Help needed with U.V.F cartouche stamped Martini Henry Carbine with Horse head stamp

[gargar83]

I have just bought my first Martini Henry Carbine and i need help trying to trace it's history ,i think it mybe a Martini Enfield Carbine trade pattern ? it was a 303 and has been converted to 410 shotgun shell .it is stamped with the 1912 Ulster Volunteer Force cartouche on the stock and on the other side it has a horse head stamp on the stock and the number 104 stamped into the stock also.I have only ever seen one other with the same stamps online will post the link below .I will also post pics of my own gun ,i need all the help i can get on this so please help in any way you can many thanks.
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http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft...D4457F01F8AB25

[gargar83]

here are some pics

[breakeyp]

A very nice find indeed. Thank you for posting as it confirms my carbine. I have the horse's head and number but no UVF markng on the buttstock. I expect the change of caliber to .410 was to get it off the books as a rifle and onto a shotgun license done post service with the UVF. All previous service/manufacturing markings seem to have been removed during the refurbishment pror to sale by the trade.

[gargar83]

thats brill news yours is only the 3rd rifle that i know of including my own the other rifle is in the USA also can you post some pics ?

[breakeyp]

No markings other than commercial proofs and the horse mkg. Receiver corners are sharp indicating receiver markings have been draw filed prior to rebluing. It came with a Long Lee clearing/cleaning rod. The band accepts a bayonet but the normal bayonets (Pattern 1888, Pattern 1903 and Pattern 1907) do not fit suggesting it was just used and not set up to be functional.

[william]

Thanks for that great "slide show" of many custom german built shooters. Even found a lot of info on my Franz Sodia as far as some of the custom parts he used.

[gargar83]

I have just found the Letter E.W & the number 2 stamped into the metal of the action ! has anybody any ideas ?

[gargar83]

here is a pic of another Martini with the same Horse head stamp on the stock ! and it also has the oval U.V.F stamp on the other side of the stock also.it is owned by a guy in the USA and its converted to 22lr.

[gargar83]

E.W 2 and tally marks on the side of the barrel any ideas ?

[gargar83]

Anybody know what thease markings mean ?