Khyber Pass Gunsmiths

[paulseamus]

Interesting article on the Kyber Pass firearm industry.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/458310/the-legendary-gunsmiths-of-darra-adam-khel/

Information

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[MeatMarket]

For some reason, the web page won't come up for me. I have a Khyber Pass .303 (maybe) Martini Henry. I bought it from a buddy of mine who acquired them as gifts from his interpreter in Afghanistan several years ago. He was able to get the necessary paperwork approved to carry them back to the states. He got 4 of them.

[NavyEngineer]

For some reason, the web page won't come up for me. I have a Khyber Pass .303 (maybe) Martini Henry. I bought it from a buddy of mine who acquired them as gifts from his interpreter in Afghanistan several years ago. He was able to get the necessary paperwork approved to carry them back to the states. He got 4 of them.

After looking at several hundred of them last year, I have to agree with Captain Laidler. Nevertheless, I tried to bring one home as a wallhanger, since I was able to get it for a very low price. The Army required us to submit a form to the BATF prior to allowing them to be mailed home (although they are not regulated as firearms under US law, since they were manufactured prior to 1898). I dutifully filled out the paperwork, mailed it off, and was shocked when it came back "Disapproved". When I called the examiner to ask why, she told me that they had decided that a number of modern forgeries had been imported that shouldn't have been, since they were made after 1898, and therefore they weren't approving the importation of ANY Martini-Henry style rifles made in Afghanistan any longer. I asked her what documentation (pictures, expert statements, etc.) would be acceptable evidence for BATF to reconsider allowing me to import my antique rifle, and she told me "none, the Director had made a final policy decision". I did write to my Senators about my thoughts on this shortly after I returned home, but never received a response.

[paulseamus]

Trying again on the link

The Way of the Gun: The legendary gunsmiths of Darra Adam Khel The Express Tribune

The link now appears to be working.

Paul

[Badger]

For anyone who may have missed it ...

With thanks to member Steve H. in N.Y., there's an excellent MKL entry on these in the United Kingdom - Milsurp Knowledge Library (click here)

“Khyber Pass” Lee-Enfield No.I Mk.III* Rifle (click here)

Regards,
Doug

[Peter Laidler]

I always said exactly what the reporter AND the gun makers themselves say. We see them occasionally, coming back from Afghanistan. They are pure rubbish. The steel is poor quality mild steel. It'd help if they even had decent files to round the edges or get rid of the burrs etc etc. Yep...... pure rubbish.

I used to keep a scratch made AKSU shorty to show people the poor standard. I also had another shorty AK that came back, purporting to be some special something or other. It was nothing but a badly shortened East German AK - and even the gas block was loose. It had obviously been loose once before but had been tightened up using a brass shim.......... The word 'crap' springs to mind

[muffett.2008]

Settle down there Peter, I was thinking of sending one of my rarer rifles over for a bit of a makeover.

[Bill Hollinger]

They work on the ground! With crude tools! Wow, those guys are good!

[Anzac15]

The policy on bringing back firearms is nothing short of RIDICULOUS.
And Peter, I, along with everyone here else I'm sure, would love to see a pic of a handmade AKSU if one is available!