Martini-Henry .303 found in baghdad

[lostsniper308]

well came across a Martini-henry, chamber looks right for the .303 round.
the finish it worn off, and the markings are more or less removed from the side, some remain on the barrel, but nothing i found matches the british markings stamped. the barrel bands and some of the stock are missing. rifling is partially intact.
guy had it, and rules are one weapon per household here in Baghdad.

[Mikey]

lostsniper308:  Way cool.  Can you bring that back with you?  Cool.  Mikey.

[Japlmg]

Be very careful if you intend to fire that rifle.
Many of the Martini's you encounter in that area of the World are "Locally Made", in other words they are made in back yard workshops of very questionable materials with questionable workmanship.
Gregg

[Brithunter]

Right a few corrections:-

   If it's 303 and that seems highly likely it's not a Martini Henry as those are 577/450. It's either a MM (Martini Metford) ot ME (martini Enfield) however that one is not British!

   Not I don't think it's a native knock off either, it's an Omani carbine more commonly know as a Muscat Martini. These were made in England or Belguim for the Sultan of Oman and it seems Muscat is the capital. Here is the breech marking of mine:-


see the similarities? I can even make out bits of the stippling down the top of the barrel. On the barrel should be proof markings, these are Belgian ones :-



Mine has some native repairs inside but it functions well even if the chambers shoulder is not quite to British 303 specs.

  Oh it's assembled wrong the cocking indicator should point upwards when un-cocked and backwards when cocked. There is a museum in Muscat at one of the old forts and it has some of these on show. Hope that helps