Rifle, Jezail, Afghanistan Flintlock, captured by 5th Gurkhas on Indian NW Frontier, Tirah Campaign of 1899. Unit later commanded by Colonel Kemball. Formerly displayed in the Seaforth Sgts & WOs Mess. This Jezail is a shorter version of Artifact 1974.010.001. The jezail (Sometimes Jezzail from the Pashto language) was a simple, cost-efficient and often handmade muzzle-loading long arm commonly used in British India, Central Asia and parts of the Middle East in the past. Jezails were generally handmade weapons, and consequently they varied quite a bit in their construction. Jezails were seen as very personal weapons, and unlike the typical military weapons of the time which were very plain and utilitarian, jezails tended to be very well crafted and were usually very beautifully and artistically decorated. Jezails tended to have very long barrels. These sorts of long weapons were never common in Europe, and only were otherwise seen in American rifles like the Kentucky Rifle. The American rifles were used for hunting, and tended to be of a smaller caliber (.35 to .45 or so being typical). Jezails were usually designed for military use, and therefore tended to be of larger calibers than the American rifles, with .50 to .75 caliber and larger being common. Larger calibers were possible because the long length of the typical jezail meant that it was heavier than typical muskets of the time. Jezails typically weighed around 12 to 14 pounds, compared to 9 to 10 pounds for a typical musket. The heavy weight of the jezail allowed it to absorb more force from the round, imparting less recoil to the weapon's user. Many jezails were smooth bore weapons, but some had their barrels rifled. The rifling, combined with the barrel's long length, made these weapons very accurate for their time. The firing mechanism was typically either a matchlock or a flintlock. Since flintlock mechanisms were complex and difficult to manufacture, many jezails used the lock mechanism from stolen or broken Brown Bess muskets. The stocks were handmade and ornately decorated, featuring a distinctive curve which is not seen in the stocks of other muskets. The function of this curve is debated. Some say that it is purely decorative in nature. Others say that the curve of the stock allowed it to be tucked under the arm and cradled tightly against the body, as opposed to being held to the shoulder like a typical musket or rifle. The argument against this method of firing is that the flash pan would be dangerously close to the face and the weapon would be harder to aim. It is more likely that the rifle was only tucked under the arm whilst riding horse or camel. It has also been stated that the weapon was fired by grasping the stock near the trigger, like a pistol, while the curved portion is tucked under the shooter's forearm, allowing the rifle to be fired with one hand while mounted. Jezails were often fired from a forked rest, or a horn or metal bi-pod.