Hmong Flintlock musket – Viet Nam

Handmade flintlock musket with external lockwork. 52 inches overall, 47 inch barrel. Bore is about .44 inch. Wooden support beneath barrel is held in place with brass bands and brass wire. Fliintlock mechanism is rusty and loose, missing flint that wedges into the hammer piece and is held by friction fit. Small steel eye beneath action takes thin rope for carrying the musket over the shoulder with muzzle downward. Circa mid 20th century 1950’s and 60’s. Similar muskets also locally made in other areas of Asia and sometimes colloquially referred to as “Monkey Guns” since they were used to hunt monkeys. Amazing ethnological artifact.