Database: Jezail

Jezails were simple, cheap muzzle-loaded rifles commonly used in India and Middle East. Often handmade, theywere more personal than most firearms, which is why they were very well crafted and decorated. As they were designed for war, they had long barrels and used large calibers, but some Afghan fighters were known to fire even nails and pebbles. With rough bullets, they were both powerful and accurate. British troops took lots of damage from these weapons during the Anglo-Afghan wars. References to this weapon are notably found in some of Rudyard Kipling's famous works, including "The Man Who Would Be King."