Help me with my Martini Cadet please.

[guybod1]

Hi everyone, a new member from Aus. I realise this is a mostly US site but you never your luck. I am hoping that some members out there may be able to assist me with finding out something about my rifle.
I have been fortunate enough to acquire a lovely little customized Martini Cadet.
http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/...artini006b.jpg
Now I would like to learn as much as I can about its history. The gentleman I purchased it from in Queensland acquired it in the early 1990s from a gunshop in Fortitude Valley. It was sold to them as part of a deceased estate with a lot of other rifles. A gunsmith interested in cadet modifications suggested that it was from the 60s or 70s when there was a lot of experimentation by benchrest shooters with cadets and 222s, but didn’t know the builder.
I have been advised by another shooter that it was probably built/customized by Bill Marden Snr. from Sydney. The shooter once owned a similar rifle but in a different caliber. He believes the timber is French walnut and may have been modeled by Earhardt Mersch.
I vaguely remember seeing something similar in an old shooters magazine of some nature. Unfortunately I have not kept my old copies.
Does anyone know anything about it, that they would be willing to pass on? Has anyone seen it in a magazine that they could direct me to?
I would love to attach the providence to this rifle when I hand it on to my kids.
Thanks,

[jamie5070]

Welcome to the boards. You might try posting your question on the martini forum or try going to britishmilitariaforums.yuku.net. That site has a separate forum for the smaller martinis.
john

[guybod1]

Thanks John, I will try both tonight.
Guy

[Old Lancer]

also, take a look at rifleman.org

[Rusty.303]

G'Day guybod1,
I am a couple hours down the road from you.

I have had a couple of Marden seniors Martini cadets, both in .218 Bee.
I also had a Marden senior M17 in 25/303.
Marden was from that era where there was sweet stuff all in the way of quality rifles and accessories available to the Aussie shooter.
He could not get anything like we can today so he made it.
Don't take this as gospel but your rifle does look a touch modern.
I am not basing this on the racy lines, more what looks to be a modern rubber but plate,
modern looking scope mounts.
All my Marden rifles featured hand made scope mounts, basic plastic accessories, old school sling swivels and all barrels were marked sportco.
In short the Marden rifles screamed 1950s, 1960s.

I am interested to hear what you find out.
Cheers

[muffett.2008]

Hi Gunbod, just so you don't get your hand slapped, this is a Canadian website, hence the prominance of the maple leaf.

[tbonesmith]

Hi Gunbodi, there's quite a few Aussies here, welcome! Interesting new toy you've got there. Not particularly my field, but nice rifle anyway.

[guybod1]

My appoligies to one and all - I now do see the maple leaf; just a little too excited to get some help about my toy.

Rusty I replaced the scope mounts. I didn't like the ones that came with the rifle - the rest is untouched by me.
As for the rest of the advice I greatly appreciate it. All the more I can find out the better.
Did Bill leave any tell tale stamping on your rifle eg under the barrel or on the action?
Do your rifles have custom stocks? If so who made them and what do they look like Please?

Thanks, Guy