Need help with antique rifle identification

[pwolfman]

I am currently stationed in Afghanistan and I just found out they have a quirky rule for the military over here. Seems we can purchase and ship home rifles manufactured before 1898. Now remember that this country has been at the crossroads of wars for, oh, 2000 years. I have seem british, chinese, russian, and some others that I did not recognize.

I need book recommendations for this target rich environment.

Any suggestions?

Pwolfman

 

[SDC]

It's hard to give a definite answer one way or the other without seeing a specific firearm, but I'd think you'd be safe if you confined yourself to looking only at Martini-action single-shots or black-powder percussion firearms.

Martini-action:

 

[7six2]

But if you plan to shoot any of them stay away from the Khyber Pass specials.

 

[Jim K]

If there isn't any limit on numbers, some of those "Khyber Pass specials" are quite interesting. They are worth study because they show what people can do with a minimum of tools and a lot of determination and skill. (Of course, it might be impossible to prove when a copy was made, even if the originals date to the 19th century, but I am not sure anyone would really care.)

They KP copies are not worth much monetarily, though, but then I doubt any guns from that part of the world are. The ones I have seen have been, to put it mildly, through the mill and show it. If anyone is looking for a 98% Martini-Henry or a 97% Lee-Metford, look in the UK or the US or Australia, but forget Afghanistan.

Jim

 

[Sunray]

"...we can purchase and ship home rifles manufactured before 1898..." You'd best look into that before you do anything. Last I saw, admitedly third hand, it was no firearms of any kind.
Personally, I'd have a "Khyber Pass special" in a heart beat, just to say I have one. A complete rifle made entirely by hand with a hammer and a file. And until the Afghan tribesmen took AK's from dead Russians, they used nothing but "Khyber Pass specials". Nobody has ever beaten them either.

 

[Trebor]

Go to www.gunboards.com and look for the "Martini Henry" forum.

There is a sticky there that lists info on the locally made copies of the "Martini Henry" rifle. These are the "Khyber Pass" rifles everyone is talking about.

If you can find a *real* Martini Henry, that would be a great rifle to bring back. It's most likely though that all you'll find is one of those locally made copies. The quality ranges from quite good to very crude. Read the "Khyber Pass" sticky at the M-H forums for more info.

 

[pwolfman]

All,

Thank you for inputs everyone. I am going to be looking for Martini Henry (non-Kyber pass) or a french bolt action.

Soldiers are buying the crappiest weapons here, thinking they are gold...but looking at them, stocks chipped, barrels corroded, rust everywhere. It makes you cringe!!!


But I tell you, allow soldiers to buy any weapon in Afghanistan, and by years end, there would be none in country...


Pwolfman

 

[Jim K]

"But I tell you, allow soldiers to buy any weapon in Afghanistan, and by years end, there would be none in country..."

Too bad that won't work with AK-47's or we might have the answer to the problems of that area of the world.

Jim