an interesting RUMOR

John Powell

John Powell

Joined
Mar 9, 1999
Messages
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This just gleaned from the NRA's magazine for collectors, Man at Arms:
"...a gun dealer in New Jersey is about to pull off a huge deal on surplus antique military weapons from Nepal, of all places. Items mentioned in the rumour include literally thousands of Baker Rifles, Martinis and India Pattern Muskets. Watch future issues for details".

If true there will be a lot of firearms and hopefully edged weapons available with interesting Indian and Nepalese military markings. A true treasure trove for someone trying to write a book about kukris with info about the Nepalese Army included.

OK you forumites from the Garden State....track this down.
 
Anything with the receiver marked as having been made before 1897 is not a firearm to the feds. No FFL required.
 
Yes and yes on both postings. w ould be very interesting, and yes, pre 1897 is not a "weapon" and can even be purchased mail order still. at least for now.
 
Very interesting John. I did not get my copy of Man at arms yet. I will keep a close eye on things here at the Jersey Shore. Firearms laws here in NJ are strange and complicated. Even antique firearms must be registered and are subject to the same strict laws as modern ones. Even federally exempt items would have to be shipped to a FFL but then they could be delt with according to state law. Hmmm Baker rifles and Kukris....
 
In one of the responses I received from a friend connected to these kind of things, I got the following:
"It is fact that there are quite large numbers of these three arms in Kathmandu. Various dealers have tried to buy them over the years, but have always been given the run-around. Maybe the Nepalese Govt is now so keen for foreign currency, to replace lost tourist revenue and to pay for new arms to use against the Maoist insurgency, that someone will at last manage to get the deal done and the stuff out". He doubts that there would be edged weapons since the firearms and cannon were from different armouries and magazines. These weapons are probably items legally purchased from the manufacturers or as cast offs from the British-India Military units based in India.

The Nepalese stopped the manufacture of matchlocks and flintlocks around 1800. Up till then they were copying the British patterned rifles and muskets that had been taken in the first attempt gain Nepalese teritory in 1768. They continued to produce edged weapons, cannons and ball through the 19th century.

Some people think the company that is doing this deal is SARCO of Stirling, NJ. It is still totally in the rumor stage, but if true would yield great information.

Sleuths go forth!
 
I immediately suspected SARCO to be the prime cantidate.I'm planning a trip there shortly and will hawk the place well.
 
CANNONS! Antique Nepalese cannons! Oh, my stars and garters!!
Please keep us advised of any developments.
 
There is a nice book in there somewhere. Those pieces are going to carry a library of British markings.
 
IF this all comes to pass I will be very interested to see the markings. As many of you know the Nepalese Army didn't assign numbers to regiments, but gave them heroic names and symbols. The crescent, half moons, lions, garudas, etc. I have seen evidence on one small canon that was made in Nepal around 1802 that was marked with the usual crescents of an armoury, but also carried the circled lion's head of the Purano Gorakh Battalion. If the guns are similarly marked
it will be great info for the book.
 
Don't know if anyone is still interested, but I was recently advised the current issue of Gunlist has an add for Martini rifles from Nepal. The dealer is International Military Antiques Inc. and is located in Millington NJ. The website is www.ima-usa.com but there are no Martinis listed. Probably haven't updated the site yet.
 
Thanks. They will be on my list of contacts.

No company has returned with the right answer yet. Keep up the great detective work you Garden State sleuths...or any of all you other weapons detectives.
 
Email response from IMA:

Dear Customer:

We have not our shipment in yet they are due to arrive the end of August, if you would like to call us the middle or end of August we will be able to supply you with more information. We will not be taking back orders, so please call us back then.

Audrey/Customer Service

Apparently this importation of Martinis is a joint venture between International Military Antiques and Atlanta Cutlery. What is odd is that neither of these outfits are firearms dealers so there must be alot of other army surplus included in this deal.

Their price on Martinis is not out of line, but not a super deal either.
 
attachment.php


This is an English model 1887 bayonet (Mark III) for the Martini-Henry rifle. This particular example is in my collection and is has Nepal markings.

Perhaps some more of these will turn up.

n2s
 
N2,
Can you show us closeup of the marks?

Atlanta Cutlery hasn't dealt in antiques for years. They are importers of many different things, but not firearms and not antiques. I may not like their products, but they are smart marketers and run a succesful business.

It will be interesting to see how these companies handle whatever it is they are getting from Nepal.
 
Here is a closeup of the markings. They look to be serial numbers.
 

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