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

Jim McDougall · 17th May 2025, 07:37 PM

Thank you Rick! especially for the kind words!

As you note, there would not have been much attraction to British barrels except perhaps in some incidental cases where such were all that was available. I only have cursory reading and knowledge in firearms, so very much appreciate your insights as Im well aware of your expertise.

Well made points on the barrels used by Afghans, and the advantage of smooth bores with the wider scope of ammunition used, and that these types of guns were good for certain warfare situations.

What I have always noted about these Khyber tribesmen is as noted in Kipling, the incredible marksmanship of these snipers. In the defile of the Khyber this seemed to have been one of the key factors of control and manner of that.
It seems I read in some reference that although there were a few examples of barrels that MIGHT have had Afghan origin, but that seemed speculative, and with that would have likely been artisans from the regions most came from.
With the locks however, it seems these were the component consistently used, and later copied profusely.

17th May 2025, 07:08 PM	#1
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

17th May 2025, 07:37 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,277	Thank you Rick! especially for the kind words! As you note, there would not have been much attraction to British barrels except perhaps in some incidental cases where such were all that was available. I only have cursory reading and knowledge in firearms, so very much appreciate your insights as Im well aware of your expertise. Well made points on the barrels used by Afghans, and the advantage of smooth bores with the wider scope of ammunition used, and that these types of guns were good for certain warfare situations. What I have always noted about these Khyber tribesmen is as noted in Kipling, the incredible marksmanship of these snipers. In the defile of the Khyber this seemed to have been one of the key factors of control and manner of that. It seems I read in some reference that although there were a few examples of barrels that MIGHT have had Afghan origin, but that seemed speculative, and with that would have likely been artisans from the regions most came from. With the locks however, it seems these were the component consistently used, and later copied profusely.