Help My Brother in Afghanistan

[hyltoto]

Seems like he may be on to something o'er there. How best to seperate the real from the copies?

"Bro,

Dealer here has antigue british muzzle loaders (or Afghan copies) for sale. What should I look for/buy? From Brown Bess to Martini-Henrys.

A real Brown Bess or Baker rifle could be cool. Most are very well worn and have extremely dark bores. A ferguson would be da bomb, but dream on.

Dave"

Give some snippets to e-mail back to him and I will gladly forward them.

[Randy Hedden]

My brother-in-law brought two rifles back from Afghanistan.  One was a three band Enfield and the other was a bess.  When I saw them they were very worn, had been sanded down, even the barrel and other metal parts, and were in generally poor condition.  When I took them apart it was apparent that they were Afghani made.  No proof marks or any other markings.  Even though they may be really cheap in price, my best advice would be to leave them in Afghanistan unless you just want them for wall hangers.

Randy Hedden

[TPH]

Do some reading on the "British Militaria Forums" at:

http://britishmilitariaforums.yuku.com/

On several of the Forums there is good information and many photographs of flint and percussion arms as well as Martinis and Snyders purchased at bazaars in Afghanistan, some very good British made arms, some locally made copies that can fool those without solid knowledge. The real ones do show up but you need a working knowledge or someone he can trust that does have that knowledge. Anyway, this may help but nothing substitutes for a good, basic knowledge of British military firearms of the last 250 years. In other words, time for brother to do some reading and study of collections in museums and private possession. I know, impossible to do there but necessary if he wants the "real thing" sorry to say.  

[ottawa]

we couldt be that lucky in Iraq  when we found somthing like that even after the mountains of papper work they just smiled and said it stays here  with all the museums and such that got luted I uderstand but man some things where nice exspecly the pistols in cap and flint

[Stan]

My son reciently returned from there and his opinion is that they are ALL Kybre pass repros.  Stan Hollenbaugh

[hyltoto]

Bro sent me an email and says thanks to all, yesterday was the last day centerfires could be mailed home so prices plummeted and I anm to recieve a Martini-Henry carbine via registered mail. Hey for 50 bucks. The Besses are running $400!

[TPH]

Got my fingers crossed for you. $400 for one or two of the Besses that I have seen come out of Afghanistan is not a bad price at all, real British barrels and locks with what seem to be original British furniture. Stocks rough and maybe replaced long ago....

[T.C.Albert]

Well...maybe he could get ahold of some genuine antique Kyber knives etc...they might be welcomed by arms collectors here and parlayed into some genuine muzzle loader stuff...
TCA

[woodsrunner]

Back in 1979 at Christmastime when the Soviets went into Afghanistan I got a temporary recall to active duty and reported to NAVINTCOM in Suitland, Md for assignment to the Pentagon. Part of my job was to study ground photography trying to gleen any info that we could on the Resistance. It was not unusual to see Afghani Resistance Fighters armed with British 1853 Enfields. AK-47's were seen, and WWII German 98k's would show up, but a lot of muzzleloaders, especially the Enfields were evident. I don't recall seeing a flintlock, however.

[Stan]

There are plenty of Khyber knives in the bazaars over there.   Stan