Diagnostic Study Report for Development of

Gun Manufacturing Industries Cluster at

Munger, State of Bihar

Diagnostic Study Conducted by -:

INDO DANISH TOOL ROOM

A Govt. of India Society, Under Ministry of SSI
M-4 (Part) Phase-VI Tata Kandra Road
Gamharia Jamshedpur-832108
Phone No. (0657) 2380343,2200507,2408061/62
Fax No. (0657) 2407723
E-mail: jsr_idtr@sancharnet.in

Please Visit our Web Site

 www.idtrjamshedpur.com

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We are thankful to Additional secretary cum Development
Commisioner , Joint Development Commisioner and
Economic Advisor (Tool Room) , Ministry of SSI for the
opportunity and kindness provided to take up the diagnostic
study of the Gun Manufacturing Industries Cluster at
Munger (Bihar) .

We acknowledge the inspiration and guidance provided

by Shri S .KASI , General Manager ,IDTR Jamshedpur , to
take up this challenging job and complete the Study Report
within the stipulated time.

We also acknowledge the assistance and support of the

entrepreneurs and members of Munger Gun Manufacturing
Industries cluster , Jammu Gun manufacturing cluster ,Shri
S.P Verma ( Asst. Director SISI Patna) ,Shri Virender
Sharma (Dy. Director SISI Jammu) .

(SAJAL BHAUMIK )
Manager( Mktg. & Consultancy)

Date : 05 December, 2003

BACKGROUND
Of Munger Gun Manufacturing Industries Cluster

Munger, a historical city located in Bihar is well connected by

Road and Rail . Munger has been famous since medieval times for
it’s artistry and craft skills. Since time of Mughals , Munger has been
associated with manufacturing of quality Guns and Cannons. The
brand of Munger made Guns is appreciated across the country for it’s
quality and reliability. The skill of the Munger’s blacksmith trade
(sharma’s – ethnic class) attracted the British to develop Gun
Manufacturing Industry in this part . This rare skill is transferred
through generation by inheritance and has been kept alive by this
ethnic class.

One of the earliest shot gun ever manufactured then called

“Birding pieces” dates back to as early as 1614 A.D. The following
century gave us “fowling pieces” which were heavy guns with long
barrels and capable of single shot. Today shot guns are manufactured
world wide, companies such as Remington, Mossberg and Binelli are
just out of a few of the short gun manufacturers of today’s world.
Most of the items covered under the head “Arms and Ammunition
for civilian use” are manufactured in the small-scale sector. The
license to manufacture arms etc is granted by Government of India on
the recommendations of State Government permitting them to
manufacture certain quantity of guns cartridges, gun powder. The
Government of India has been issuing policy regarding issuance of
arms license from time to time. The first policy in this regard is the
Industrial policy resolution of 1956. The Government of India issued
instructions that the quota fixed should be such that the market is not
flooded with arms and ammunitions. There is need to remember that
the manufacture of the arms has been the business of some of these
units for several years and the industrial policy resolution contains a
specific commitment to permit the continuance of these units. On the
other hand the Government is entitled to take into consideration the
requirement of current administrative policy pertinent to the
maintenance of law and order and internal security.
 In India, there are about 105 SSI units (details as per annexure
‘A’) located in different parts of the country engaged in the
manufacture of Breach loading shot guns. Majority of the units still
thrive upon the age old obsolete machinery and equipments as well as
the manufacturing processes making this industry fully dependent
upon the skilled labour.

None of the units follow any standard specification and hence no

interchangeability exist.
An International treaty defining internationally recognized
standards on the legal possession and transfer of arms would render
states more willing to accept such limits and harmonize national laws.
The challenge over the next few years will thus be to define these
standards. Centralize marking and registration of information on
small arms will be the focus

Munger Gun Manufacturing Industries

Cluster Entrepreneurs and Members Views .

The views of the Entrepreneurs ,members ,and people of the Gun Manufacturing cluster

as mentioned in Annex.-‘A’ as expressed to the survey team is summarized as

 Increase in Quota given by the Govt. on max. annual

quantity . ( No quota change has been done since
1970’s. ). They are capable of producing 3 times
quantity with the present capacity , but are unable to do
so due to the restriction of quota .
  Increase in issue of Arms licenses which shall increase
the demand in the market.

 Removal of excise duty , as their turnover is very less .

Further this shall help to increase the demand , as the
product price will be reduced .

Objective of the product and its demand:

The prime objective of the breach loading shot gun is for civil
defence. There are two types of guns which have been allowed to be
manufactured in private sector namely Breach loading guns and
Muzzle loading guns. These guns may be of single barrel type of
double barrel type Different between breach loading and muzzle
loading gun is on account of their loading procedure. In case of
breach loading guns the cartridge is loaded from the bigger side,
where as in case of muzzle loading gun, it is loaded with gunpowder
on the muzzle side i.e. on the pore side. All the small-scale units are
now-a-days engaged in the manufacture of breach loading short guns
of single as well as double barrel type. The cartridge is placed in the
chamber after unlocking the arms and is locked again before striking
or firing the same. The pressure exerted by the trigger is sufficient
enough to fuse the gunpowder in the cartridge and the shot is fired.

Generally the product is used for the purpose of civil defence.

The demand of the product depends on the issue of individual license
by the government. However, there is sufficient demand for issue of
individual licence with the Government.

 Technological gap.
 Understand the problem of gun manufacturing units.
 Problem in regard to licence quota
 Marketing aspect.
Raw materials, their availability and prices.

The raw material required for manufacture of breach loading

shot gun is abundantly available in the local market which constitutes
of steel, EN 19 , Forgings and Wooden Butts. On an average a unit
spends Rs. 1000/- per manufactured breach loading shot gun on
account of raw material. The detail of the specification of material for
different components is as under:

S. Item Detail of IS specification Nearest

No equivalent
EN series
1. Barrel IS:5517-1978 steel for hardening 19, 19 A,
and tempering (To be heat 19B,19C
treated to achieve various and 20
mechanical properties)
2 Body IS 5517-1978 “Steel for 9, 9K, 43,
hardening and tempering or 43G and
IS: 3930-1979” Flame & 43J
Induction Hardening Steels”
3 Trigger IS : 5517-1978 “Steel for 16, 16B,
hardening and tempering” (To be 16C and
heat treated to achieve various 17
mechanical properties)
4. Sear IS: 5517-1978 “Steel for 45, 45A
hardening and tempering”
Or
IS:3431-1975”steel for volute,
Helical & laminated springs for
automotive suspension.
(To be heat treated for hardness
5 Hammer/ IS: 5517-1978”Steel for
 Pin Firing hardening and tempering” (To be
heat treated to hardness)

6 Main IS: 3431-1975 “Steel for volute.

spring Helical & laminated spring for
automotive suspension:
(To be heat treated for hardness)
7 Fastner IS : 4432 – 1967 “Case 32A, 32B
Fore-End Hardening Steels: (To be heat 32 C
treated for hardness)
8 Spring IS : 3431 – 1975 “Steel for 32A, 32B ,
Lever Top volute Helical & laminated 32C
springs for Automotive
Suspension :
(To be heat treated for hardness)
9 Catch IS: 5517 – 1978 “Steel for -do-
hook hardening and Tempering”
(To be heat treated for hardness)
10 Stock Butt IS : 7549 – 1975 “Timber half -do-
& Stock wrought for sporting Rifles”
Fore End

Export performance:

The item is not allowed to be exported and as such there is no

export of breach loading shot gun as per Arms Act/Arms Rule. There
has been representation from members SSI units manufacturing
breach loading shot guns for lifting ban on the export as there is
appreciable demand of this item in the international market.