Martini Enfield thoughts please

[PrinzEugen]

My local gunshop has a Martini Enfield in stock. The wood is great, the metal is well used. On the right side of the receiver it's well worn and I can just make out 'Enfield 1877'. On the left it has a crown and underneath VR Enfield, 1889, ME 303 ACII. (I realise this means it was converted to 303 in that year with an enfield barrel but I don't know what ACII means). The bore looks sharpish, although the inside is very dirty. On the butt there is a disc with 1, 1899, 2DMA, 361 on it - would this be the unit and if so which one?
I'd appreciate any thoughts!!!
Also - would I be able to fire normal commercial eg privi partizan ammo through it?

[TheDoubleD]

ACII means Artillery Carbine II. Is this rifle a carbine?

If you can post some pictures of it we can help you determine if it is counterfiet or not. The markings you describe sound correct, except for the date. Could it be 1899 instead of 1889?

You could probably fire privi partizan without ill effects. Isn't that ammo a little hot. If it is find something closer original British specs. The gun will hold it, but it also over 100 years old. Take it easy on it.

[TheDoubleD]

Humm, may you won't be able to use privi...

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[Richardwv]

ACII means artillery carbine mark II. As Douglas states, the date for a MK II shouldn't be 1889, so look carefully at the stamping. The markings certainly sound valid except for that date, which hopefully is just difficulty in reading the stamp.

As to ammo, these of course were designed to fire standard Brit .303 ammo and have done so for over a century. As to how kind that century was to your carbine we can't say....but stress is cumulative and 100+ years is a long time. Of equall consideration is that these are fairly light firearms with less than modern ergonomics.....meaning they have a fair felt recoil. While I have a considerable stash of MilSurp .303 and commercial loads (and have shot more than a few rounds through my Martinis), I now prefer handloading for my older .303 firearms using nice mild cast loads. Easy on the firearm, easy on the shoulder......and at today's prices, easier on the wallet.

[PrinzEugen]

Apologies - I misread my hastily scribbled note from the shop - the date on the left receiver is 1898 - is that ok?

Would I be correct to assume it was made in 1877 and converted in 1898?

So Artillery Carbine - it certainly looks like a carbine and is quite short. I've not really looked into the Martini Henrys an awful lot - Lee Enfields have been more my thing, but I just love items imbued with history, and this certainly fits that bill so I've been tempted.

Any thoughts on the unit from the butt disc? 2DMA. Would the 361 be the rack number?

Thanks for all the responses, much appreciated.

Oh, and the price is £150 - not sure what the going rate is at the moment.

[TheDoubleD]

£150 is about $250 and that is about 1/3 of what they go for on the west side of the Atlantic.

If I saw that gun, it would have sold and my name on it!!

Good find!!!

[Richardwv]

You are correct on your assumptions and the conversion date places it squarely in the main period of conversion. As to unit, I wouldn't care to speculate beyond it likely being an artillery unit. Someone with more historicial knowledge of period unit abbreviations needs to look at that one. And yes, the 361 would be the rack number.

An excellent find at an excellent price.

[TheDoubleD]

I'll speculate here and that will bring out the experts who realy know.

2DMA-2nd Regiment Durham Light Infantry Academy.

You might also ask over on British Militaria.

The great website for this type of research has gone. Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth - Site Temporarily Unavailable (http://www.regiments.org)

[PrinzEugen]

Thanks again for the input - I'd be really interested to get the unit confirmed.

I'm sorely tempted I must admit - my dilemma is that in the uk we are only allowed so many slots on our tickets - I originally got an extra 303 for a 4t - but prospective job losses at my firm, plus massive recent price inflation have put paid to that (plus I'm getting sick of the stories dealers keep telling me to explain away stuff I know, even in my limited knowledge to be wrong).

But an 1877 Artillery Carbine eh...

It drips of history and I don't suppose I'd lose any money on it if at some point I wanted to move it on - and I might have a bit of fun shooting it too!