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Martini-Henry M1878
17 October 2010 02:34 pmThe Martini-Henry was a breech-loading lever-actuated rifle first adopted by the British in 1871 replacing the Snider-Enfield. Though the Snider was the first breechloader firing a metallic cartridge in the British service, the Martini was designed from the outset as a breechloader and was both faster firing and had a longer range. In 1878 the Francotte patent Martini System was granted utilizing a detachable mechanism fitted without the Cocking Indicator. Revolutionary at the time by compartmentalizing the mechanism for quick disassembly, it only lasted 10 years as the latest technology. It was replaced in 1888 by the .303 cal Lee Metford bolt action Rifle's introduction into the British Military System. Although the British never embraced this European improvement, these "Improved System Rifles" saw much service on frontiers all over the World.
One such frontier was Nepal, where these breech-loading rifles, some manufactured in Britain but many of local manufacture, served the Gurkhas until 1912 when King George V visited Nepal and ordered that the Nepalese army be issued the latest bolt action M1907 Lee-Enfield rifles.
So there they sat, from the turn of the 19th Century to the turn of the next, in racks or stacked like cordwood in the dusty basement of the Old Palace of Lagan Silekhana in Katmandu, until 2002 when the doors were cast open.
50,000 guns. 180 canons. In all, 430 tons of Victorian arms and armaments.
And I have one of them.
I placed the order at Atlanta Cultery for $178 and received in in the mail in a matter of days. After an initial cleaning with Simple Green, I find the rifle to be in marginal to moderate condition overall but with all the parts including sling fittings and rear sight.
The most notable damage is where the stock fits into the receiver. It is heavily worn, wobbles and I fear that it could break off. I don't know if there is a threaded rod through the stock that could tighten it in place or if I will need to do more work than that but that will need to be addressed. The broken butt plate speaks of years of the rifle butt being slammed into the ground as the soldier came smartly to "port arms" position.
The stock also has a significant amount of damage from wood boring insects. I don't know if it has severely damaged the structural integrity of the stock. I wonder if a diluted resin could be injected into the stock to shore it up. The stock seems to be coated with black varnish. I have not yet decided whether to leave it as authentic as possible or to sand the stock and forgrip and refinish it.
When I first worked the action, I found a tendency for the trigger not to catch, dropping the hammer when the breech was closed. This is quite a bad thing, but as it was a random occurrence I suspect that it is caused by a century of grime and disuse. Perhaps a thorough dousing with some gun scrubber will clean the action so that I do not have to open up the receiver to affect repairs.
The barrel was plugged with grease and this did a marvelous job of protecting it. While the outside of the barrel shows some pitting, the inside is smooth and clean. Perhaps a bit too smooth. The rifling is worn from use but I am not overly concerned. Oh, I have already abandoned the idea of having a valuable antique rifle. It's in too bad a shape for that. What I do hope for is to make it functionable. I don't expect that I would take it to the range for accurate target shooting but I do intend to be able to say it is a working firearm and that I have fired it.
I need to order a sling. This rifle weighs in at a brutal 10 pounds and there is no way I intend to carry it around in my hand. No, it will be slung over my shoulder. I also need to purchase or borrow some proper gunsmithing screwdrivers. Those are important to avoid damaging screw faces when attempting to remove them. I also need to search out a proper takedown guide and exploded diagram so I know exactly what is inside before I start trying to take it apart.
This is a long term project that will proceed in small, sporadic advances.
One such frontier was Nepal, where these breech-loading rifles, some manufactured in Britain but many of local manufacture, served the Gurkhas until 1912 when King George V visited Nepal and ordered that the Nepalese army be issued the latest bolt action M1907 Lee-Enfield rifles.
So there they sat, from the turn of the 19th Century to the turn of the next, in racks or stacked like cordwood in the dusty basement of the Old Palace of Lagan Silekhana in Katmandu, until 2002 when the doors were cast open.
50,000 guns. 180 canons. In all, 430 tons of Victorian arms and armaments.
And I have one of them.
I placed the order at Atlanta Cultery for $178 and received in in the mail in a matter of days. After an initial cleaning with Simple Green, I find the rifle to be in marginal to moderate condition overall but with all the parts including sling fittings and rear sight.
The most notable damage is where the stock fits into the receiver. It is heavily worn, wobbles and I fear that it could break off. I don't know if there is a threaded rod through the stock that could tighten it in place or if I will need to do more work than that but that will need to be addressed. The broken butt plate speaks of years of the rifle butt being slammed into the ground as the soldier came smartly to "port arms" position.
The stock also has a significant amount of damage from wood boring insects. I don't know if it has severely damaged the structural integrity of the stock. I wonder if a diluted resin could be injected into the stock to shore it up. The stock seems to be coated with black varnish. I have not yet decided whether to leave it as authentic as possible or to sand the stock and forgrip and refinish it.
When I first worked the action, I found a tendency for the trigger not to catch, dropping the hammer when the breech was closed. This is quite a bad thing, but as it was a random occurrence I suspect that it is caused by a century of grime and disuse. Perhaps a thorough dousing with some gun scrubber will clean the action so that I do not have to open up the receiver to affect repairs.
The barrel was plugged with grease and this did a marvelous job of protecting it. While the outside of the barrel shows some pitting, the inside is smooth and clean. Perhaps a bit too smooth. The rifling is worn from use but I am not overly concerned. Oh, I have already abandoned the idea of having a valuable antique rifle. It's in too bad a shape for that. What I do hope for is to make it functionable. I don't expect that I would take it to the range for accurate target shooting but I do intend to be able to say it is a working firearm and that I have fired it.
I need to order a sling. This rifle weighs in at a brutal 10 pounds and there is no way I intend to carry it around in my hand. No, it will be slung over my shoulder. I also need to purchase or borrow some proper gunsmithing screwdrivers. Those are important to avoid damaging screw faces when attempting to remove them. I also need to search out a proper takedown guide and exploded diagram so I know exactly what is inside before I start trying to take it apart.
This is a long term project that will proceed in small, sporadic advances.
