New Martini Henry MK IV

[Aragorn243]

Mine has steel buttplate screws. I noticed a couple of the others he had had brass screws and was wondering about that.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I wouldn't fret about the screws. By 1908 the brass screw/brass shim idea had been abandoned, and SMLEs were the standard rifle, with a brass buttplate and steel screws. Maybe the buttplate had to be removed/replaced and the brass screws were so ruined that the armorer used the ones available - which would by then have been the steel screws for the Lee Enfield.

[Aragorn243]

One thing that stands out about this rifle compared to others of it's time is it's small size. I think in my head I had it pictured much larger than it actually is. With that massive cartridge, I expect that's why it has a reputation for heavy recoil.

[Aragorn243]

I tried getting a brown sling for this and they cancelled my order for some reason. Decided to get a white one after looking at period paintings. Wasn't sure if I would like it or not but it looks pretty sharp. Also picked up a brass muzzle cap for it and a replacement cocking indicator. still leaking oil after being washed twice. May have to give the stock cleaning another go.

[jamie5070]

Find a nice sunny spot on a warm day and set the stock out in the sun. The oils and grease will run out. Some people have reported putting the stock in a black trash bag with kitty litter in and put in their car to warm up the stock and get the oil and grease out of the pores.
john

[Aragorn243]

Shortage of sunny days right now but I may just do that come summer. Not in a rush. It's not weeping that bad. I did my first stock on a dashboard in the sun about 25 years ago. Hard to believe it was that long. SMLE No III*. Winter time is next to the heaters but I take pity on my wife, she tolerates the "normal" smell but concentrated heated cosmoline is a bit much for her.

[jamie5070]

Someone one on another forum did a test on the grease on these rifles and others out of the Nepal cache. It was some kind of heavy petroleum grease that came out of the Burma region (if I remember right).

[jrhead75]

The "circle with wings" that you describe is a cancellation stamp, stamped over markings to cancel them out. Also occasionally used to separate lines of text/numbers in unit markings.

Looks like you've gotten a fine example there. The spelling of Rawalpindi/Rawul Pindi/Rawal Pindi does tend to be "flexible"...like a lot of the Indian place names of the era.