PAIR OF MID 19th CENTURY AFGHAN 4-POUNDER STEEL MOUNTAIN RIFLES.
SN NSN. This rare pair of well marked British style mountain rifles have Afghani crests and makers marks on top of bbls forward of vents. The presentation in the large shield engraved on bbl translates from Pashto “Presenting Kahn Laeis Abdur Rahman” Laeis is a title similar to emir or excellency. Abdur Rahaman Kahn (1840-1901) ruled Afghanistan from May 31, 1880 til his death. He was a pivotal leader following the second Anglo-Afghan war where these cannon were most likely used. Kahn negotiated with Russia, England and India to minimize their influence in Afghanistan, instituted programs of modernization and uniting or at least suppressing the many tribes. However, he was brutal in his dealings with internal opposition, as well as a forceful proponent of Islam against the non-Islamic peoples of the country and was known as “The Iron Emir”. These rifled cast-steel cannon appear as well made as their British counterparts. The crescent shape marking on the presentation shield on bbl translate “Kabul Engraving and Machinery House”. This company may not have been the manufacturers of the cannon but just the engravers of the presentation. Abdur Rahman was a military leader and governor in the 1860’s of the northern province when political turmoil caused his exile to Russian Turkestan in 1869. He remained in exile until 1880, when he was recognized by the Russians and the British as new emir. Kahn was adept at keeping the British and Russians appeased and not on his soil. These guns employed the French-originated “La Hitte” system of rifling in which the iron shells had projecting zinc studs which rode in the spiral grooves of the barrel to give the projectiles the required spinning motion. These wonderful survivors were rescued by a former American Special Forces Officer who purchased them in Kabul during the early phases of our recent war on terror in Afghanistan. A cast-zinc reproduction projectile is included. This impressive pair of cannons would look great in the foyer of your home or on the ramparts of your castle. PROVENANCE: Springfield Arsenal, LLC Artillery Collection. CONDITION: Tubes measure about 44″ overall and 11″ wide at trunnions. Bores measure about 2-1/4″, markings are discernible as can be seen in photographs. Surfaces are pitted though overall smooth where cleaned & painted as can be seen in photographs. Bores have discernible rifling though pitted. Vents & bores are clear. 49245-3 JS (5,000-6,000) – Lot 3352
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