Nepalese Gahendra Rifle

[Steam_Power_Prepper]

Hey everybody. I recently ordered one of the Nepalese Gahendra rifles from IMA. It should be here tomorrow. Seemed lie an interesting rifle, so I was hoping you guys might be able to help shed some light on them. My researching skills aren't the best...

 

[highpower]

There is a video on you tube on how to disassemble them. Other than that, I got nothin'.

 

[barnbwt]

Very, very... very... ...very hit or miss by all accounts. If you or a gunsmith know what to look for and can show everything present, accounted for, and in good working condition, I've heard they're very fun thumpers, and there's even reproduction brass out there for them. People have converted them into all sorts of different calibers, too. Worst case scenario, you have an incredibly cool wall hanger of probably the most prolific black-powder firearm in history. Be sure to post up some pictures.

TCB

 

[USAF_Vet]

I just read a pretty good write up on the Gehenda rifle over on Forgotten Weapons. Seems as though the one they got had some serious issues, i.e. not safe to fire.

Hopefully you get a good one, but if not, and you want it to be a shooter, consider sleeving the barrel for a caliber change.

 

[Kaeto]

All of the guns IMA sells are sold as wall hangers.

 

[barnbwt]

Doesn't mean they are, just that they don't inspect them to verify their safety; buyer beware

TCB

 

[Steam_Power_Prepper]

So, the rifle arrived today. The bore is plugged (like the one over on ForgottenWeapons), but what I can see of the rifling it's pretty decent. The lever is gone (read: not there), so I can't drop the breechblock. However I have verified it as being unloaded (the breechblock drops just enough to see the rear of the chamber). For now, I just want to get her cleaned up and go from there.

 

[Scooter22]

Send it back. They guarantee a lever(look at "What you will get) and it doesn't say anything about plugged barrels.
Read:http://www.ima-usa.com/original-nepalese-gahendra-martini-rifle-untouched-condition.html

 

[dprice3844444]

http://www.martinihenry.com/ martini info and identification
http://britishmilitariaforums.yuku.com/ british rifle forum
http://britishmilitariaforums.yuku.com/reply/17959#.U3Z74vldV8E barrel relining
http://www.ehow.com/how_12118703_make-577-450-martini-henry-brass.html ammo how to make the ammo
http://www.midwayusa.com/Product/598853/bertram-reloading-brass-577-450-martini-henry-box-of-20 new brass

 

[Steam_Power_Prepper]

Scooter, I inadvertently got the "parts gun" (which is pretty much complete, less a lever, which is en route), so I was only guaranteed a barrel and a receiver. I got a nearly complete rifle, though. I need to get some tools to do the disassembly.

ForgottenWeapons mentioned on one of their page about the Gahendra that they found a plug in the bore, as well.

 

[Scooter22]

Gotcha.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Its odd that your bore was plugged too. I got the impression from FW that the cleaning patches and hunk of wood were from a poor cleaning job. I assumed the last user was cleaning it and snapped the cleaning rod off in the bore. That yours has the same plug has me wondering.

I was curious about ordering something from IMA, then I saw that horrendous show they had which made me want to vomit.

Anyway, good luck with your Gehendra, and keep us posted.

 

[Steam_Power_Prepper]

My theory is that prior to storage, the Nepalese plugged the bores with plans to remove them later if need be (like storing the old milsurp rifles like Mosins, Mausers, and Enfields in cosmoline) prior to storage. Then they never got taken out.