• We are now running on a new, and hopefully much-improved, server. In addition we are also on new forum software. Any move entails a lot of technical details and I suspect we will encounter a few issues as the new server goes live. Please be patient with us. It will be worth it! :) Please help by posting all issues here.
  • The forum will be down for about an hour this weekend for maintenance. I apologize for the inconvenience.
  • If you are having trouble seeing the forum then you may need to clear your browser's DNS cache. Click here for instructions on how to do that
  • Please review the Forum Rules frequently as we are constantly trying to improve the forum for our members and visitors.

EXTREMELY ODD antique handgun

scorpio_vette

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2009
Messages
635
Location
nowhere
imported post

so today the wife and me went to a gunshow in milwaukee. We ran across a display there that had a sign that said:

WHAT IS THIS?

unfortunately i didn't have a camera to take a picture of it, so i'll describe it as best as i can. if it is at the waukesha gun show next weekend i'll try to take a picture.


It had a small display stand with a small "cradle" on one side that the barrel rested in. it was in the size and shape of a antique handgun. looked to be of asian decent. the grip ended in a dragons head. the barrel looked like a small cannon that was sitting on the top of the grip body. the entire "firing mechanism" (all moving parts) was externally mounted to the outside of the body. and then on each side of this "handgun" there were little tubes mounted to the display stand with the "ammunition". one of them was a steel tip "arrow" with a wooden body, and the other was a steel tip "arrow" with a glass body. both of them were approximately 3-4" long.

the person allowed me to handle this gun and from looking at it, and very carefully moving the mechanism just a little bit, i almost have the feeling it was a cross between a dart gun/crossbow/handgun. almost like you loaded the guns into the cannon looking barrel and then a little blade came down from the top of the barrel to hold the arrow in place. then when you pulled the trigger, it looked like the mechanism would somehow release the arrow via a little springloaded rod that connected from the external mechanism to the inside of the barrel.


i'm sorry if that sounds very very confusing, but i'll try to answer any questions as best as i can. and i will try my best to make it to that gun show this coming weekend and see if it's there again and take a picture.


but does anybody have any idea of what that might be or have some pictures or knowledge of anything that matches that description???
 

Hawkflyer

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2007
Messages
3,309
Location
Prince William County, Virginia, USA
imported post

Puts me in mind of an old folk song -

It went zip when it moved and pop when it stopped,
Whirrr when it stood still
I never knew just what it was and I guess I never will.

It would be a miracle if anyone could identify this from just the description. Lets wait for the picture.

Regards
 

Dreamer

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2009
Messages
5,360
Location
Grennsboro NC
imported post

This sounds like some sort of modern "fantasy" weapon. Was it actually functional?

What sort of lockwork did it have? Flintlock, matchlock, wheellock, percussion, what?

Did it have a lot of brass or bronze on it? Was it shiney? What did the barrel look like--round, octagonal, steel, iron, bronze, damascus?

Pictures would be great...

But from the description, I think this might be a non-functional, modern "fantasy" repro from someone like Denix...
 

scorpio_vette

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2009
Messages
635
Location
nowhere
imported post

Dreamer wrote:
This sounds like some sort of modern "fantasy" weapon. Was it actually functional?

What sort of lockwork did it have? Flintlock, matchlock, wheellock, percussion, what?

Did it have a lot of brass or bronze on it? Was it shiney? What did the barrel look like--round, octagonal, steel, iron, bronze, damascus?

Pictures would be great...

But from the description, I think this might be a non-functional, modern "fantasy" repro from someone like Denix...


from my best opinion, it definitely didn't look like anything modern or fantasy. like i said, it looked VERY ANTIQUE.

not trying to sound like a dick, but if you could perhaps read over my description again, i know it's hard to picture, but i tried to describe the mechanism and barrel as best as i could.

I will try to get a picture of it if i can.
 

scorpio_vette

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2009
Messages
635
Location
nowhere
imported post

sorry i noticed a typo that i made that may have added to the confusion, so i tried to correct it. the correction is in red


scorpio_vette@hotmail.com wrote:
It had a small display stand with a small "cradle" on one side that the barrel rested in. it was in the size and shape of a antique handgun. looked to be of asian decent. the grip ended in a dragons head. the barrel looked like a small cannon that was sitting on the top of the grip body. the entire "firing mechanism" (all moving parts) was externally mounted to the outside of the body. and then on each side of this "handgun" there were little tubes mounted to the display stand with the "ammunition". one of them was a steel tip "arrow" with a wooden body, and the other was a steel tip "arrow" with a glass body. both of them were approximately 3-4" long.

the person allowed me to handle this gun and from looking at it, and very carefully moving the mechanism just a little bit, i almost have the feeling it was a cross between a dart gun/crossbow/handgun. almost like you loaded the AMMO (the little wood/glass dart looking pieces) into the cannon looking barrel and then a little blade came down from the top of the barrel to hold the arrow in place. then when you pulled the trigger, it looked like the mechanism would somehow release the arrow via a little springloaded rod that connected from the external mechanism to the inside of the barrel.
 

XD40coyote

Regular Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2007
Messages
706
Location
woman stuck in Maryland, ,
imported post

Sounds like a VERY old Chinese "gun". I've already seen 2 shows on this stuff on the History Channel...

I believe these VERY old "guns" fired shrapnel at close range, then later the lead balls ( shows were a while ago and I have sketchy memory despite my encyclopedic brain...)

When the Eurpeans first got their hands on these, the small ones were called "hand gonnes".

The ancient Chinese also had some interesting crossbows too.

Without pics, no one can tell if this thing you saw was a genuine very old Chinese "gun", crossbow thing, replica, or modern fantasy device. If it was indeed an orginal very old Chinese "gun" or crossbow thing, it is worth ALOT of money.
 

Hawkflyer

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2007
Messages
3,309
Location
Prince William County, Virginia, USA
imported post

scorpio_vette wrote:
sorry i noticed a typo that i made that may have added to the confusion, so i tried to correct it. the correction is in red


scorpio_vette@hotmail.com wrote:
It had a small display stand with a small "cradle" on one side that the barrel rested in. it was in the size and shape of a antique handgun. looked to be of asian decent. the grip ended in a dragons head. the barrel looked like a small cannon that was sitting on the top of the grip body. the entire "firing mechanism" (all moving parts) was externally mounted to the outside of the body. and then on each side of this "handgun" there were little tubes mounted to the display stand with the "ammunition". one of them was a steel tip "arrow" with a wooden body, and the other was a steel tip "arrow" with a glass body. both of them were approximately 3-4" long.

the person allowed me to handle this gun and from looking at it, and very carefully moving the mechanism just a little bit, i almost have the feeling it was a cross between a dart gun/crossbow/handgun. almost like you loaded the AMMO (the little wood/glass dart looking pieces) into the cannon looking barrel and then a little blade came down from the top of the barrel to hold the arrow in place. then when you pulled the trigger, it looked like the mechanism would somehow release the arrow via a little springloaded rod that connected from the external mechanism to the inside of the barrel.
It is not the description that is the problem. I think we all read it a few times. It is the lack of a picture that is the issue. Or as they say where this object was probably made -

No "Picky" no Answer.:lol:
 

scorpio_vette

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2009
Messages
635
Location
nowhere
imported post

well unfortunately i didn't see that person at the gun show today, so as of right now i do not have any pictures. but i will do my best to get back in touch with that person, so as to get a picture of it that i can post here. give me a little more time.
 

Task Force 16

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
2,615
Location
Lobelville, Tennessee, USA
imported post

From your description of how it operates, I'd say it sounds like a handheld dart gun. Not a firearm at all. The wooden/glass bodies of theprojectiles would have shattered if propelled by exposive powder.
 
Top