Last of the Hand-Operated Machine Guns

Perhaps the most interesting find within the great arms cache released in 2003 from the Royal Nepalese Arsenal and imported to the US arms collecting market were a few ultra-rare examples of the Bira gun, a two-barreled hand-crank .577/450 Martini-Henry calibre machine gun designed and manufactured in Nepal 1896-1897. The Bira was an improved design based upon the American Gardner gun of 1874.

Guns and Ammo profiled and tested the Bira in its on-line edition finding a number of positive features in its design.

The Bira gun was never actually used in combat.

A small number of Biras are still being listed for sale by Atlanta Cutlery and IMA for only $27,500!