An afghan jezail or north african rifle?

[kahnjar1]

From the latest pics the barrel looks to be an original one, but the fit is all wrong so could well not be the original one from the stock. The touch hole is too high from the bottom of the pan. Is that French lock you show, the lock which is attached to the Afghan, or another?
Stu

[francantolin]

The french model is just to show how high the hole must be
So if I can readjust / wind down the barrel in the wooden gaps it must fit good...

[corrado26]

I think because of the remarkable style of the butt this gun was made by a handyman of the Sind people in today Pakistan. Guns of this type, with sharply curved flaring butts are typical of Sind, now a province of southern Pakistan.

[Jim McDougall]

This is an Afghan jezail, the fabled long gun of the Khyber. These typically had genuine old East India Co. locks or copied versions. It seems there was some interpolation of components from Sind to the south such as barrels etc. but I am far from an authority on these guns.

The more dramatic styling of the butt seems atypical for Afghan, and it is hard to say what part of NW India this might be from. It is interesting that the mother of pearl applique decoration resembles the Afghan guns, and seems to have been most popular.

The French lock is interesting, not used to seeing French weapons or components in these northern Indian regions, but there were of course French elements in India to the East (Pondicherry) as with the other colonial presence there. As always trade and diffusions of population often carry these things far and wide.

[kahnjar1]

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24394
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=24388

Yes very likely of Sindi origin rather than Afghan. Above are links to a couple I once owned.
Stu

[francantolin]

Thanks a lot for these interesting links !!! 🙏

I still havent remove the barrel from the wooden parts ( don't want to damage it ) but I persevere 💪

I found this powerful poem from Rudyard Kipling,
I guess many of you already knew it but for me it was the first time.



Kind regards

[kahnjar1]

Suggest that if you are going to remove the barrel that you FIRST remove the screw which looks to be holding the tang. Then CAREFULLY and GENTLY tap the bands along the barrel towards the muzzle end, using a wedge of wood (rather than metal) so as not to scratch the barrel or dent the bands. Mark the band with something so that when you go to replace it, you put it on the right way round.They are usually slightly tapered to fit tight on the barrel. Barrel should then come off easily.
Stu

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by francantolin

Thanks a lot for these interesting links !!! 🙏

I still havent remove the barrel from the wooden parts ( don't want to damage it ) but I persevere 💪

I found this powerful poem from Rudyard Kipling,
I guess many of you already knew it but for me it was the first time.



Kind regards

Always fascinated with India, and the Northwest Frontier, and probably watched "Gunga Din" a zillion times
Yup, I know this one by Kipling well!!!
It inspired my silliness in this cartoon with Kipling instructing the Afridi sniper: