Thanks for your comments. After doing more research I determined that this gun is an Indo-Arab matchlock, and I doubt it was obtained in Afghanistan. There's a saying among vintage gun collectors, "Buy the gun, not the story". I found it odd that a French Gras rifle was part of the three guns supposedly found in a cave in Afghanistan. Gras rifles were heavily distributed in Yemen and Arabia and some are still in use. I suspect someone collected all three weapons when visiting those regions in the past. Doesn't really matter, I'm happy to get it and add to my collection.
|