Military History | How To Make War | Wars Around the World Rules of Use How to Behave on an Internet Forum
Weapons of the World Discussion Board
   Return to Topic Page
Subject: Taliban using 128 year old Martini Henry rifles taken from British Maiwand dead
JTR~~    1/21/2011 2:20:53 PM
There have been several truly remarkable stories, although quite old concerning the Taliban’s usage of 128 year old Martini Henry rifles taken from the British dead after the battle of Maiwand among others and have been wielding them against coalition troops throughout Afghanistan Here is the article: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/soldiers-in-helmand-unearth-british-rifles-lost-in-1880-massacre-842497.html I find this remarkable; the article also features a very good account concerning the moving heroics displayed by the British troops during the battle somewhat typical of the conduct of British service personnel of the era serving throughout the empire. However their usage makes you wonder Would you think that they were effective still on the modern battlefield? i mean i know they packed a punch back in the day but would they really be of any use now? Where in god’s name have the gotten the ammunition from? it would be quite interesting to see what people make of this.
 
Quote    Reply

Show Only Poster Name and Title     Newest to Oldest
JTR~~       1/21/2011 3:26:35 PM
 
Quote    Reply

WarNerd       1/21/2011 5:04:02 PM

Would you think that they were effective still on the modern battlefield? i mean i know they packed a punch back in the day but would they really be of any use now? 

No weapon has ever been rendered totally ineffective on the battlefield, they just get replaced by something (hopefully) more effective.  Rocks are still effective on the modern battlefield.

 

Where in god?s name have the gotten the ammunition from?

A simple rolled brass black powder cartridge designed for production using standard technology in 1871?  The Pushtu gunsmiths have been making those from scratch for over a century. 
 
There has been a thriving cottage industry of gunsmiths in the border area since before the Raj.  During the USSR invasion they were supposed to be able to make copies of rifles and munitions that were indistinguishable (right down to the serial numbers and proof marks!) from the originals without metallurgical testing.  Quality can be a little iffy for more modern weapons because of material substitutions.  The quality of the AK-47s is supposed to be acceptable, but probably you would not want to fire one of the KPVs.
 
Quote    Reply

heavy    Gun Markets of Pakistan   1/21/2011 5:17:12 PM
*ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Q6S7WLeiA
 
Quote    Reply



 Latest
 News
 
 Most
 Read
 
 Most
 Commented
 Hot
 Topics