Author Topic: Martini Rook Rifle (Read 1404 times)

marlinman93 · « **on:** October 17, 2004, 01:26:36 PM »

Picked up a Martini style rook rifle yesterday at a local gun show. The gun is chambered for 297-230CF, which is the 297 Morris cartridge.
It's in great condition, with 90% bluing, and very delicate wood as most rooks. The stocks are checkered at about 28LPI, and the wood is a nice English Walnut. Bore looks like new, and it should be a great shooter, once I make up some brass. Looks like .22 Hornet will work as a basis, but it's twice as long as the stubby little Morris bottleneck cartridge! Have to cut them down, and turn a shoulder on my lathe, with a blunt tool.
The best part was the seller's price. He wanted $300 for the little Martini, and I didn't know for sure, but thought it was reasonable. I had an old '97 Marlin with me that I wanted to sell or trade, and the seller was pretty happy to swap straight across! That made things even better, as I was into the Marlin a bit less.
This should be a fun gun to shoot, once I make ammo. Velocites are about the same as hi velocity .22LR, with a slightly heavier bullet.

Double D · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2004, 06:15:13 PM »

Fun little caliber, CH4D has the dies. Buffalo Arms for the brass. Most of the time Hornet brass need the rims thinned. Cases will need annealled before fireforming and reamed after.

Use leads bullets the metal on the barrel isn't up a steady diet of Jacketed.

Fire me an email when you are ready to part with it. and I'll dig in the gunlocker and see if I have anything I could trade you...only one Marlin in this house..#5 Pacific, not for trade.

marlinman93 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 18, 2004, 02:40:34 PM »

Hi Double D!
I was hoping you'd respond to this post. Hoping you might add info to what this gun is. The proof marks turned out to be Belgian, and Liege proofs. No maker's name on the gun anywhere.
I've had a few friends look it over, but they don't want to give a lot of info, because they're determined to talk me out of it!
It makes a nice companion to my small frame Belgian Comblain rook rifle. They have a lot in common.

Double D · « **Reply #3 on:** November 01, 2004, 06:04:59 PM »

Marlinman,

Forgive me for not seeing your response sooner. i don't know how it got by me.

Very interesting rifle...both of them! Can you post some close up pictures of the markings? Would there be the letters AF on them some where?

The Martini looks very interesting. Does it have the drop out innards Like the Francotte or are the part all held in the frame by different sorts of pins and such?

Take some close ups!

marlinman93 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 03, 2004, 02:08:35 PM »

The markings are a Crown over P, Crown over an R, then a Star over an A, then a Diamond shape, with a single line verticle out of the Diamond, and finally an oval with a Crown over it, inside the oval are the letters E over LG.
I'm not familiar with the Francotte, but this Martini has a takedown knob on the left side, and when it's removed the entire block asembly drops out the top. To reassemble, it simply drops in and the takedown screw is replaced. Pretty slick little gun!
I bought formed brass from Buffalo Arms, 50 for $23. I have loaded up a number of them with 3.0 grains of Unique, and a 40 grain lead RN bullet. In the Morris long that's a compressed load! Still only 900 fps, and 75 ft lbs of energy!