Martini-Enfield

[Stan in SC]

For about three years I have been seriously looking for just the right Martini although I've admired these rifles for much longer than that.
Recently I saw a want to sell posting on a well known forum with a picture of the offering.It was a Martini-Enfield trade pattern artillery carbine chambered in .303British,my mostest favoritest cartridge.
The seller described it in glowing terms and I was fortunate in that I was the first person to contact him.After talking on the phone with him for over an hour all the way across the country we finally agreed that it was to become mine.
What followed was eight days of eager anticipation until finally the mailperson who normally just slows down and throws the mail in the box stopped in front of the house and came walking up with a long package.
Upon opening the box I found just what the seller had accurately described.The rifle had an excellent bore and was in overall great shape especially considering it is 112 years old.Just a beautiful little rifle.I don't have picture posting capabilities but there is a picture posted at the following forum in the "British Rifles" section.
www.guncollectorsforum.com
I have had it to the range one time and with my handloads it shot just great albeit a bit high but that's just a load development thing.This one is the flagship of my modest collection of shooters and the fullfillment of a long period of wanting.Thanks for looking.

Stan

[Brithunter]

Hi Stan,

     How are you, you old reprobate?

    Now that's got you thinking  Have not heard from you since you jumped ship from the C&R forums  . Oh as a clue the workshop and paving ground to a halt  .

     Now to you new aquistion  may I humbly suggest that you use cast lead in that bore. It seems that the M-E's seem to have tighter bores than the later Lee's and seeing how the barrel is irriplacable really anf you have a piece of history in your grubby little mitts it would be ashame to cause more wear by using jacketed ammo. The M-E's of course were set up for MkV1 ammo which used a 215 Grn bullet. I use 205 Gas Checked commercially cast bullets in mine, I have an M-E AC11 and a Martini-Muscat carbine both in .303:-


As you can see mine has bee ravaged by time and poor damp storage conditions. Luckily the bore is good still. It was found standing in the corner of a damp basement with a broken firing pin.




This one is of Belgian make and was made for the Omani's.

   Take care and say Hi to Dog if you see him.

[marlinman93]

 Sounds like a great gun Stan! I only own one Martini, and not for much longer! Just put my Belgian Martini Rook rifle up for sale. Mine is a 297-250 Morris.

[Stan in SC]

Brithunter,I've seen that beautiful Muscat before.Thanks for your comments,Kevin.I still occassionally frequent the old aforementioned forum.Also Bill's milsurpshooter.
Marlinman93,that is to me an odd caliber.Albeit a very nice looking rifle.
I appreciate your comments gentlemen.Means a lot coming from you two.

Stan

[marlinman93]

Yes Stan, it is an odd caliber! The 297 Morris was the world's first centerfire .22 cartridge. It was originally designed for a gun much like your's! The Brits found that it was hard to train enlisted men to shoot with the big caliber Martini rifles, so they came up with a bore sleeve to downsize the Martini to the little Morris .22CF. That way the men could learn to shoot with no recoil, then move on to regular ammo after learning the basics.
 Eventually the 297-250 Morris was introduced as a commercial cartridge, and of course guns were made for this caliber. Unfortunately very few Martini commercial guns exist in the original Morris caliber. Unfortunately also, almost none of the sleeves to reduce the big Martini to this little .22 CF exist either! The sleeves are valuable collector's items when found!
 Enjoy your new toy!
 Vall

[kombi1976]

Sounds like a great gun Stan! I only own one Martini, and not for much longer! Just put my Belgian Martini Rook rifle up for sale. Mine is a 297-250 Morris.

ARGGGHHH!!!! 
Selling it??!!
I really want those drawings I asked about before if it's at all possible, marlinman93.
Is there anyway I can arrange it?
BTW, what was your price?

[marlinman93]

 It sold for $600, but it will be a few weeks before my friend has the money.

[kombi1976]

Maybe I should make arrangements with your friend if he's amenable.
Is he a Martini or single shot addict?
Let me know.
I'm in this for the long haul......those barrelled receivers aren't going anywhere.

[marlinman93]

 Sorry Kombi! Maybe he's got a source for someone who can scale the action. Still not sure if the Belgian martini is the same size as your gun, but if you email me, I'll forward it to him. He's on the other side of the USA from me. Yes, he's a single shot enthusiast.

[kombi1976]

No stress, mate.
There's always a way.
I'll PM my email address.