Over a hundred years old and still going

[rgsiii]

I was looking at an article in the Daily Telegraph and decided to look closely at the firearms. This was at a Houthi rally recently and it appears to be a model 98 of some flavour.

 

[Red Leg]

I was in Sanaa Yemen over Christmas (with my family!) in 1986. There are a few stories to tell.

I was the Army Attaché in Riyadh and a good friend was the Defense Attaché in Sanaa. The city and country were a living museum. The old souk (market) was a remarkable place with everything from dates and coffee to ancient coins and artifacts to weapons. A French Gras Model 1874 Musketoon followed me home. A carbine length weapon for artillerymen under Napoleon III, they were eventually sold to the Turks who then lost quite a few trying to subdue the southern Arabian Peninsula. I am not at all surprised a German Infantry WWI full length rifle is still in service.

Even he is doing that ridiculous African carry.