Book Review: Guns of the Ghurkas / Treasure is Where You Find it

Published on February 9, 2012
Duration: 8:19

This video reviews two books, 'Treasure is Where You Find It' and 'Guns of the Gurkhas,' detailing the acquisition and historical significance of a vast collection of obsolete British firearms found in Nepal. The content highlights the unique history of Nepal's military armaments, which accumulated surplus British weaponry for nearly 200 years. The books offer insights into the logistical challenges of retrieving these arms and provide detailed research on the specific firearms discovered, including Nepalese-made variants.

Quick Summary

Nepal's firearms collection is historically significant as it preserved obsolete British Commonwealth arms for nearly 200 years. Books like 'Treasure is Where You Find It' and 'Guns of the Gurkhas' detail this unique accumulation, which includes diverse weapons from Flintlocks to WWII-era guns and the notable Nepalese-made Gehendra rifle.

Chapters

  1. 00:15Introduction to Forgotten Weapons Library
  2. 00:20Nepal's History with British Firearms
  3. 01:26Christian Cranmer's Discovery in Nepal
  4. 02:18Book Review: Treasure is Where You Find It
  5. 03:05Types of Firearms Recovered
  6. 04:08DVD Companion to Treasure is Where You Find It
  7. 04:42Difficulties of the Recovery Operation
  8. 05:30Book Review: Guns of the Gurkhas
  9. 05:58Focus on the Gehendra Rifle
  10. 06:47Coverage of Other Nepalese Rifles
  11. 07:46Availability of Books and IMA Guns
  12. 07:54Upcoming Gehendra Restoration Video

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of Nepal's firearms collection?

Nepal's collection is significant because it accumulated obsolete British firearms for nearly 200 years, preserving a unique historical archive of military arms that were often discarded elsewhere. This includes everything from early flintlocks to World War II era weapons.

What are the key books discussed regarding Nepal's firearms?

The video reviews 'Treasure is Where You Find It' by Christian Cranmer, detailing the acquisition story, and 'Guns of the Gurkhas,' a research volume by IMA that provides historical and technical details on the recovered firearms.

What types of firearms were found in Nepal?

The cache contained a vast array of firearms, including Flintlocks, Caplocks, cartridge conversions (like the S.M.L.E. Enfield), bolt-action rifles, falling block rifles (Martini Henry, Gehendra), Sten guns, Lewis guns, and even brass cannons and mortars.

What was the Gehendra rifle and why is it notable?

The Gehendra rifle is a Nepalese-made firearm that resembles the Martini Henry but uses a different falling block mechanism, similar to Wesley Richards designs. It was largely unknown to the modern world until International Military Antiques recovered a significant number.

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