his colleague Philip Tom of California are probably the foremost authorities who may offer more insight on these kinds of arms.

13th July 2013, 07:35 AM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,284	Actually for me I would consider my input to be more recollection of material from various notes and references concerning Viet Nam era souveniers and research on a dha brought back also in the 60s. That case resulted in some contact with a professor of anthropology at University of California who was at that time studying the Hmong tribes of Montagnards. These tribal groups were key allies with American troops in Viet Nam, and many resituated in Southern California. I grew up in Southern California and am quite familiar with Trabuco Canyon and so on. As you are well aware, many donors to museums unknowingly pass on data with items which unfortunately corresponds to family lore and often broad assumptions. As with most forms of antiquities or collected items, often exuberant optimism leads to misidentifications, so your further research is clearly prudent and well placed. As you have seen, the character of this piece seems quite modern,though some of the components seem well aged. In these regions in Viet Nam, use of old components which certainly may have been around in degree, was not uncommon for these Montagnard tribes in these instances. I am not aware of any specific publications, however many of the gun magazines have had numerous articles about weaponry used by these Montagnards during the Viet Nam war so I would check thier indexes. Also Scott Rodell of Seven Stars Trading in Virginia and his colleague Philip Tom of California are probably the foremost authorities who may offer more insight on these kinds of arms.