.jpg)
 |
ZULU WARS Period, 1876 Dated British Martini Henry MK II Rifle .577x .450 Obsolete Centre Fire Calibre Service Rifle. Sn 23174:3 - 23174:3 The Martini Henry mark 1 rifle was approved for service on the 17th July 1874. In 1875 the rifle was modified to mark II standard. This is an original early British service .577x .450 Martini Henry mark II rifle made in 1876. The rifle has a long cocking indicator block and blade fore sight, flip up ladder rear sight, steel butt plate, sling swivels, grooved trigger, original mark 2 cleaning rod, bayonet lug and a leather service sling. This is a nice Martini Henry rifle which retains much of its original worn blued finish. The rifle has a 33 ¼ “ steel barrel and measures 49 ½” overall. The action is stamped on the right side Crown V.R (Victoria Regina) ENFIELD 1876 (manufacture date) an inspection stamp II (mark II) 2. Most of the parts of the rifle are stamped with Enfield inspection stamps including the action trigger, trigger guard, operating lever, butt plate and barrel bands. The rifle has a nice sharp rifling and the cocking and firing action works crisply. The wood furniture has the normal bumps and bruises to be expected with age and service use. Following service in the Zulu Wars and later, the British Arm adopted the .303 Lee Metford rifle. The Nepalese government were unable to re arm quickly so quantities of surplus British Martini Henry rifles were sent to arm the Gurkhas in 1894 including further batches sent between 1906 and 1909. This rifle is one of those guns. The right hand side of the butt is stamped with the Fort William, Calcutta roundel together with the date 11/94 indicating it was one of the first batch of Martini Henry rifles transferred. The rifle is neatly stamped to the left hand side of the rear sight NS NEP Native Scouts, Nepal. The right hand side of the action is also stamped 2 under the markings which was stamped on all weapons sent abroad. See section D, Martini arms, RB 96 on page 19 of the Catalogue of the Enfield Pattern Room, British Rifles, published by Her Majesty’s Stationary Office and chapters 2 to 4 together with the plate on page 49 in The Martini-Henry for Queen and Empire by Neil Aspinshaw and Guns of the Gurkhas, (The lost arsenal: pistols, rifles and machine guns of the Royal Nepalese Army, 1816 – 1945) by John Walter. The price includes UK delivery. NB As an antique obsolete calibre rifle and no licence is required to own this rifle in the UK if retained as a part of a collection or display. Sn 23147:3 £1,895.00
|
 |