The Jezail that defeated the British equipped Brown Bess.....and an old Hakka Gun and

[XVIIc Wheelock]

 

[ajbennettnc]

Those South Asian muzzleloaders are really neat! I am particularly intrigued by Hmong flintlocks. Might have to try forging a lock for one out.

 

[cyten]

Miles is a friend and really knows his stuff, having spent so much time in Afghanistan. Saw him last year in Thailand, unfortunately didn’t get around to any of the hobby related activities.
The Matchlocks in Asia really stuck around for a long time, here’s a photo from 1945 in China. Who’s better armed?

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Does he too believe that large ‘scooped’ U-profile of the buttstock was a bonus for shootin’ down hill?

I find it easier than a traditionally shaped stock and a US Army sniper that has tried shoting one opines this theory.

 

[TobJohn]

Miles is a friend and really knows his stuff, having spent so much time in Afghanistan. Saw him last year in Thailand, unfortunately didn’t get around to any of the hobby related activities.
The Matchlocks in Asia really stuck around for a long time, here’s a photo from 1945 in China. Who’s better armed?

View attachment 289369

That’s an amazing photo! You have some great photos of old/meets new, like the soldiers with bolt action rifles and chain mail.

 

[XVIIc Wheelock]

Does he too believe that large ‘scooped’ U-profile of the buttstock was a bonus for shootin’ down hill?

I find it easier than a traditionally shaped stock and a US Army sniper that has tried shoting one opines this theory.

Looking at Cyten's photo in in #3 post...I have a class 3 Thompson, and yes you can "aim" downhill with it; However 2/3 of your upper torso will be exposed to the enemy, unless you just hold that very heavy gun out at length of one arm and shoot "spray and pray"....so perhaps in their environment at that time, having any weapon you can discreetly (with only your head exposed) shoot downhill would be advantageous? I don't reconcile the fact that two-shots a minute with a cumbersome Jezail would fend off an uphill attack with an enemy with modern WWII weapons...unless there were enough Jezails' to be a deterrence? Otherwise, pushing rocks and stones over the side may? be as effective? According to the video, the Jezail is primarily a long range (primitive sniper type) weapon. That in itself is very interesting!

 

[XVIIc Wheelock]

Maybe an odd question, is the Jezail a rifled weapon or smooth bore?

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Both, but most smooth …

“Afghan snipers were expert marksmen and their juzzails fired roughened bullets, long iron nails or even pebbles over a range of some 250 metres. The Afghans could fling the large rifles across their shoulders as if they were feathers and spring nimbly from rock to rock. They loved to decorate their rifles: Rattray writes of finding one adorned with human teeth.[3]

During this period, the jezail was the primary weapon used by the Pashtuns and was used with great effect during the First Anglo-Afghan War.[2] British Brown Besssmoothbore muskets were effective at no more than 150 yards, and unable to be consistently accurate beyond 50 yards. Because of their advantage in range, Pashtun marksmen typically used the jezail from the tops of cliffs along valleys and defiles during ambushes. This tactic repeatedly inflicted heavy casualties on the British during their 1842 retreat from Kabul to Jalalabad.”

 

[XVIIc Wheelock]

Thanks Flint....the Jezail is/was a unique weapon that fits its environment perfectly! Very impressive.

 

[Sam squanch]

Probably just shoot and scoot. Being sniped at along a long march , with time wasted sending patrols out to catch the snipers, wore the British out considerably.

 

[rickystl]

Maybe an odd question, is the Jezail a rifled weapon or smooth bore?

I own 4 Jazails. All I've been able to inspect over the years seems to run about 50/50 rifled and smoothbore.

Rick

 

[rickystl]

I still believe the primary reason for the curved butt stock was to allow fast movement with the gun cradled under the armpit. The grip area of the stock is like a wide semi-pistol grip. Feels very strange at first. But I notice some of the recoil is absorbed by the hand, reducing same at the shoulder.

Rick

 

[XVIIc Wheelock]

I own 4 Jazails. All I've been able to inspect over the years seems to run about 50/50 rifled and smoothbore.

Rick

Thank you Rick...confirms Flints post! Never stop learning!

 

[ArmorerRoy]

If you have access to a modern zippo the matchlock is not a bad idea.

 

[BillinOregon]

Poor Doctor Watson, limping along with that Jezail bullet in his leg, or was it his shoulder?
https://simanaitissays.com/2017/01/24/watsons-war-wound/

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Its an odd stock alright, the jezail.
I think it was just the fashion, like its cousin up in Sindh.

I believe it was effective for the simple reason it was a smaller bore than the musket, heavily charged, and fired from a favourable position in ambush,
Also fired at the biggest target. (thickest group of enemy soldiers)
In the mountains, there was not a chance really of being able to deal with these sharpshooters.
Another thing to take into account wast he practice they got.
Even in the 1940's and maybe even today, I do not know, but at that time these northern hill-men would, when no common enemy was available,
They would shoot at the people in the next village.
Each village had a tower, and sharpshooteers were always watching for an opportunity to shoot at the neighbours.
Of course, in times of war, this sport was put to one side and the common foe was engaged, but when peace returned, this game was again taken up.

This is described very well in Gordon Sinclair's Khyber Caravan.

 

[Sam squanch]

They would shoot at the people in the next village.

Sounds like some small small towns in Missouri…..

 

[BillinOregon]

Richard, thank you for that mention. I have ordered Sinclair's book, and hope it to be as rewarding a read as Thesiger's "Arabian Sands."

 

[XVIIc Wheelock]

Another thing to take into account wast he practice they got.
Even in the 1940's and maybe even today, I do not know, but at that time these northern hill-men would, when no common enemy was available,
They would shoot at the people in the next village.
Each village had a tower, and sharpshooteers were always watching for an opportunity to shoot at the neighbours.
Of course, in times of war, this sport was put to one side and the common foe was engaged, but when peace returned, this game was again taken up.

This is described very well in Gordon Sinclair's Khyber Caravan.

Perhaps carved into a Jezail stock whilst sitting in the tower:

"I shot a wad upon the air,
where it fell I do not care,
hopefully it came upon a neighbor,
care less about it's final fore,
only that myself is not the end,
and that my child is the story I send!"

Yours truly

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Bill,
It is a treasure and should be required reading for anyone going to the sandbox.

The thinking is different to here in the west.
I might give an example tonight if I get time!