Yesterday's Weapons Forums

Pakistan or Afghanistan, probably. Got these from fellow forum member John1958... who lurks mostly.

He told me they are both "Peshawar Scratchbuilds" but I think the better one is actually Brit - possibly from Nepal.

Both are filthy, but I scoff at that! "Scoff, scoff". Please pass the Easy-off oven cleaner!

The ratty one has a pattern welded or 'Damascus' barrel. I don't think I'll be shooting that one! Ever!

It should make a decent display, though. I'll order a P53 parts rifle from IMA to finish one - possibly both.

Hey! Next intervention meetin' let's order pizza!! SW

nifty looking item , right time period for the 'VR' [1837-1901]

I got the better one all cleaned up. Boiling water & dish soap did the deal for the bore. A little rifling left & shiny all the way down. I dropped a nickel 44 case down & it showed no bulges or wasp nests.

A 58 cal minie drops freely to the bottom, so one of those with a patch & light charge of BP sub should be okay.

I'll order a parts P53 from IMA to see if I can't get a better barrel.

The other one? If I get a lock & hammer on the parts rifle, I'll add them just to make it look complete, but it's basically a pipe bomb in a stock.

I will NOT be shooting that one! Might even sell it just to free up space in the rack.

But it was fun cleaning them up - I like handling history. SW

Interesting! Is the breech plug designed to be removable? From what I can see in the picture, it's hard-staked to prevent rotation... The coarsely machined "flats" have me wondering. I guess the reality is, even if it's a threaded in plug, it's very likely corroded in to the point of being un-removable...

Regards,

Doc Sharptail

Doc,

The John Clive barrel looks like it was made so the tang would separate from the barrel proper but I didn't get too mean with it.

The Damascus barrel appears to be a one piece construction. SW

Please forgive my ignorance- I know as much about these as I do Egyptian Hieroglyphs. A plug-less bbl system?

Regards,

Doc Sharptail

Doc,

I don't know that much, either. But having closely examined the Damascus barrel, it very much appears to have been soldered or welded as a one piece unit.

I figure it was made in a tiny shop on a Peshawar back street by some apprentice gunsmith who knocked it togther with the most rudimentary of tools... like he held the barrel between his toes while soldering the sights on.

It is crude with a capital 'K' and pretty much a pipe bomb with wooden stock attached.

Our pal, Gupta may have a few insights here... he claims to be in the Peshawar area regarding an arranged marriage wth a **koff, koff... a-hem...** young bride. I'll ask next time he checks in. SW