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#1 |
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Location: Austin, Texas USA
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Mindful that weapons from Afghanistan are often less than they are represented to be, I consulted earlier forum posts related to jezails before acquiring this one. I hope I learned enough to choose wisely, but would be grateful for all observations and discussion. In any event, this piece can't be more recently made than the Italian Colt replica revolver I traded for it.
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#2 |
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It looks old to me, however, how old is another question!
Specifically, this looks to be a real E.I.C. Baker pattern lock, in commission from 1819 to 1839. Regards Richard |
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#3 | |
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#4 |
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Hi Berkley. I would say that you got the better of the trade.
![]() Anyway, great looking piece. Much better than the one I just purchased. Thanks for Posting. Rick. |
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#5 |
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Lookin' good. Decent barrel and a good lock, brass decoration rather than MOP.
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#6 | |
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#7 |
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Hi again. The size of the hole in the barrel looks too large for a vent liner. But it does look to be about the correct size for a percussion drum.
The barrel could have been European made for the local market? Although from the photos it seems more likely it was locally made. The rear sight is the most common style I see on Jezails. Turkish and Persian barrels commonly use this rear sight arrangement. Maybe you could post a close up photo of that barrel vent area? Is there a smaller hole inside the larger one? At the momment I'm going to go out on a limb and take a guess: It looks like the barrel at one time was perussion - or converted to percussion - and then re-converted back to flintlock. If true, makes the gun that more interesting. Hope you can get a close up pic of the vent area. Again, thanks for Posting. Rick. |
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#8 |
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This is the best I can do, I'm afraid. Pictures were taken in direct sun with a small bore light inside the barrel as close to the breech as possible. The fibrous material inside the vent is thin, dried, encrusted, and doesn't yield to a dental pick.
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#9 |
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That's really cool Berk. Congrats!
Steve |
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#10 |
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That is a HUGE priming hole. The gun seems original enough to me, the wood the barrel and the lock all look old and original. From the pictures the barrell looks to me to be made of out bronze which was was something they'd have made the barrell from with locally. It is quite normal to make the barrells octagonal all the way through.
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#11 |
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Looks like she's been converted from flint to percussion, then from percussion back to flint at some stage. Possibly the lock isn't original to the stock and barrel; judging by the photos I'd say that the fit between lockplate and stock isn't too neat. The stock, barrel and lock, indeed, may all be from various source guns.
The amount of remaining brass decoration is very pleasing; how bright is it? The photos seem to suggest it's moderately bright, but I think you took them with a flash on, which doesn't help. Lovely barrel; rifle or smoothbore? We have a similar, full octagonal, rifle Damascus barrel here at work. The sight looks similar to one of mine which I think is Persian, though I don't know if that'll be any use with regard to attributing an origin. A really good piece, all in all! Best, Meredydd |
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#12 |
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Hi Berkley! Thanks for the additional photos. Are there any threads in the hole? That would pretty much confirm that this gun was percussion at some point in it's life. But I don't believe anyone would fire this gun with a vent hole that large.
![]() Of course I'm just speculating on some of these comments. And in any case, it does not distract from the overall appearance of the gun. It's a nice piece in really nice condition. Rick. |
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#13 |
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Here's a thought: You might take the lock off and inspect the mortise area. You might find a slight difference in the color of the wood inside? Where maybe later inletting was done to accomodate a lock change. Just a thought.
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#14 |
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To respond to some points that were raised:
A magnet is attracted to the barrel, so it isn't bronze. The brass doesn't show any sign of recent cleaning. There are threads inside the vent, and the fit of lock to stock is relatively crude. I am grateful that, whenever the percussion lock was replaced, a genuine EIC lock was used. At some point I do plan to dismount the lock for inspection. However, a Nepalese Brown Bess in much greater need of attention has first claim on my spare time for now. Many thanks to all for the positive and helpful comments. |
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#15 | |
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Salaams Berkley The subject of locally made and restructured guns is a huge one. Your pictures are excellent... I don't have that many Indo Perian or Indo Afghan guns but here's one .. once again a made up piece typical of many in the Khyber and Indian regions. It will be interesting to see your Brown Bess... which apparently didn't have the range that some of the locally made long barrels had. Regards, Ibrahiim al Balooshi. |
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#16 |
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Berkley: I certainly know what you mean by having other projects first. I must have about six Ethno gun projects going on at the same time now.
![]() It will be interesting to see the Brown Bess when available. Please Post photos. Thanks again for Posting the Jezail. Nice piece. Ibrahiim: You're right. What a great example of a locally made/Khyber type gun you have. The Tower lock and the different barrel bands, etc. Great example!! Thanks for Posting. Rick. |
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#17 |
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Here is the "Brown Bess", one of fewer than ten intact specimens recovered from Lagan Silekhana palace in Kathmandu in 2003.
The brass buttplate was sold for scrap by the palace "caretakers" long ago, but everything else is complete. Lock is a Windus pattern made in Birmingham but bearing a Nepalese Gurkha temple marking; all other parts made in Nepal. Last edited by Berkley; 29th September 2012 at 03:40 AM. |
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#18 |
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Hi Berkley. I might be able to locate an original and correct butt plate for you if interested? PM me if interested. Rick.
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#19 |
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PM sent.
Last edited by Berkley; 1st October 2012 at 06:11 PM. |
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