Читать книгу Gun Digest 2011 онлайн

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As earlier noted, the caliber of this carbine has a unique identity crisis. The fully round, unmarked, 20-inch barrel is similar to either a Whitney or an 1865 Spencer carbine barrel, having what appears to be Burnside style three-groove rifling. However, the chamber has ample free bore in order to accommodate a nearly 1-3/4- inch cartridge. The lower butt stock has a plugged sling swivel inlet, carbine butt plate, and Cambodian Sanskrit markings on the lower butt stock that appear to be the number “3” at the far right led by what appears as the number “seven” and a compound word using a “T”-sounding consonant. Next is what seems to resemble an obliterated cartouche or royal insignia of sorts, struck in a square, block-print configuration.

The most significant of all markings, however, is the Chakra over the receiver ring, which genuinely identifies this carbine as having been issued within this region of the world – more importantly, by the French Protectorate of Cambodia. As previously mentioned, this pinwheel-like design is a symbol representing a number of meanings from several other countries in this surrounding part of Asia. It is also the royal marking of the house of Thailand, something that stems from a time well before the country’s name was changed to Thailand. Furthermore, the Chakra represents the ancient bladed weapon of the Khmer gods.