gunsmiths

Podcast V25: Ali – A Pakistani Firearms Collector

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In this episode, we interview a small arms collector in Pakistan, Mr Ali. Ali has vast experience in the small arms market of Pakistan and was willing to share his knowledge on how it operates, the availability of certain weaponry and the price ranges, as well as the legal regulations and laws that are getting stricter in Pakistan.

He also runs an Instagram page, guns_pakistan, which shows his collection of armament and that of dealers he knows. Do check it out, you will not regret it.

The public SoundCloud version below includes the first thirty minutes of the podcast, our supporters on Patreon can access the entire interview, which is over an hour long.  So if you haven’t already please support us in our mission to bring you the best examination of MENA small arms culture we can!

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V21: Marwan the Iraqi Gunsmith

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In the 21st episode of the Silah Report Podcast, an Iraqi gunsmith talks to us at length about his experiences in aesthetically converting a functional 7.62×39mm RPD Light Machine Gun into what could easily be mistaken for an FN Herstal Minimi, or the US-designated M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, 5.56×45mm light machine gun. He takes us on this journey of tinkering and acquiring spare parts, sometimes even carving items like the buttstock out of wood to make it appear to be a plastic one from afar.

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Barrel Rifling Device from Darra Adam Khel

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As you may know, Darra Adam Khel is a town in Pakistan which is famous for its indigenous firearms manufacturing. Many people living in this area are busy making guns and loading ammunition. There are some rough firearm clones made in Darra Adam Khel, but there are also really impressive ones both in terms of design and execution. Sometimes it is really unbelievable how these people manage to make firearms using only basic tools.

The top image of this article shows a local gunsmith operating a barrel rifling device. Although it is not confirmed, some sources say the picture is taken in 1902.

Note the barrel secured in the lower portion of the device and the gunsmith holding the handles of the cutting tool. The cutting tool itself has a spirally shaped shaft, which I assume runs on a guide pin so that when worked back and forth the cutting tool will do a spiral motion thus cutting the rifling at a certain twist rate.

What is even more interesting is that there are newer images from Darra Adam Khel showing an exactly identical device. So even if it is a homemade rifling tool, it should be working great to be used until modern days.