Item:
NB1019

Original Nepalese Gahendra Improved Model Rifle - Cleaned and Complete

Item Description

Original Item: Very Few Available! Fewer than 1% of the thousands of Gahendra rifles that we imported from Nepal are the "improved model". This term coined by collectors refers to the change of a "V" leaf main spring and a monotube barrel.

The "V" leaf mainspring is far stronger than the spring in the standard Gahendra which is prone to breaking. Furthermore, the standard Gahendras have barrels formed on a mandrel by twisting straps of iron around the mandrel and lap welding them together. The improved Gahendra has a monotube barrel, but is still made from iron, not steel.

Visually the easiest way to tell the a Gahendra from an Improved Gahendra is the position of the rear receiver screw. The improved Gahendra screw is much further back than the standard Gahendra it is located above the curve of the lever. The standard Gahendra screw is located above the trigger. There are more subtle differences as well in the receiver hump and how the trigger rests in its housing, but the location of the rear receiver screw is the one most easily spotted.

Based on an 1869 Westley Richards patented design, this unique and extremely rare early breechloading Military Rifle .450/.577 Martini Henry calibre was produced under the direction of General Gahendra Rana in the 1880's to provide Ghurka regiments with what appeared to be the latest British Military Rifle. An ingenious design, it really surpassed the standard Martini in that its entire action was removable as one unit for ease of servicing or exchange.

Production however caused massive logistic problems and by 1894 the Ghurkas were dangerously short of viable .450 cal. breechloaders to face evergrowing threats from the east. Finally the British came to the rescue with a delivery of several thousand Martini short lever rifles in late 1894 and even more long lever Martini Rifles in 1908. The over complicated Gahendra Rifle was thereafter basically shelved, the void in up-to-date arms having been met. Always considered the rarest Martini variety of all, the Gahendra Rifle has a characteristic loading lever but in other respects closely resembles the standard Martini externally. A chance to obtain an extremely rare historical antique rifle that was a close relative of one of the most successful rifle systems of all time.

Every "cleaned & complete" rifle we sell has been taking fully apart, carefully cleaned, preserved, and rebuilt replacing any worn or broken parts by a master antique gunsmith.

NOTE: "Cleaned and Complete" antique guns are often cleaned to order, so these may not be available for same-day expedited shipping. International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.

  • This product is available for international shipping.
  • Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon

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