Buried treasure found in Kathmandu...historic "gold!"
Rare British Empire originals. Imagine, if the day after the Battle of Gettsburg, all the discarded rifles and bayonets were piled in an old farm building and ignored for 130 years. That's the situation here. These Nepalese treasures were mostly supplied by the British who ruled the Indian subcontinent. Items have been used, stored and basically forgotten in excess of 100 years.
Like an uncovered time capsule! Generations of dust and dirt have insulated the items in a thick, protective cocoon. Cool, dry temperatures of the Indian region preserved the antiques and basically eliminated corrosion-causing moisture. Condition: used, in good shape.
All are genuine, real McCoy's. All have received a heavy-duty professional cleaning to remove the worst of the dust and dirt and have been packaged in protective plastic. Many have blemishes and will not look new. But talk about character! And consider the age of these history-soaked antiques from the 19th century.
These artifacts make marvelous display pieces and the rifles APPEAR to be in working order. Each comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. Satisfaction 100% guaranteed.
NOTE: Nepalese items are sold strictly as a curiosity or collectible for their historical significance and value. All items offered here are pre-1898 antiques.
No F.F.L. required. See shipping restrictions in the individual item ads (see below).
Discover what could be the BIGGEST Adventure since "The Man Who Would Be King!"
YES...the classic 1975 blockbuster film, starring Sean Connery and Michael Caine, portrays two ex-soldiers in India when it was under British rule. This is the same time capsule for the making of this sensational deal! What's more, the movie depicts use of the Martini-Henry Mark II 1871 Rifle offered here!
Huge deal over 30 years in the making!
Rare antique British Victorian armament from the Royal Nepalese Army have not been available for decades. Until now. In the midst of the old city of Kathmandu sits Lagan Silekhana, a 16th century palace. It was the ancestral home of the Thapa family. Having negotiated a peace treaty with Britain in 1816, Nepal came under British influence. And the palace eventually became the Royal Armory. This is where many of the 19th century firearms and military items offered here have laid undisturbed...in this huge, multi-level palace for over 100 years. At last, purchase terms were accepted!
The story of these fine collectibles is as rich and noteworthy as the weapons themselves. In 1814, Gurkha fighters invaded and occupied several key hill stations in North India. The British considered the stations invaluable, as their location provided a cooler respite from the unbearably hot Indian summer. In response to the Gurkha aggression, Britain mounted a full scale invasion of Nepal, eventually resulting in an 1816 treaty which allowed the British to cross Nepal and trade with Tibet. Nepal would remain independent, but would be under British "influence." The British could now enlist Gurkha soldiers, and soon began supplying the Nepalese with the latest in modern weaponry, including Snider and Martini Henry Rifles.
Nepalese Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa enjoyed many years of prosperity after signing the treaty with the British and retired to his country estate in the late 1830s. However, he was soon lured back to Lagan Silekhana Palace (his family's ancestral home) by his enemies and imprisoned under charges of high treason. To break Thapa's spirit, his enemies informed him that his wife would be dragged naked through the city. But the night before the threat was to be carried out, Thapa hanged himself in his cell. After hearing the news, his wife threw herself from a high window of the palace with a rope around her neck. To this day, a rope still hangs in that very spot in homage to the Prime Minister and his wife.
Soon thereafter, Thapa's nephew became Prime Minister and conducted a full-scale inquiry to exonerate his uncle's name. Much bloodshed followed, and all of Thapa's original enemies were eliminated. However, the Lagan Silekhana Palace was never again occupied by the Thapa family. Instead, it became the Royal Nepalese Armory...home to hundreds of British-made weapons, including those offered here. Now, after laying untouched for over 100 years, these long-lost firearms have finally been recovered. Negotiations for their recovery spanned over 30 years. But rest assured, once you see the remarkable condition of these fine antiques, you'll agree...they were worth the wait!
Yes, 100 years in storage is a long time, and time can do much damage to an antique, especially a firearm. However...the climate in mountainous Nepal is notoriously dry. This lack of moisture created an ideal environment for these long-lost weapons - an environment void of moisture and mildew. As a result, these historic weapons are remarkably preserved, right down to the original British and Nepalese inscriptions on the metal parts and stock. You can clearly see each weapon's date of manufacture, along with the unmistakable Crown Crest of Britain's Queen Victoria. You've heard the saying, "When opportunity knocks...?" Well, if you're a firearms collector, history buff or antique connoisseur, opportunity knocks at your door today. Don't miss this chance!
This is truly a one-chance opportunity to add to your British Colonial military collection. Quantities are very limited. Act now to be among the first to own. Satisfaction guaranteed. Club Members can make 4 equal payments. NO extra charges.