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**SOLD**17/9*Deactivated, WD, 1887 Dated, Enfield MK IVc Martini Henry .577x .450 Rifle Converted from a .402’’ Mark I Enfield Martini Rifle. - D 6042 This is an excellent, original British service, 1887 dated .577x .450 Martini Henry, Mark IVc service rifle. The rifle is the c pattern with the 31mm long nocksform at the breach, a ramped fore sight fitted with the earlier short lever butt with the hole plugged with a wooden dowl and a long extractor lever. These rifles were converted at Enfield from the .402 Martini Enfield cartridge rifle to the .450 Martini Henry rifle. The action is stamped on the right hand side with a crown over VR ENFIELD 1888 (DATE) IV over I (class I weapon). The I is central with the acceptance mark with the V is off centre so it indicates that the rifle was one of the .402” Enfield-Martini rifles converted as a IVc .450 specification rifle. The barrel and action have many Victorian and WD proof inspection marks. The rifle is fully Enfield ordnance stamped to the metalwork and is fitted with its original woodwork throughout. The rifle has a block and blade fore sight, flip up ladder rear sight, steel butt plate, sling swivels and correct. The rifle has a 33 5/8 inch steel barrel with a 49” overall length. The wood furniture has just the normal light bumps and bruises to be expected with age and service use. The metal work has even patina throughout & has many WD ordnance inspection marks. In April 1905, the Nepalese government asked for 10,000 Martini Henr rifles and a total of 7,500 were delivered as well as the previous 2,500 previously gifted. This is one of the rifles that were gifted to Nepal by the British Government after British Regimental service. The butt carries the Rawul Pindi roundel which is stamped round the circumference RAWUL PINDI RP (Ruwul Pindi) 5 1908 (May 1908 transfer date). the butt also carries the inventory mark 4388 under the arsenal stamp. The metalwork and fore end carry no Nepalese markings. The action is stamped on the right hand side Victoria’s crown over V.R. (Victoria Regina) 1887 inspection mark I centralised under the inspection mark and a V over I. (a Martini Enfield mark I .402’’ rifle converted to a .450 Martini Henry mark IV Class I weapon). The rifles loading lever opens the breach block and the trigger moves. The rifle is complete with its correct mark IV cleaning rod and an original leather sling. There are no Nepalese marks on the rifle. Mark IV Martini Enfield/Henry models are described in detail in the following books in see Section D, Martini arms, RB 99 on page 19, Catalogue of the Enfield Pattern Room, British Rifles, published by Her Majesty’s Stationary Office and pages 159 & 230 including the plates in The Martini-Henry for Queen and Empire by Neil Aspinshaw. Also pages 68, and 76-77 including the plates in Guns of the Gurkhas, (The lost arsenal: pistols, rifles and machine guns of the Royal Nepalese Army, 1816 – 1945) by John Walter. The rifle was converted to a 20 bore shotgun when these guns could be held on a shotgun certificate before they became antique obsolete calibre guns so the gun has been deactivated and has a deactivation certificate. The price for this scarce converted Martini Enfield gun includes UK delivery and the deactivation certificate. D 6042 £0.00
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