old percussion pistol from Afghanistan?

[_CY_]

old percussion pistol from Afghanistan... I think... or at least that's the story. a soldier brought it back from Afghanistan.

anyone know history about this type pistol?
barrels are crudely constructed, workmanship looks like it came from a third world country. inlaid mother of pearl... loads of hours went into artwork.

edit: looks like this is one of those new made to look old pistols made for servicemen. story about how it got here is probably real, but pistol is junk.
good only for a wall hanger.

 

[mmchambers06]

http://www.armscollectors.com/darra/afghanold.htm

 

[Traxxis]

http://www.armscollectors.com/darra/afghanold.htm

An interesting read. I'll admit, it would have fooled me.

Neat anyways though, something you can put on the mantle.

 

[Old Fart]

http://www.armscollectors.com/darra/afghanold.htm

I was going to say that I saw a documentary about that.

 

[TerryMiller]

Back in 1967-68, I was stationed at a base near Peshawar, Pakistan. Some of us took an occasional 3 day pass and flew to Kabul, Afghanistan. The first ones that went brought back "Camel Guns" (that I believe they name due to the curved butt-stock) that were cap and ball rifles. When I made my trip, I talked with a number of the Army personnel stationed at the US embassy in Kabul.

They explained that many of the merchants went out into the country where battles had been fought and picked up all kinds of weapons. In most cases, the time involved that weapons had been somewhat buried, the wooden stocks had deteriorated away. Then the merchants would fashion new stocks to add to the barrel and action pieces.

I came away with a "Camel Gun" that could really be considered a carbine, since it was shorter than the ones seen in the linked article. I also purchased a saber, shield (definitely a replica, but authentic ones with saber marks on them could have been had as well), powder horn, powder measure (think like old balance scale but hand held) and a weapon tool with awl, hammer and screwdriver-like blade. Believe it or not, all the above for about $10.

While it was common to see cap and ball rifles with wood engraving, I don't recall seeing any with pearl inlays.

 

[ssgrock3]

lots of unofficial gun manufacturers in the part of the world. Aren't you all glad that we have to have permission to do anything even resembling it.

 

[angsniper]

It seems there is a buttload of enfield rifles and pistols in Afghanistan. Every tour in country we had peddlers trying to sell us these rifles/pistols. The bazaars are full of them, right next to the "Rolex" watches. They were some old paper cartridge caliber if I remember right.

 

[SMS]

Most of 'em faked in Durra....crafty folks making a killing off of G.I.s