An afghan jezail or north african rifle?

[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

[francantolin]

Originally Posted by 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

THANK YOU !!

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by francantolin

THANK YOU !!

Let me know how you get on

[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:

[francantolin]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

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:

Really nice and funny, thank you for sharing !🙂

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by francantolin

Really nice and funny, thank you for sharing !��

You bet! That gun is fantastic! I actually love the deeper curved stock and that it is a shorter barrel, more like a carbine.
The shorter gun is of course more effective for a rider, naturally cavalry used them. In these part (Texas) the saddle ring carbine is the thing, rather like Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson with his....I guess I see the colorful comparison.

I do recall reading that there was a brisk interchange of guns and parts with Sind regarding jezails (as Stu has well noted),so this one is a nice example.