Martini-Henry Full Sets

Full Sets

Folks, I’m a great believer that the essence of collecting is to attain complete sets of variations of various models. While I still have a way to go on my .303 Martinis, not to mention my Lees, I’m pleased to say that a recent acquisition has I believe given me full sets of all .450 Martini models.

I have replaced no parts on them, except for three: the third-pattern MHR Mk I rifles. Intact Mk I third patterns are vanishingly rare. When I bought them, my three had all been partially upgraded by means of the installation of a Mk II trigger assembly (though their Mk I rear sights remained). I have restored all three of these rifles to Mk I third-pattern specifications using Peabody-Martini parts.

As a side note, I know that purists insist in calling those Martinis with safety levers still in place the “second pattern” on the grounds of there once having nominally been an earlier sealed pattern (with Dixon’s tumbler rest, instead of Todd’s). However, at most, only one or two of the Dixon type were made, so it seems absurd to call the Todd type the “second” pattern (which in turn would mean having to call the safetiless Canada cache rifles the third pattern, which no one does). The best I can do for the purists is to call the lever-fitted, Todd-tumbler rifles the “first pattern, second variation.” Deal? Deal.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the following rifles.

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk I

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk I, first pattern, second variation, Enfield, 1872 (1/5): new made as such. (Provenance: unissued.)

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk I, second pattern, Enfield, 1873 (2/5): new made as such. (Canadian issued; Canada cache.)

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk I, third pattern, type 1, Enfield, 1874 (3/5): new made as such. (Indian issued; Nepal cache.)

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk I, third pattern, type 2, unknown upgrade place and date (4/5): upgraded from 1872 Enfield first pattern, second variation. (Indian issued; Nepal cache.)

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk I, third pattern, type 3, unknown upgrade place and date (5/5): upgraded from 1873 Enfield second pattern. (Indian issued; Nepal cache.)

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk II

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk II, type 1, NA&A, 1880 (1/5): new made as such. (No issue marks, though probably Indian; Afghan bringback.)

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk II, type 2, probable India conversion, c. 1880 (2/5): converted from 1872 Enfield Mk I, first pattern. (Indian issued; Nepal cache.)

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk II, type 3, probable India conversion, c. 1880 (3/5): converted from 1873 Enfield Mk I, second pattern, first variation, with type 14 trials rod. (No issue marks, though probably Indian; Afghan bringback.)

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk II, type 4, probable India conversion, c. 1880 (4/5): converted from 1873 Enfield Mk I, second pattern, second variation, with Mk I service rod. (No issue marks, though probably Indian; Afghan bringback.)

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk II, type 5, Birmingham Repair Facility conversion (Bagot Street), c. 1878-80 (5/5): converted from 1875 Enfield Mk I, third pattern. (Indian issued; Nepal cache.)

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk III

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk III, first pattern, Enfield, 1879 (1/2): new made as such. (Canadian issued).

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk III, second pattern (New South Wales pattern), Enfield, 1884 (2/2): new made as such, with Arbuthnot quickloader bracket. (New South Wales issued, Australia.)

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk IV

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk IV, A Pattern, Enfield conversion, 1887 (1/4): converted from 1886 Enfield Enfield-Martini Mk I, first pattern. (Indian issued; Nepal cache.)

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk IV, B Pattern, Enfield conversion, 1887 (2/4): converted from 1886 Enfield Enfield-Martini Mk I, second pattern. (Indian issued; Nepal cache.)

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk IV, C Pattern, first variation, BSA&M, 1895 (3/4): new made as such with spare parts and a BSA&M receiver, with ramp front sight. (Indian issued; not Nepalese.)

Martini-Henry rifle, Mk IV, C Pattern, second variation, Enfield, 1888 (4/ 4): new made as such with spare parts and an Enfield receiver, with block front sight. (Indian issued; Nepal cache.)

Martini-Henry Carbines

Martini-Henry cavalry carbine, Mk I, first pattern, Enfield, 1877 (1/5): new made as such without backsight-cover screws. (South Australian issued.)

Martini-Henry cavalry carbine, Mk I, second pattern, Enfield, 1879 (2/5): new made as such with backsight-cover screws. (Kimberly Township issued, South Africa.)

Martini-Henry artillery carbine, Mk I, first pattern, Enfield, 1888 (3/5): new made as such. (Cape Government issued, South Africa.)

Martini-Henry artillery carbine, Mk I, second pattern, Enfield conversion, 1881 (4/5): converted from 1881 Enfield MHCC Mk I, second pattern. (New South Wales issued, Australia.) Never heard of this model? Please see (PDF) Early Martini Carbine Conversions: Multiple Models or One? | Douglas Munro - Academia.edu.

Martini-Henry artillery carbine, Mk II, Birmingham Repair Facility conversion (Bagot Street or Sparkbrook), c. 1891-95 (5/5): converted from 1874 BSA&M MHR Mk II, type 2. (Unknown issue; blank disc.)

Martini-Henry Muskets

Martini-Henry Musket, India pattern, type 1, Poona conversion, c. 1905-1920 (1/4): converted from 1876 Enfield MHR Mk II, type 1. (Indian issued; not Nepalese.)

Martini-Henry Musket, India pattern, type 2, Ishapore conversion, c. 1905-1920 (2/4): converted from 1883 Enfield MHR Mk III, first pattern. (Indian issued; Nepal cache.)

Martini-Henry Musket, India pattern, type 3, Ishapore conversion, c. 1905-1920 (3/4): converted from 1895 BSA&M MHR Mk IV, C Pattern, type 2. (Indian issued; not Nepalese.)

Martini-Henry Cavalry Musketoon, India pattern, Kirkee conversion, 1907 (4/4): converted from 1887 Enfield MHCC Mk I, second pattern. (Indian issued; not Nepalese.)

Happy viewing — Coggo

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