Martini converted by CG Bonehill in 1900ish and reconfigured by Parker Hale in 1937

[martini]

In the attached files are pictures of my .22LR Parker Hale CMT-2 from around 1937.

The base action and stock are from an Artillery Carbine A.C. 1 (you can just see the C.1 on the side of the action in one of the pics) which has the VR crown etc. but most of the markings have been removed. It also has Victorian inspector marks on all the receiver parts and stock and may date from 1885.

The left hand side of the receiver has been stamped by CG Bonehill as being made for the Society of Miniature Rifle Clubs (again you can just see it in the photos). This has been partially erased. The SMRC was a Victorian society to improve rifle marksmanship and commissioned a number of rifles in .22LR in around 1900 to be made from what at the time were cheap surplus rifles and parts.

CG Bonehill of Birmingham had a large contract with SMRC and these are fairly common in different configurations.

The CMT-2 stamped on the barrel and the proof marks show it was in the Parker Hale factory in 1936 and 1937, being sold sometime thereafter. The barrel is maybe a new one as it has no earlier proof marks and is narrower than the barrel on my 577/450 Mk II. However this is not conclusive and it has been parkerrifled. You can just see the concentric circles at the breech end where the insert has been, well what can I say, inserted.

I understand Parker Hale were selling converted Martinis as the Converted Military Target rifle and were buying up rifles used by the SMRC in order to convert them. Again this was a cheaper target rifle for the less wealthy shooter as imports and new rifles were quite expensive.

The sight is a Parker Hale micrometer sight but I am having trouble in working out exactly which one. It could be contemporary to the 1930s. The CMT-2 came with micrometer sights but they changed the model from time to time. It has a 7 hole disc at the back. The sight as a whole is in fabulous condition.

At some date a gunsmith or metalworker has inletted the sight into the back of the receiver. This is excellent work and provides a really stable platform for the sight, not unlike the later BSA martini target rifles.

Unfortunately this rather screws up the gradations on the sight as it was clearly intended to be mounted lower. However I only need 25 and 50 yards so these are marked on the slide seperately.

The front sight is a Parker Hale tunnel sight which was made from the 1930s to the 1960s. I have all the elements in a brass cap under the forend. This may well be the original CMT-2 sight.

The foreend is Grade 2 teak fitted by Parker Hale but the stock is the original Martini walnut. I have refinished both and stained them so they match, which they did not do when i got the rifle. The finish is 8 coats of Tung oil with 3 layers of wax polish on top. I was very pleased with the finish which is all the same colour and makes the rifle look as one.

Alas all unit markings have been long since sanded from the stock. If only a rifle could talk!!!

On the right side of the receiver, covering the Crown, is a round holder that can hold 10 rounds. This is a useful device which has been properly fitted but I am unsure as to its provenance. It could be pre-war.

The firing pin is modified and sits off centre to the cartridge. Being a rimfire it needs tapping on the rim. The hole in the breech block for th epin to protrude through has been filled and a new hole drilled slightly off centre. I bought a spare .22 pin at Bisley a few months ago but have not so far needed it.

The rifle was inexpensive as single shot .22LRs are not very popular. However I regularly get the shots in a 5 shot group to link up at 25 yards and it is very accurate to use.

If you come across one they are in my opinion worth buying as there is a lot of history there and they are fun to shoot. They will never be as much fun as a 577/450 but a lot cheaper to feed.

Sorry about the attachments, IT is not my strong suit.

[martini]

I should also have pointed out the cocking indicator is inserted 90 degrees off its original position so that it does not clash with the round carrier.

[A square 10]

i have a bonehill miniture converted martini , but its second conversion was to a 12ga trap gun





the fellow who sold it to me sent this nice photo ---

[Patrick Chadwick]

The sight looks like an adaptation of the Parker-Hale "Perfection" sight that was used for the Vickers target rifle in the 1930s

[martini]

Patrick,

I think you have indeed identified it correctly.


I read up on rifleman.org the Vickers section. One of the features of the Perfection was a hole through the sight at the bottom for cleaning rods to pass through to clean the Vickers action. My sight has one of these but it is of course obstructed by the falling block.

Thank you very much for your help with identifying it. At £1 17s it was an expensive bit of kit in the 1930s and is period to the CMT2 conversion but I suspect it has been added later with some careful gunsmithing.



I had it out on the range on Sunday along with my Martini Mk2 577/450 and another chap turned up with a Cadet. Martini based rifles are becoming quite common!!!!

---------- Post added at 07:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:47 PM ----------

A square 10

That is one mean looking conversion.

[barbarossa]

I was interested to read about your P/H CMT-2 rifle. I own one of these myself and it's a truly fabulous shooting rifle. Mine was also built on a M/H Artillery Carbine action, and all original markings were removed except those on the front flat of the receiver where it contacts the forestock. The rear sight on mine differs from yours in that is a version that sits on a dovetail filed into the top of the action immediately behind the breech and is hinged to fold rearward to lie on the top of the wrist when not in use. Same style P/H front sight assembly.

Major difference between your rifle and mine is really in the manner of conversion to rimfire. Basically, on my CMT-2, the 'legs' that prop up the breechblock have been shortened which allows the breechblock to sit lower in order to strike the .22 RF rim. Really quite a clever way to do the conversion and a poor man's way of accomplishing the job with the least amount of fuss and bother. Obviously still uses the standard M/H firing pin.

[TheDoubleD]

Not a poor mans conversion at all. That is exactly how the conversion suppose to be made. The Armourors manual describes that as the method for adjusting striker impact. The various techniques off set strikers have come out of the American school of Gunsmithing. BSA and Greener both just adjusted the horns of the lever to make centerfire and rim fire rifles. There is no other difference in there rifles.

[martini]

Barbarossa, what year is your CMT-2?

I agree they are tack drivers and mine gets an outing most weekends. It is a period rifle, even the accessories are period 1930s, but it puts modern Rugers to shame.

[barbarossa]

Martini, cannot figure out how old my rifle is but I gotta figure it's an older variant of these rifles especially with regard to the intricacy of the rear sight and the massive alteration of the rear of the receiver behind the breech. Certainly a more pricey rifle than mine when it was sold new I suspect.

Gotta say this is my absolute favorite .22 rifle. A true pleasure to shoot and a real attention getter at any shooting session on the rifle range. As you say, doesn't take a back seat to no Ruger in the accuracy department. Kinda like driving an MG-TD and the other guy has got his Ford Mustang. The result is the same it's just how you get there that's important.

Cheers

barbarossa

[martini]

Yes, very much so.

The quality of a CMT2 from 1937 leaves modern run of the mill .22s in the shade. I particularly like that it cost buttons but gets covetous looks from other shooters and can still win competitions.