Comments for Continuing the series on Khyber Specials.

Continuing the series on Khyber Specials.

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 10:28:43 -0600

I'm going to continue the dissection of the "Khyber Pass" guns, going into fiddly levels of detail - but you need to have some easier-to-use cues that won't totally piss off the vendors...Not too many people, at a bazaar in Kabul or a gun show in Kalamazoo are going to let you strip a rifle down to it's components. But there are some things you can check without going to that level, and without having to be knowledgeable enough about a particular type or series of firearms that you can spot dimensional problems with parts. Which we'll get into, eventually.Here's...

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-03-29

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:00:54 -0600

Rikkochet - plllppppbbbtttt!

Comment from Neffi on 2009-03-29

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:40:15 -0600

...and I finally fall victim to the dreaded Castle Echo...

Comment from Neffi on 2009-03-29

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:36:02 -0600

I *do* have some Indian-made bayonets, not the fakes meant to deceive a collector but on a par with locally-made rifles intended for use...

Comment from BillT on 2009-03-29

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 13:40:21 -0600

Well, geez, that's one of the ways to *spot* a handmade bayonet extension stick...

Comment from rikkochet on 2009-03-29

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 13:19:34 -0600

I've owned and fired dozens of genuine LE's but never seen one with a receiver slot wide enough to take a rifle.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-03-29

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:42:33 -0600

I'll leave the pigsticker article to you and Neffi.

Comment from AW1 Tim on 2009-03-29

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:38:38 -0600

John,

   As I mentioned in the earlier piece, another good test is the QUALITY of the proof marks, and especially the quality of receiver and maker's marks, etc. The original factory-produced articles have neat, crisp, even markings produced by single stamps, usually aided by machine presses.

   The repross will almost universally have unevenely spaced, poorly stamped markings because the makers are using hand-held individual letter stamps and a mallet to impress them. Thus you get uneven depth and anglesm spacing and linear aspects.

   Some repros are VERY good, but with a little practice, and an understanding of HOW the markings are applied on the genuine articles, you can get a pretty good feel for what's genuine and what isn't.

   There's a whole 'nuther article to write sometime about fake bayonets, swords and such accessories and how to spot artificial patinas and induced aging.

   respects,

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-03-29

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:27:10 -0600

Well, AFAIK, the RFI mark is an "action body" only mark, and was never used as a proof or view mark.

Bill's probably closer to the mark... so to speak.

Comment from BillT on 2009-03-29

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:18:11 -0600

Rawalpindi Enfields, Inc.

Comment from Neffi on 2009-03-29

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 11:56:48 -0600

Could the "REI" marking have been an attempt to mimic the Rifle Factory Ishapore mark? Mis-spellings are part of the fun!