The Siamese Mauser

[Kleanbore]

I knew a little about the Siamese Mauser from reading gun books. Not a lot, however. This gives a good description.



One can get a much greater appreciation for it by studying its history--about how France was conquering every Asian kingdom it could to form French Indochina, and how Siam remained the one kingdom that was not so conquered.

The story of how King Rama V (the son of Yul Brynner's character Rama IV in The King and I) successfully resisted takeover by the French is an interesting one, and part of that story tells us about how the Siamese Mauser came to be.

I recall a long time friend's having told me many decades ago that he had acquired a Siamese Mauser. He mentioned it more than once, and briefly mentioned the ordeal of finding ammunition for it.

That had all retreated into the deep recesses of my memory until yesterday, when I started reading about Rama V, and also the rifle. I found the above link and sent it out to some friends.

My friend replied that he (still) has one and has fired it.

How?

He made cases from 7.62x54 Russian brass, and he cast the bullets.

The bore diameter is 8.15MM.

The thing has Metford rifling.

He and I used to cast bullets for his .45-70 Springfield sixty years ago.

I have always been interested in the history of the small arms used in military campaigns, going back before the time of Napoleon.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I'll have to go through my old Osprey book collection someday and see if I can remember where I first read about the air war element of the Franco-Thai conflict during the winter of 1940-41. Like the Gran Chaco War (1932-35), the War of the Pacific (1879-84) and the various Balkan Wars just prior to WWI, these little-known fringe conflicts contain a wealth of interesting weapons and military history.

BTW, another interesting Thai rifle came from their collection of surrendered Arisakas that were face-lifted into M1 Carbine configuration. Oft mistaken for Bubbas:



The Thai army certainly knew how to be thrifty with a Baht. I've got a repurposed Japanese helmet in my collection that the Thai's refitted with a French-type liner and Thai crest (here's someone else's photo -- mine is missing the crest and chinstrap.) Smart.



The modern Thai military also knows how to put on a show (apart perhaps from the Disney music ...)

 

[gobsauce]

It's from Siam!I got excited thinking it was a Mauser double rifle. Mostly hoping it was a Bubba.

 

[Speedo66]

View attachment 1002142

The modern Thai military also knows how to put on a show (apart perhaps from the Disney music ...)

The Rockettes of the military.

 

[vintovka]

Spent some time there as my avatar shows. The RTAF (Royal Thai Air Force) personnel i worked with were great and very likeable. Even the townfolks would go overboard to be welcoming. Only the ROKs were more dedicated, but somewhat scary. Lived in hootch built by Japanese during WW2. Older Thais hate the Japanese to this day and had to guard reps from Japanese companies restocking the BX. Off base the little Thai Police guys all had machine guns and would get a big kick out of poking GIs in the butt with them if you were in the way on a bus. Most base entrance and patrol "guards" i saw had original m-16s. The Air America guards had grease guns and Swedish k's. Sadly there were no LGSs in Nakon Sawan that i saw.