Afghan Traditional Jezail

[@goshenremains]

They’ve got curved stocks. Curved. Stocks.

[@thelegate8636]

Favor the jezail eh? I'm a Hawken rifle man myself.

[@eisenkrieg553]

Carolus Rex The gods gave you two hands and you use them both for your rifle. I can respect that.

[@ВячеславСкопюк]

that's black powder, after all

[@justhope2117]

I was an adventurer like you... But then i got a bullet to the knee

[@elderrolls9613]

Goshen is that a reference to what I think it is?

[@exlibris3776]

In Pahsto its pronounced "jeh-zay-eel". Even with modern AKs Afghan tribesmen take pride in their possessions and tend to decorate everything from rifles to trucks. When I was in Helmand we found an AKM with small bells wired to the barrel. I supposed that it would jingle when it was shot at us haha.

[@AB-ov1zm]

Thats pimping sub continent style

[@cb2291]

Sounds like Guzele in Turkish (beautiful) hahaha

[@idresshinwari4763]

Muhammad Arsalan Bela Afghanistan is not the sub continent though. It’s geographically in Central Asia, but politically in South Asia( because India has a lot of ties with the afghan government)

[@sadiaansari4574]

Christopher Bhagwandin probably same root word if not same word from Persian or old Turkish

[@JB-gu4jq]

We found American AR-15 type rifles that had been discarded because they had Cut of the stock. Wouldnt have wanted to be the one to fire that 😂😂

[@Veryspecificassortmentofwords]

If you don’t find this amazing, imagine someone stole your car engine and then made a better looking, faster car and then did donuts in your front yard

[@BrokeSpike]

Couldn't even be mad at em

[@maxmchugh965]

As a car guy who's just getting into guns, this comment was a useful

[@Kryonyde]

I really enjoyed this analogy.

[@javidmirza4584]

I would sue them for taking my stuff without my permission after I shoot them

[@gabrielalbeldaochoa8234]

@@javidmirza4584 Nice try, he shot you from a cliff before you could even see him

[@crominion6045]

"I am Lawrence of Arabia." "Pleased to meet you, Lawrence. I am Detritus of Foam."

[@TheWhoamaters]

And I am Packaging of Peanut

[@benguthrie3286]

@@TheWhoamaters and i am bubble of wrap

[@justinrobert2770]

And I am cling of film

[@notahotshot]

And I am Mork of Ork.

[@oscarbaezsoria1650]

@@notahotshot Turd Of Toilet reporting....

[@gonufc]

"Really accurate rifles" - that's because when the bullet finally leaves the barrel it's only got a few feet to travel before reaching the target.

[@phillipmele8533]

Hah! That’s a good one.

[@SuperRAJORSHI]

Ha ha! Yeah its a long ass barrel 😂

[@WayneStark626]

Good one 👍. Lol

[@talhahtaco2035]

just throw a longsword on there and you got a giant spear

[@arifahmedkhan9999]

The Afghans used it to fight the British, and as British had a massive force because of the British Indian army, and the Afghans actually used it like a sniper rifle from atop of hills down on the Marching Britsh who had muskets whose range was way less than the Afghan rifle and thats why it's called accurate rifles, also because of the longer barrel it gave a larger range than the musket

[@nikoopperman931]

thats a bazaar bargain

[@contrakin8172]

"It's like Christmas Morning"

[@NazbolCaliphDonaldaddeenTrump]

thanks for standing still, wanka

[@inconspicuous7464]

Niko Opperman I was waiting for someone to say that

[@migmindy]

tru

[@shizzy7480]

I have been searching the comments looking for this one exactly

[@danielschnopp-wyatt3578]

Love the Kipling bit at the end. It was a jezail bullet wound that troubled Dr. Watson in the Holmes stories.

[@3550rebel]

Yes more poetry please. There is a lot out there that would be appropriate.

[@ZGryphon]

Yes, it would have been nice for Ian to address the awesome power of these things, given that Dr. Watson was shot in the shoulder and the wound gave him trouble in his leg for years thereafter. :)

[@shura0107]

Been waiting for someone to mention Dr Watson. Cheers to you.

[@IamN0-1]

Daniel Schnopp-Wyatt : true

[@AlexKS1992]

@That Wide Unit A wound like that would leave a hole about the size of a grape but the exit would be about the size of a small orange. If it comes into contact with bone it shatters the bone like glass. If you were shot with something like a .50 or .54 caliber you would probably die instantly or if you didn't you would be begging to die. Also if you are shot in a leg or arm say goodbye to that limb. I can go on and on but I think you get the idea.

[@rahbaralhaq]

That girl belongs in a museum. Restoring her would mean giving up a lot of original parts. Seriously, she did her job for two centuries and now almost literally falling apart. It's about time she gets a nice quite retirement in a display case. *(Personal opinion internet, please don't lynch me)*

[@Raiinjin]

Rik Raptor Agreed

[@dandhan87]

Rik Raptor she must have served generations of warriors of a family, she must retire now

[@ItsBodin]

Rik Raptor Agreed in terms of going to a museum but personally id buy a repro of one of these looks fun to hunt with.

[@_yellow]

She's seen some shit, give her some rest.

[@ВячеславСкопюк]

She also can have place in someone's collection

[@SitInTheShayd]

An army medic was once wounded by one of these during the war. He was sent home and made acquaintance with an eccentric detective

[@robolencca-0126]

"Elementary, my dear Watson."

[@sumanchatterjee6591]

@@robolencca-0126 u stole my line

[@brianmccarthy5557]

By a close reading of his memoirs you would discover he was actually wounded twice, once in his shoulder and another time in a leg. He is a little vague on his military history, as he is about much else. There is speculation that he was a medical doctor on detached service with some early British special forces unit, which service he could not discuss. Some have even speculated that Holmes was an eccentric addled drug addict that the doctor used as a cover for his own expertise, perhaps because of his secret service connections. It might explain some of the oddities in the memoirs. We shall never know, unless additional memoirs surface, perhaps even the long rumored ones of Holmes himself.

[@Perktube1]

He had to get used to seeing an Arab slipper stuffed with tobacco.

[@biscuitson]

ooooh, I get that reference.....

[@POTUSJimmyCarter]

My old boss was an officer in Afghanistan and his unit actually captured a few fighters still using these things today (or in 2011 rather). He showed me pictures of himself holding two and yes, this one is a shorter model. Apparently what was happening was a bunch of very old men with these were setting up the improvised set-up-and-run rocket rigs the Taliban love, waiting for them to go off, knowing full well they'd tampered with a couple of the rockets so they would reliably result in UXO on base, then they would use these things to snipe at the EOD personnel who showed up to deal with the unexploded rockets. They'd all take their one shot and then vanish, cuz there's no followup shots with these. Overall just the level of devious cunning you'd expect from someone who spent the last 50+ years of their lives fighting guerilla wars, coupled with the absolute patience such a tactic would require.

[@WangMingGe]

Fascinating. I guess if it could kill a man in 1840, it can kill a man today

[@BeKindToBirds]

Lot closer to 5000 years than 50 mate. Afghanistan is always a place of war in human history

[@POTUSJimmyCarter]

@@BeKindToBirds are you implying Afghans are immortal

[@nemoexnuqual3643]

LMAO! I served in Afghanistan in 03-04 and was with EOD. I remember getting shot at with a musket, I was on a Mk19. I actually have one of these that was cut down to a pistol (I don’t think it works, it’s like the wall hanger models Ian talks about) as well as another goofy Afghan flintlock pistol (that is fully functional) with a belled out blunderbuss looking barrel. Picked em both up at a bizarre for like $50.

[@sassyviking6003]

​@@BeKindToBirds i believe by 50 they meant the individuals, not the nation.

[@MonkeyGus]

To think this rifle could have killed a King's hussar back in the 1800's is absolutely baffling, and the fact it could have been used again against the british in the third ango-afghan war is another thing entirely.

[@grzegorzswist]

Maybe even someone did some potshots agains whe Soviets in the 80".

[@ColoradoStreaming]

Not to mention Elphy Bay's happy little fuckup the first time around.

[@Zen-rw2fz]

maybe some taliban are still using them

[@thomasball5432]

@@Zen-rw2fz most swapped their jezails for martinis, then their martinis for lee-enfields, then their lee-enfields for AKs. I doubt any of these are much more than family heirlooms hanging over the fireplace these days.

[@MrDgwphotos]

@ Osama Bin Laden had NOTHING to do with the CIA. His Afghans Arabs were NOT fighters, the CIA money went to the groups that were actually fighting the Soviets. Bin Laden himself never left Pakistan, and was solely a financier, and even in those days, hated Americans.

[@RockIslandAuctionCompany]

Truly a Forgotten Weapon. Love the similarities drawn between Afghan rifles and Kentucky rifles!

[@g.4279]

The virgin British Musketeer vs the Chad Rifleman

[@Giganfan2k1]

@@g.4279 I just saw a "virgin sword user vs Chad spearmen" today. This might be my favorite meme.

[@MadGnu]

Y'all Qaeda

[@briancultice1024]

Similar circumstance and identical people

[@KA-vs7nl]

@@briancultice1024 no, middle east still bottom of the barrel. 16% of afghan children get married under age 15 and pakistan inbreeding rate is over 55%.

[@damienairalay552]

Afghan snipers on a hill be like, "nice of them to stand in rows for us to shoot, huh?" "Yea, bonus points if you shoot the guy with the drum" "nah, I love this song"

[@SusCalvin]

The powers of Europe have started to use jäger/light/rifles units, but it's not like the entire army uses that stuff. You have a detachment of those guys along with the main unit.

[@omartistry]

That’s literally guerrilla warfare back then.

[@senorsombrero1275]

“Look at the hat on that guy! Its massive!” “Bet he’s important” “Lets shoot him to find out”

[@damienairalay552]

@@SusCalvin was just a joke

[@flavioflubber183]

Like a circus shooting gallery lmaooo

[@Exarian]

Ah Afghanistan. The spike-strip of empires.

[@basheerghouse644]

Look, it's only Euros who can't manage it. We conquered Afghanistan just fine despite the snipers.

[@basheerghouse644]

@Bobby Sands Persia conquered afghanistan, Babur conquered Afghanistan, my ancestors in the Lodhi Dynasty conquered Afghanistan, the Khans conquered Afghanistan.

[@basheerghouse644]

Well, Babur conquered bits and pieces of Afghanistan and it was his Descendents who managed to actually do the job. But certainly Timur and the Mughals conquered Afghanistan, even through Afghan jezails.

[@zarakdurrani7584]

@@basheerghouse644 lol what??? Mughals did NOT conquer Afghanistan lmao

[@zarakdurrani7584]

@@basheerghouse644 "your" Lodhis were originally Afghans themselves. Lmao. You only claim descent from them bet you can't speak a word of your ancestors language lmao. Nice try at cosplaying. You can fool the gullible foreigners but not someone who is one with the land. The mughals didn't get beyond Kabul haha. Easy to hold a city and then the entire country is trying to murder you lol.

[@ricericericericericericerice]

Imagine the journey this rifle has taken from its creation in some gunsmith's shop over 200 years ago.

[@ImInLoveWithBulla]

I've been to school with plenty of people who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. They all told me the normal jihadis with their AKs were basically useless shots. But occasionally you'd find some ancient guy with an old Enfield or Martini, and those were the real dangerous ones.

[@amperzand9162]

Andrew Cuthbertson angry young men with beat up soviet relics not being ideal troops.

[@RobinTheBot]

Angry young men who may or may not be forced into their role as fighter. Will to Kill is a huge factor in accuracy, and human instinct without training is to shoot NEAR the enemy and encourage them to simply leave. You see a lot of this in WWI and WWII tales, were patrols will encounter each other, drop their guns, and throw stones until one or the other runs away... Upon reporting to their officer, who obvious asked "Why didn't you shoot them?" the soldiers were often honestly baffled by the idea. It hadn't occured to them, since unconditioned humans do not like killing.

[@unfortunately_fortunate2000]

that story of the stones is just from ww1. in ww2 the Americans did a study and figured out that only 25% of the men are doing nearly 100% of the killing. a statistic that remains true to this day btw. even conditioned men do not like to kill, even the men who do the killing do NOT LIKE TO KILL. @@RobinTheBot

[@nazirulsafwan6330]

no sane people like the killing, they kill to survive, thats my friend why PTSD exist and becomes the bane of the u.s millitary ever since. no one wants to kill eachother, its those dumb idiots in suits with their stupid fuckin ego. think about it, the whole damn world is rioting over sjw propaganda, female rights, almost no one give a fuck about war and cutting each other throats anymore. the only ones that is fuelling the damn conflict is the war economy (which the general populous also dont give a fuck anymore)

[@DatBoi-mo9vc]

@@bavarianpotato people did not live very long back then, also probably didnt have enough time to be insightful n shit when they had to actively survive everyday

[@douglasfulmer5483]

HOLY SHIT! It's the Tusken Raiders gun!

[@gavindavies793]

Yeah. Have you not notice that almost all the guns in Star Wars are based on futurised normal guns? Solo's C96, the typical storm trooper blaster looks to be Sterling SMG, lots of other in Rogue One. Think I saw an FG42 and a M60 (which are related anyway). Great fun playing spot-the-gun :)

[@cptreech]

I believe the "E-Web" and the "Blaster Rifles" used by Storm and Snowtroopers were MG42's

[@politedog4959]

Gavin Davies The stormtrooper rifles are basically StG44s, and the 'precision rifles' actual MG-42s.

[@CruelestChris]

gesalzene Zirbelnuss MG34s, not 42s.

[@ChristianMcAngus]

If I remember correctly, Lucas's prop makers used WW2 era (or early post war) weapons from the prop department of the British studio they used.

[@MegaRazorback]

impressive.....should be in a museum though.

[@vguyver2]

JacksonOfAllTrades True, though in this case it harmed the gun s bit considering the foam stuck to it.

[@MegaRazorback]

i prefer guns like these in museums, at least then you know that they are being meticulously cared for.

[@jasondoe2596]

MegaRazorback agreed.

[@stephenwoods4118]

Meh, usually they are cleaned, then stored/displayed and dusted perodicly.

[@pakman422]

MegaRazorback If somone is willing to shuck out the money for one of these for their collection then trust me they will take real good care of it and would obvisouly have a lot of passion for the history. Im all for private collections and meseums both. But museums tend to always display just a small percentage of what they have. The rest just sits in storage. Its better for something like this to be highly appreciated and looked after by its owner than sit in storage. Just my opinion. - Jacob S.

[@hqi1321]

That thing must've been beautiful back in its glory days. Damascus steel, some gold inlay, that swoop of the curved stock.

[@darianthescorpion1132]

I’ve seen diagrams of this rifle in books. I am in fact somewhat familiar with it. However for such a personalized gun, it’s sad how it’s in such poor condition. But at the same time, astonishing. Truly a forgotten weapon. Truly a survivor, how it’s actually still in one piece given the treacherous conditions of a typical middle Eastern Desert. Something you’d may find in an Afghan Tomb.

[@riograndedosulball248]

Perhaps it was retrieved from an Afghan tomb, at some point of it's trajectory

[@Balrog-tf3bg]

The condition it’s in is really cool because of just how much it was used

[@bilalbaig8586]

There is no such thing as an Afghan tomb. Egypt is as far away from Afghanistan as Lisbon is from Moscow. Afghanistan is a Central Asian country not a Middle Eastern. Typical American.😂

[@juancarloscuaocastellanos8813]

"Oh shit, that is uncle Hamud's gun. Mother is going to be very pissed!" 😧

[@BeKindToBirds]

The part of Afghanistan/pakistan this comes from isn't really a desert. It is dry but rocky trees and scrubland kind of dry. High alpine, not sandy desert, that's more south and west which has a different culture and is completely different tribal groups. These are mountain tribe kind of people, the pashto

[@AGS363]

"Estimated Price: $900 - $1,300" Could be a bargain.

[@kattzen3276]

Bazaar Bargain

[@noahjackl2240]

Dear fuck I could afford that thing, I wish I could have bought it, although I would have probably just handed it to a museum anyway

[@zZzPoPTaRTzZz]

@afghan zazai jezail sniper Yeah because you are in Afghanistan lol. $1,300 US is a steal for the the history of this gun alone.

[@nutball3756]

@afghan zazai jezail sniper He lives in the US, probably. We don't really have a lot of Jezails in America.

[@Grayfox988]

Really interesting to know that there was a time when Afghan tribal combatants had far more advanced weaponry than the invading empire.

[@redfernplaya5603]

toomanyaccounts actully during those times Afghanistan invaded all of its niughbours

[@SingularNinjular]

Really more a case of them having the right weapon in the right place at the right time.

[@mujahid-9630]

Jacob D or that they were united and strong.

[@steirqwe7956]

Empire relied on recruits soldiers who were not exactly well trained and suited with standart rifles and equipment while tribes has warrior caste who were trained from the childhood, take care of their own weapon and were way more determined to kill. So it's quantity vs quality. Technically Brits could produce way more advanced rifles it was just not so cost-effective.

[@SusCalvin]

@@steirqwe7956 The UK uses a standing army. They are the odd ones out in Europe that don't do what the rest of Europe does, getting an ongoing conscription system. Instead they have this core of professional troops that get sent out on expeditionary wars around Europe or the colonies. It's a bit similar to how the USA is starting to use the marine corps by the start of the 20th century.

[@adinhamagen8424]

Thanks for the Kipling reading Ian, most enjoyable. I'm amazed that the Afghan gunsmiths of old could produce such an accurate piece. Beautiful and deadly and in my opinion all the more alluring for its wear and stressed condition, foam residue excepting.

[@lawenda2099]

That sling swivel detail blew me away, that's really beautiful.

[@master_ace]

"A scrimmage in a Border Station - A canter down some dark defile - Two thousand pounds of education Drops to a ten-rupee jezail - The Crammer's boast, the Squadron's pride, Shot like a rabbit in a ride!" - Rudyard Kipling, extract from Arithmetics on the Frontier

[@FizzerXCIV]

This one was a real treasure. It feels like a truly forgotten weapon.

[@brutalhellblazer]

Now that is truly an Af-gun.

[@bongobrandy6297]

I see what you did! :)

[@Jamhael1]

Badum-tiss!

[@bluemoonninite5565]

This is honestly one of the most incredible episodes yet. That rifle has a hell of a story

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

I was in The Khyber Pass area of Afghanistan, many years ago and miles behind. I asked my guide if he knew any of the gunsmiths in the area. He took me to his "cousin in law's" shop. We were chit chatting about guns, he spoke much better English, than I still do Pushtu. After a few very strong, very few glasses of local raki, I ask for the facilities, I'm given directions. I open the door from the dark into mountain daylight, blinking my eyes, I looked around. Right in the middle of the yard, is a towed 20mm x4 anti aircraft gun being given a good fettling. Utterly crazy bastards the average pushtuns... 😐

[@BeKindToBirds]

I got all kinds of glimpses into Afghanistan (pashtu) just by buying bags of socks for them. It was hard to get good socks there I guess. Lovely food too

[@Mr2ndAmendment]

That's an awesome rifle -it was funny to me to find out that the Afghans have been decorating their rifles for centuries. Our ANA platoon decorated their AKs and other weapons with stickers, paint, and anything else that made it distinct. A common fashion trend was to wrap linked 240 rounds around the butt stock and hand guard -maybe to have some last ditch rounds for the M240Bs we gave them, or probably for flair. I would have loved to have seen some of these rifles, but the oldest thing we ever encountered was an old No4 Mk1 Lee Enfield we recovered from some Taliban dudes, and the thing was repaired with tape and had some custom flair as well, although not this ornate. I took pictures of that rifle and we tried to take it back as unit property but that didn't work out. I think it probably started life as a British loan to Indian troops, then Pakistan became a thing, then it found its way over the border through the mountains. And attacking from elevated mountain passes and ridges is still an Afghan favorite. It's amazing how after over 200 years, a lot has stayed the same over there. Anyways, as always great video, this was really cool! I'd love to shoot a rifle with a stock like that just to see what it's all about. -Mr. 2nd

[@hedgehog3180]

Mr2ndAmendment Really decorating your gun isn't any stranger than decorating your phone or PC. If it's something you personally own it's probably quite important to you. Western soldiers just usually don't own the weapons they use themselves but are just issued them so obviously your relationship to it is different. But we do own our phones, PCs and cars and people do decorate those.

[@mjtonyfire]

Yeah the adornment of weapons. Like hedgehog says, most if not all, modern professional forces don't give a soldier their weapon, they issue it. I think this is a shame... I think if you give a soldier this tool that they rely on with their life, they will look after somewhat better than if they are simply issued it. And the benefits of owning your firearm, as opposed to being a kind of 'car rental customer', mean that you can place more symbolism and attachment to that weapon, and through that, you can have that rifle be much more of 'an extension of your body', you intimately know that weapon, and can use it instinctively - the foibles and eccentricities of the weapon being accommodated for completely... Thus resulting in a much more effective and confident soldier. Just my thoughts. Obviously not researched. But my experience of serving in the British Army as an armourer gives me a little background the layman may not have.

[@mrhombreman]

Mr2ndAmendment whats a "unit property"?

[@mogaman28]

xz0rg I think that in old times you would call it spoils of war

[@mrhombreman]

mogaman28 aaaah, thanks

[@Themanwithnoscreenname]

This is easily the most distinctive, and arguably coolest, piece of history you've looked at so far, and I envy whoever manages to purchase this rifle. Thank you for taking the time to do a video on it, Ian.

[@usov656]

When you only have one thing that can defend you and your family, you tend to really value it. It kinda gains a life of its own if it stays with you for many years, and becomes basically a hero by itself if it's passed down, specially if within a family. That's how we got so many legends about magical weapons throughout history. I'd imagine jezails got a similar fame in Afghanistan.

[@rutimctuti4143]

The jezail has always been one of my favs in the flintlock group

[@nicolaspeigne1429]

Afghan gunsmith then: beautiful, elegant, and accurate rifle. Afghan gunsmith now: shitty AK nightmare fuel.

[@mrkrabber5319]

Having nothing but pipes and wood in a cave while the outside is being removed by bombs each couple of years probably scrambles your brain

[@pantoastado1264]

Ak best rifle, blyn

[@omarshinwari7823]

nope. Lot of them still own Jezail. although Ak more effective

[@omarshinwari7823]

@@gobimurugesan2411 Huh? in ths old days they were indpeendant and we fought against the British because they invaded our lands

[@omarshinwari7823]

@@gobimurugesan2411 local adghan rulers? were tribal leaders. go check out history again 😏

[@mikestirewalt5193]

I've no education when it comes to guns, nor a great deal of interest, but whenever I've stumbled across one of your videos I come to the end of them both entertained and educated. Thanks for doing such nice work.

[@acorgiwithacrown467]

This gun is the definition of a story, you could probably write an entire book about its journey.

[@kalistowns]

The gun would have been so pretty at one point in time. Also, i always wondered where the Skaven Warplock Jezails came from. Now i know! And knowing is half the battle.

[@mikhailarutyunyan4126]

Knowing is half the battle? The English also thought so going to Afghanistan, just to find themselves shot as rabbits... WHen you go to war, or just any fight for real, knowing is not even a quarter.

[@kalistowns]

​@@mikhailarutyunyan4126 kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppbPlmispdmJncU

[@zoushaomenohu]

*G. I. JOOOOEEEE!!!*

[@urmum3773]

@@mikhailarutyunyan4126 If by "shot as rabbits" you mean conquering and subjugating an entire nation, then yes.

[@dex6147]

Thanks for showing the sights Ian. Never would have guessed this old girl had aperture sights!

[@medhathobo]

Oh I thought those things were spelled "Jezzail". Thaaanks Skaven.

[@heartoffire8481]

yeah? well my heart is on fire

[@angeloparis7963]

Jerzal?

[@POTUSJimmyCarter]

It's actually spelled جزایل

[@redcell9636]

@@POTUSJimmyCarter I dont speak in cursive, lol.

[@patrickgrounds2157]

Never trust the Great Horned Rat

[@hux2000]

Ian: They are also typically very long. Me: Yeah, that's the first thing I thought when I saw it! That is a really long rif... Ian: This is kinda one of the shorter ones, actually. Me: Oh.

[@jackkraken3888]

LOl reminds me of a scene in a TV show where they find a large giant squid and we learn at the end of the show it's just a baby.

[@talhahtaco2035]

attach a longsword and you have a giant spear

[@itmademesignup9508]

@@jackkraken3888 Wasn't that a movie called "The Beast"? There was a scene where the baby got killed by a bunch of drunken rednecks with dynamite, if that helps.

[@UnfaithfulServant97]

Truly a forgotten weapon! What a lovely looking gun!

[@KRIMZONMEKANISM]

Ian, I say this but i am inclined to believe others who watched this video will agree with me on this one: I would love to see more of these types of rifles, these are beautiful and the way you showed this one to us was a real treat. Be on the lookout for more of those because this video was a delight. I will speak from my personal view, but as a portuguese dude whose only contact with guns was in the american movies and video games, being able to see the many exotic and historic firearms of the world in this channel is just an awesome experience in of itself. Keep on rockin, Gun-Jesus.

[@danieleflorean7064]

Does she comes with warpstone bullets?

[@malteschaper3782]

You bet. And it's so old, it's S5 and does D3 wounds.

[@TheLordUrban]

“One shot-shot. One kill-kill.”

[@tadferd4340]

@@TheLordUrban Shoot the man-things! Yes-yes!

[@joshdoz9234]

*happy rat squeaks*

[@FalloutFoxx]

Save some warpstone for snort-snort. *Chitters*

[@timothycook4782]

When this rifle was made (or at least the flintlock), Afghanistan was still the Durrani Empire. Who knows how much history its seen?

[@zarakdurrani7584]

Plenty

[@operationcrazy2696]

@@zarakdurrani7584 Walaka durrani wrora singa ye!

[@WQuantrill]

Also, I'm hugely impressed! I always thought that those were simply a crude metal tube strapped to a piece of wood. I had no idea that they were so advanced, incorporating rifling and complex sights. I had no idea that the firearm carried by these hill tribes were up to par with their European contemporaries. Fascinating as usual!

[@williamnixon3994]

I can't help but wonder if some of these Jezail rifles were made by apprentices of British gunsmiths. Rifling is a pretty advanced thing to do, and I can't think of a better possibility than the British somehow bringing that technology with them into the Afghan area

[@molybdenumrose]

Not up to par, above par!

[@Polymath9000]

@@williamnixon3994 May be a defector or someone well educated in firearms sciences may have introduced this to Afghan gunsmiths

[@Polymath9000]

@@fahey5719 These Jezails yes have been made for centuries and yes Damascus steel muskets were superior in quality especially in the Indian subcontinent the difference is the rifling which is according to my knowledge European is invention.Also fun fact It was Tipu Sultan who was pioneer in Rocket Artillery.

[@CitizenSmith50]

"Arithmetic on the Frontier" was first published in "Departmental Ditties" in 1886, and getting on towards a century and a half later about all that's changed is the modes of transport and the killing efficiency of the weapons !

[@tbone2646]

"I'm no expert in this subject" - you're uh.. Gun Jesus, literally the internet's foremost expert on old and forgotten weapons :D

[@talhahtaco2035]

old and *Forgotten Weapons*?

[@operationcrazy2696]

My family owns a couple of these back in Northern Pakistan. My ancestors fought the Brits back in the Anglo-Afghan wars, they also have Pulwars and slings back from the war.

[@williamprince1114]

Nice touch with the Kipling.

[@11010101101110111111]

Some of those ones were probably beautiful with each unique decorations. I love how similar the Tusken cycler rifle looks to these

[@curious-relics]

Love the poetic ending! This channel is a treasure.

[@elguapo1690]

Not normally a fan of poetry, but hot damn Rudyard Kipling.

[@pumpjackmcgee4267]

I love how ornately decorated Ottoman (just using that term to encapsulate the major areas/regions) guns are. They're a great aesthetic.

[@DaUsher]

A E S T H E T I C

[@heartoffire8481]

dem aesthetics boyo

[@Gustav_Kuriga]

But it's not an Ottoman gun? Afghanistan is outside that region.

[@kaptenlemper]

Pretty sure Ottomans never made it that far East.

[@johnmcdonald587]

The Kipling at the end was very nice. I was thinking of that poem while watching.

[@briannewman532]

I find this type of video a lot more interesting than those of "regular" firearms. I saw some of these when I served in Afghanistan, and thinking of all the things this one has seen is absolutely fascinating to me. You can see the history all over it. Amazing.

[@gabrielcairns7050]

I love these really historical videos. The older the better! Thanks for the history lesson once again Ian.

[@polstierna4251]

Friggin love it. I love when a gun has a status more than that of a gun. It's like swords. They have their name and their special abilities.

[@MrGregory777]

What a shame. A cut diamond that wasted away in a chest. hope someone cleans it up

[@ahettinger525]

While some of the damage was from being in a chest, some of it is from a century of use. Where the slings where mounted, definitely, also probably some of the wear on the metal parts, too. 100 years is a long time, particularly if it saw heavy use.

[@alexmoore1506]

MrGbere777 gotta be careful with "cleaning it up" depending on how you do it, the value is going to drop

[@UnclePutte]

The immense wear on the sling swivel and socket suggest heavy carry. If only rifles could tell stories...

[@DACFalloutRanger]

Alex Moore it's sold for $1,380, so probably can't drop any lower.

[@AlexBlackRaven]

At first, I interpreted your comment as if someone was to shoot a diamond from this rifle, and put a nice one way hole in someone else's chest. Just a funny thought

[@arsarma1808]

I want more fancy/personalized weapons.

[@nullvid]

why

[@ShehrozeAmeen]

This is as personalized as you get. And it is from 18-0-6! The gun literally screams tradition. If anything, credit where credit is due, this gun has a history - a personalized history at that. And come on, are you telling me that the embellishment on this gun is not fancy enough? When you compare it with other weapons of the time, I have to admit, that gunsmith loved his craft. The biggest shame is that we don't know the name of the gunsmith. Probably glad that one of his products is still around to leave a legacy. haha.

[@robertkarp2070]

I've seen one 17' long in an antique store in Port Orchard, WA. It wasn't in one piece. It was mounted on the wall of a palace and found in an armory.

[@starfleethastanks]

I wonder if any of these hung around long enough to be fired at Soviets or even Americans.

[@TheBenchPressMan]

Certainly did afghani tribesmen where found to have been using lee enfield pattern rifles only a few years ago against US forces. So if i don't doubt they have still kept these going, when you are as poor as they are anything is better than nothing!

[@willkenny5687]

starfleethastanks According to Wikipedia, a limited number were used during the soviet invasion.

[@tomfrazier1103]

Back in the '80s, I heard someone brought down a helicopter gunship with a Lee & Enfield.

[@deviljho4260]

Naughtius Maximus there’s definitely still a few in Afghanistan left

[@mikhailarutyunyan4126]

I heard first person stories of this people forcing a modern plane to land with a Jezzail, so who knows... In terms of marksmanship, Afghaans are examples of how misleading can be the technological advantage when going to war.

[@thumperpaul]

Great video. I was always under the impression that the Jezail was a crude, inaccurate weapon that used soft pig iron cast projectiles. I had no idea that the barrels were rifled. Thanks Ian!

[@asyoulikeitvideos]

That's the gun that shot John Watson in the original Sherlock Holmes book.

[@mikhailarutyunyan4126]

I think, if Watson would be shot in the arm with this caliber, he would not be able to use his arm no more... I would think he got wounded by a pistol, or some explosves. I could be wrong though...

[@SaladofStones]

@@mikhailarutyunyan4126 Their caliber was large but the powder wasn't, so they weren't travelling as fast as a modern rifle.

[@benjaminelliott4112]

Amazing weapon; amazing commentary; and amazing choice to include the poem at the end. I enjoyed this from beginning to end.

[@FaceofDanger]

I was waiting for some Kipling, and I was not disappointed. Thanks for this video, excellent as always.

[@509Gman]

So those blaster marks really weren't too accurate for sand people?

[@SgtKOnyx]

thgreatandini oh hush

[@Alex-oz9eh]

thgreatandini lol

[@samh1022]

thgreatandini this is a good comment, you have done well.

[@Generalscorpio]

Magni56 You mean sand people who live in the same desert as Jawas and have a longer history of encountering sandcrawlers would know less than a bunch of Imperial stormtroopers who had only been deployed on the planet a few days?

[@MultiMediaXL]

Huron .Blackheart Sandcrawlers aren't really a commom thing. They also move in different environments, sandcrawlers goes on the sand dunes whilst most Sand people live in the more hilly environments of Tatooine.

[@dbmail545]

That buttstock reminds me of a 10/22 stock my brother kluged up to allow him to shoot the gun right-handed using his dominant left eye.

[@dndboy13]

Great-Great Clan Skyre wants to buy this back. Nice Videos tho. Like-Like

[@rhodesdrakethenieliii3209]

Remember seeing the Jezail Rifle on the film poster of The Mummy 1999? Even though it didn't appear in the movie itself, it had five tassels near the front of the barrel underneath and a chainlink style strap which looks like it's made of cloth

[@arealaccountforsure5367]

I watch these videos and imagine thousands of years from now forgotten weapons is covering my own collection, my extremely well-used sets of steel being fawned over and discussed at length by museum heads who never knew the original owner. the appreciation for a fine machine is immortal and eternal

[@Tobascodagama]

Wow, what an incredible rifle! I would love to have seen this when it was still relatively "new" with the engravings and inlays in prime condition.

[@nigelft]

@@PANZERFAUST90 I think he meant "new" in the tense of it having been shot a few times, but still in pretty much the same condition as it was when it left the hands of the gunsmith that made it ...

[@kaptenlemper]

@@PANZERFAUST90 "new" as in closer to the time it was produced, I assume.

[@Gravel1331]

What a fantastic piece of history.

[@RealLuckless]

That is in rough shape, but an exceptionally tempting piece. I'm also getting tempted to start pulling auction data. Curious to see if there is a trend in prices getting bumped for stuff that has been featured on here.

[@lukemarchand4183]

I really enjoy your recitation of the poem here Ian. I hope another opportunity comes up in the future to appreciate the poetry that is so often associated with weapons and war.

[@thomashenderson3901]

Loved the poem at the end. He certainly paints a very clear picture with those words.

[@espositogregory]

When online horror stories get to be a little too much at 3:AM, these videos are oddly calming

[@peterkeane7767]

A wonderfully evocative Weapon and as always your presentation is as educational as it is entertaining,almost a 'Stealth' lecture!I was glad you included Kipling's famous lines.It must have been a tough tour of duty back then,and it no doubt hasn't got much more comfortable away from Kabul and Main Bases!You do seem to have an interest in the Old British 'Tommy' and certainly Afghanistan has seen more than a few of Them pass through over the years,along with just about every other Army!I wonder how long it will be now before we see the Chinese P.L.A. Manning the F.O.B.'s?!

[@briantaylor9266]

Nice rifle! I would guess that the apex on top of the rear sight was intended to be used at a third range.

[@clarknapper3933]

Brian Taylor I agree. Probably long range, close range, and the apex used at "point blank" like how some smooth bore gun sights from the period worked.

[@ootdega]

That would be entirely counter-productive. The higher the rear sight is, the longer the range will be.

[@IamN0-1]

The added benefit, the jezail can be used as a walking stick during the Michigan winters, providing you use a rubber on the barrel pre- shot

[@crumply5959]

All the wear and tear does give the gun a distinct style that I think looks really cool.

[@1fanger]

Love Kipling. You need to recite more verse like this.

[@IamN0-1]

1fanger : one of the best authors, hands down

[@werdanvanich1144]

👍Очень интересно, спасибо! И спасибо за стихи Р. Киплинга! *Арифметика границы* Солдата лет, наверно, семь У нас готовят, чтобы дале Его, на страх и вся, и всем, Послать в губительные дали, Где он поймёт, прибыв едва, Сколь верно: «Всяка плоть - трава!» Три сотни фунтов тратим в год На то, чтоб мозг приставить к телу И подготовленный народ Приставить к воинскому делу. А результат? О том без врак Пускай расскажет битый враг! Солдат в две тысячи казне Английских фунтов обойдётся. Джезайль в афганской стороне За десять рупий продаётся. Один дешёвый «трах-бабах», - Солдат - убит, расходы - в прах! Какой там, Господи, Евклид! Какие, к чёрту, постулаты! Уж если пуля прилетит, Любые траты ей не святы: Солдат бессилен дорогой Перед дешёвкою такой! Закончил Оксфорд? Ну, балбес! А ты, дурак, закончил Итон? Но у Афганца - перевес: Ведь он в невежестве воспитан, И всех магистров-докторов Он режет ночью, будь здоров! Набили целый пароход Таких, кто учен-переучен. Афганец выступит в поход, Наукой лишней не замучен. И потому стреляй, не мажь: Здесь дёшев - он, здесь дорог - наш! © Перевод Евг. Фельдмана 23-26.05.2010 eng-poetry.ru/Poem.php?PoemId=7047 Как же это точно сказано 150 лет назад! А мы не прислушались к его предупреждению и клали там моих одноклассников. А потом и амеры подтянулись. Да чего ради-то это всё было? Да нехай они там режут друг друга, только не пускать их в нашу жизнь. А вообще-то это относится к любому оружию в любых руках: любое оружие дешевле человеческой жизни, гораздо дешевле! Всем здоровья и мира!

[@Krushard]

События показывают, что ничему Россию жизнь не научила. Сдохнуть ни за что на чужой земле уже как традиция.

[@shlamimk4664]

I'm always impressed when one of these non shooting videos gets me watching all the way to the end. If I was Afghan, this video would have my little heart brimming cultural pride, I'm sure. History tells us something quite profound about the Afghan people. Something quite the same as what they say about Texas!

[@youisstupid2586]

Shlami Mk4 we afghans have seen these guns only in paintings, but yeah as you said it gives us pride seeing the guns that our generals held in hand while fighting the most powerful empire gives us unmatched pride. I wish we were allowed to have guns here I would’ve bought 100s of these. These beautiful pieces are not respected the way the should and that’s painful to watch.

[@shlamimk4664]

@@youisstupid2586 I hope your people find their footing in the world and take their dignity back somehow. I would like to see that in my lifetime. I would like to go there someday.

[@youisstupid2586]

Shlami Mk4 thanks

[@Banshee523]

@@youisstupid2586 Hey, you still in Afghanistan? I'm wondering how it's going at this point, a lot has went down to say the least

[@youisstupid2586]

@@Banshee523 hey, yes i am still here. 12 am when Americans left Taliban went crazy and started celebratory firing for 30 mins. Most of them had aks and i don’t know if you’ve ever heard how an ak47 sounds... it wasn’t pleasant. As Americans left they started their attack on the last province standing, they weren’t able to take it and lost 10 men. They are still figuring things out. They really want legitimacy because 70% of our budget comes from the west. They want to be portrayed in the best lights and want to be seen as civil. They don’t know how to govern, their soldiers only know how to fight. It took them less to take over Afghanistan than it’s now taking them to form a government. They are as bad as they were before. don’t believe it when they say they have changed. They haven’t.

[@Arrowdodger]

A beauty of a specimen, aged or not. Thank you for showcasing this, it's a great piece.

[@neilfurby555]

Ian can make anything interesting! A great presenter, enthusiastic and well informed, probably the best example of how to deliver content on utube. Brilliant stuff, thankyou.

[@cristianhill7379]

The rear aperture sights astound me, now I have to go and research the history of peep sights, thanks Ian!

[@rexgaming_501st3]

The Afghan Jezail The Barret of its day

[@jamesfisher9594]

I liked the Kipling poem at end.

[@TheCatBilbo]

The Kipling poem at the end sums-up 'Western' forces fighting in any number of 'native' conflicts. From Afghanistan (19th Century) to Iraq and Vietnam, and so many places in-between: the expensive and unwieldy versus the often cheap, but surprisingly effective.

[@crosseightyeight]

You can't say this about every gun that Ian reviews, but I'm willing to bet that this gun has taken someone's life at some point.

[@Darkfreed0m]

This thing must have been a real bazaar bargain back then.

[@the_viriathus5719]

The flag on the thumbnail looks just like Gondor's. Was this rifle used in the defense of Minas Tirith or something?

[@heartoffire8481]

i believe gandalf wielded it defending hogwarts from the deathstar

[@JohnsDough1918]

Jose Berenguel Noguera ah, I remember when the Afghans saved Gondor. Good times.

[@vikke2013]

Jose Berenguel Noguera i came here for this comment haha

[@Melanittanigra]

Videos like this are my favorite on this channel, this thing was probably someones prized possession and its as much a work of art as it is a firearm.

[@equalizer1553]

Such a excellent channel, the extra history, technical explanations, and thoughtful prose make this on another level to any other

[@neyboo7704]

Reminds me of the Bazaar Bargain from Team Fortress 2.

[@dongjunleejuly13th]

Because Bazaar Bargain design is from Jezail.

[@MotherRussiaisforever]

Jezail always belonged to the top people in the Land like the Samurai sword. It was not the weapon of an ordinary person. It belonged to top rich people only. Even now people talk about it in Pashtun culture about this rifle, it has a long history behind it. But it would be better to keep it in a Museum. This rifle saw action in real time because, between 1799 to 1818 six Muslims nation wage war against Afghanistan and took their land back it was the fall of DURRANI empire, this rifle certainly saw big actions.

[@Beowulf_98]

Nice rifle, can you please do a tt-33 tokarev video, I'd like more information on them. thanks for the great video. 👍 👍 😄

[@Sluxslol]

Not exactly a forgotten weapon. He might do a video on one of the Khyber Pass copies, otherwise not really the kind of content he usually makes for this channel.

[@richard343s]

By no means forgotten but still interesting.

[@deepbludreams]

It's a slightly beefed up and modified 1903 browing pocket design with the browning drop link....It's really nothing special.

[@Beowulf_98]

***** thanks. 😆😆

[@Beowulf_98]

***** I've watched Hickoks, but I'll check out cap and ball is it? 😐😃

[@KoIossov]

I never gave a toss about poetry, but those Kipling verses Gun Jesus read at the end touched my soul :D

[@anttyzale5455]

the damn barrel survived for thousands of firings, Way to go Omar !!!

[@toorzan]

I'm from the North Western region of Pakistan. My father was a military historian en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Nawaz_Khan_(writer). We actually have about a dozen or two of these, in different sizes and calibers back in Pakistan. Pretty worn out (similar to the one in the video). I used to hang them on our living room wall back in the day as a decorative piece.

[@juniorfreitas15]

@Afzal Zazai I care

[@moiez0192]

You are from Afghanistan not Pakistan. Pakistan did not even exist for 70 years ago