History Primer 191: Nepalese Gehendra Documentary | C&Rsenal

Published on February 20, 2024
Duration: 70:29

This documentary delves into the history and technical aspects of the Nepalese Gehendra rifle, a domestically produced single-shot black powder firearm chambered in .450 Martini. It explores its design origins, its relationship to the British Martini-Henry, manufacturing challenges in Nepal, and its operational characteristics. The video highlights the Gehendra's unique action, its similarities and differences compared to the Martini-Henry, and its place in Nepalese military history.

Quick Summary

The Nepalese Gehendra rifle, a .450 Martini single-shot black powder firearm, was domestically produced in Nepal. It features a unique lever-operated tipping block action, distinct from the Martini-Henry, designed for simplicity and serviceability with available resources, despite manufacturing challenges like handmade parts and varying metal quality.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: The Nepalese Gehendra
  2. 00:30Gehendra vs. Martini-Henry: Initial Comparison
  3. 01:09Funding and Support for Firearms History
  4. 01:31Sponsor Spotlight: Ballistol
  5. 02:07The Mystery of the Gehendra
  6. 03:09Nepal's Geography and Early Arms
  7. 03:48Anglo-Nepalese War and British Influence
  8. 05:03Nepal's Military Modernization Efforts
  9. 05:59Domestic Arms Production: Early Copies
  10. 07:01The Snider and British Concerns
  11. 07:58Dev Shamsher's Command and the DU Rifle
  12. 08:41State Arsenal at Nakku
  13. 09:44British Willingness to Aid Arms Modernization
  14. 10:09Lord Lansdowne's Offer
  15. 11:58Gendra Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana: The Technologist
  16. 13:40The Gehendra Rifle: Design Philosophy
  17. 14:50Origins: Wesley Richards Tipping Block
  18. 15:44Gehendra Rifle: Front and Stock Details
  19. 16:47Gehendra vs. Martini: Barrel and Action
  20. 17:50Gehendra vs. Martini: Buttstock and Tang
  21. 18:27Gehendra vs. Martini: Trigger Group and Lever
  22. 20:45Gehendra Action: Tipping Block and Extractor
  23. 21:12Devanagari Markings and Receiver Details
  24. 22:42Bayonet and Overall Construction
  25. 23:03Gehendra Action Animation
  26. 24:56Shooting the Gehendra Rifle
  27. 26:01Gehendra Rifle Production and Factories
  28. 26:41Gehendra Rifle Markings Variations
  29. 28:26Gehendra Rifle Usage Under Chandra Shamsher
  30. 29:12British Concerns and Martini-Henry Gifts
  31. 30:13Death of Gendra Shamsher
  32. 30:50End of Frankot Production and Martini Issues
  33. 31:14Gehendra as Domestic Success vs. Martini
  34. 31:54Gehendra Production Continues Despite Obsolescence
  35. 32:02Improved Gehendra Model
  36. 32:20Improved Gehendra: Specs and Changes
  37. 34:16Gehendra Carbine: A Rare Variant
  38. 36:55Shooting the Gehendra Carbine
  39. 38:01Gehendra Carbine Rarity and Production Dates
  40. 38:43Lee-Enfield Clones and WWI Impact
  41. 39:04Treaty of Friendship and Import Restrictions Eased
  42. 39:07Gehendra's Obsolete Status and Limitations
  43. 39:34Gehendra's Handmade Nature and Weaknesses
  44. 40:57Drawbacks Aside: Gehendra's Achievement
  45. 41:14May's First Impressions of the Gehendra
  46. 42:01Gehendra as a Handmade Martini
  47. 43:14Condition and Refurbishment of Gehendra Rifles
  48. 44:12Shooting the Gehendra: Load Considerations
  49. 45:04Gehendra Action: Lever and Sling Swivel Issues
  50. 46:31Trigger Guard vs. Lever Design
  51. 47:17Lever Ergonomics: Gehendra vs. Martini
  52. 49:01Loading and Trigger Pull Experience
  53. 50:22The Gehendra's Extremely Heavy Trigger Pull
  54. 51:34Wrist Thickness and Thumb Placement
  55. 52:08Recoil and Sound of the Gehendra
  56. 52:50Bore and Rifling Evenness
  57. 53:06Martini-esque Sights on the Gehendra
  58. 53:20Overall Impression: Heavy and Rough
  59. 53:51The Gehendra's Value: Domestic Production
  60. 54:06Gehendra vs. Martini: Which is Preferred?
  61. 54:56Gehendra's Design Quirks and Engineering Challenges
  62. 56:25Safety and Trigger Pull Comparison
  63. 56:33Sympathy for the Gehendra's Domestic Execution
  64. 56:53Martini Design Superiority
  65. 57:07Lack of External Gehendra Manufacturers
  66. 57:12Carbine vs. Rifle Comparison
  67. 57:35Improved Gehendra Rifle Condition
  68. 58:03Carbine Trigger and Action Feel
  69. 58:44Carbine Spring Issues and Shooting Decision
  70. 59:19Shooting the Carbine: Lighter and Handier
  71. 59:59Carbine Sights and Condition
  72. 60:35Carbine Recoil and Load Considerations
  73. 60:55Carbine Performance vs. Rifle
  74. 61:36Zeroing and Aiming Adjustments
  75. 62:01Rifle vs. Carbine Preference
  76. 62:38Gehendra vs. Other Single-Shot Rifles
  77. 63:46Gehendra as the King of Handmade Guns
  78. 64:11Gehendra's Place in Early Industry
  79. 64:40No Explosions: A Success
  80. 64:50Regular Plinking with the Gehendra?
  81. 65:24Aesthetic Appreciation of the Gehendra
  82. 65:51Gehendra vs. Martini Aesthetics
  83. 66:15Japanese Arisaka and Beauty in Design

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Nepalese Gehendra rifle?

The Nepalese Gehendra is a single-shot, black powder rifle chambered in .450 Martini, domestically produced in Nepal. It features a unique lever-operated tipping block action, distinct from the British Martini-Henry, and was designed for simplicity and serviceability with available resources.

How does the Gehendra rifle differ from the Martini-Henry?

While visually similar and chambered in the same caliber, the Gehendra has a unique internal action. It uses flat springs and a simpler hammer mechanism, unlike the Martini-Henry's coil spring and more complex striker. The Gehendra's lever is also integrated with the trigger guard and located at the front of the receiver.

What were the manufacturing challenges for the Gehendra rifle in Nepal?

Manufacturing the Gehendra in Nepal faced challenges due to limited access to quality metal, machine tools, and skilled labor. Rifles were largely handmade, with parts rarely interchanging. Barrels were often made from drawn iron, and some components, like breach blocks, were prone to over-hardening or improper fitting.

What are the notable features of the Gehendra rifle's action?

The Gehendra's action is a tipping block design operated by a lever at the front of the receiver. This lever opens the breech, cocks the hammer, and ejects the spent casing. It utilizes flat springs for its mechanism, contributing to its relative simplicity compared to other contemporary rifles.

More General Videos You Might Like

More from C&Rsenal

View all →