Shown here alongside a simpler muzzleloading carbine, possibly by Joseph Gulley of Oxford. Designed by Giuseppe Crespi, manufactured by Durs Egg c.1780′s~1810 in London, England for the civilian market and a possible adoption by some British cavalry regiments. .65 caliber ball, Crespi breechloading flintlock mechanism, leaf-bladed spear bayonet doubling as a muzzle cap when in storage. Although the notion of a spear bayonet in the hands of a cavalry regiment might conjure the idea that this thing was supposed to be used as a lance, the idea behind it had always been to merely compensate for a cavalry carbine’s short reach instead. Dragoons, who often fought dismounted, were particularly vulnerable to mounted enemies with a regular-sized bayonet.
Shown here alongside a simpler muzzleloading carbine, possibly by Joseph Gulley of Oxford. Designed by Giuseppe Crespi, manufactured by Durs Egg c.1780′s~1810 in London, England for the civilian market and a possible adoption by some British cavalry regiments. .65 caliber ball, Crespi breechloading flintlock mechanism, leaf-bladed spear bayonet doubling as a muzzle cap when in storage. Although the notion of a spear bayonet in the hands of a cavalry regiment might conjure the idea that this thing was supposed to be used as a lance, the idea behind it had always been to merely compensate for a cavalry carbine’s short reach instead. Dragoons, who often fought dismounted, were particularly vulnerable to mounted enemies with a regular-sized bayonet.
Manufactured in Afghanistan c.mid-19th century using a then 200 years old British East India Co. flintlock mechanism. Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa all have a long tradition of handmade and decorated long guns like this one, with their barrels giving them unparalleled range in the era of smoothbore muskets. By the time of the Great Game and the Anglo-Afghan war though, it was outclassed by military percussion lock rifles.
Manufactured in Afghanistan c.mid-19th century using a then 200 years old British East India Co. flintlock mechanism. Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa all have a long tradition of handmade and decorated long guns like this one, with their barrels giving them unparalleled range in the era of smoothbore muskets. By the time of the Great Game and the Anglo-Afghan war though, it was outclassed by military percussion lock rifles.
