Frontier Arithmetic: The Afghan Jezail

rickystl · 17th May 2025, 07:08 PM

Hi Jim

WOW!!! Can't believe six years has slipped by since your first Post on this Thread. Where has the time gone ??

I just re-read this entire Thread from the beginning. It reminded me what a great discussion came about. Thank you again for starting this Thread. Much was learned.

An interesting note with reference to the barrels on these Jazails. Of all I have personally seen and/or examined, about 70% were rifled with about 30% being smooth bore. Of course, the rifled barrel would be an advantage for longer ranges for accuracy. But the smooth bore also had the advantage of being able to fire a variety of shot, faster to reload, and easier to clean. The Afghan locals likely knew this the same as Europeans.
I've never seen or read any real evidence of local Afghan barrel making during this period. The barrels on these Jazails seem to have come from a variety of locations. Northern India, Persia, Sindh, Ottoman, ??? Not really sure. Sindh did produce some beautiful rifled barrels. Maybe the Afghan locals had enough sources from contingent countries to make their own barrel making unnecessary (?) One thing I have NOT seen on these Jazails is the reuse of British musket barrels. Which of course were all large caliber smooth bores not compatible for long range shooting.

Anyway. glad to see this old Thread pop up again. LOL

Rick

17th May 2025, 07:08 PM	#11
rickystl Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: St. Louis, MO area. Posts: 1,632	Hi Jim WOW!!! Can't believe six years has slipped by since your first Post on this Thread. Where has the time gone ?? I just re-read this entire Thread from the beginning. It reminded me what a great discussion came about. Thank you again for starting this Thread. Much was learned. An interesting note with reference to the barrels on these Jazails. Of all I have personally seen and/or examined, about 70% were rifled with about 30% being smooth bore. Of course, the rifled barrel would be an advantage for longer ranges for accuracy. But the smooth bore also had the advantage of being able to fire a variety of shot, faster to reload, and easier to clean. The Afghan locals likely knew this the same as Europeans. I've never seen or read any real evidence of local Afghan barrel making during this period. The barrels on these Jazails seem to have come from a variety of locations. Northern India, Persia, Sindh, Ottoman, ??? Not really sure. Sindh did produce some beautiful rifled barrels. Maybe the Afghan locals had enough sources from contingent countries to make their own barrel making unnecessary (?) One thing I have NOT seen on these Jazails is the reuse of British musket barrels. Which of course were all large caliber smooth bores not compatible for long range shooting. Anyway. glad to see this old Thread pop up again. LOL Rick