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At last !!! Living in South Africa and being close to the KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields, I finally got myself a deactivated Martini Henry. Unfortunately, although its stopping power is legend and they used them during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, I don't know much more. I have attached a few photos of the markings and symbols and i was hoping that the few experts out there might be able to shed some light on this particular lethal rifle. Appreciated Richard from Durban, South Africa.
Wow! A stampers paradise!
On the metal:
U with broad arrow stands for Union of South Africa. Which came into existence in 1910. So this rifle had a long service history!
All the little "Crown over E over number" marks are Enfield factory inspectors numbers (not dates!)
Broad arrow over WD = War department acceptance mark.
D.P stands for Drill Purpose (only) i.e. not to be fired.
SX (lined out) = Strengthened Extractor
On the Wood:
Roundel with Enfield over hollow 1 = Mk I
Point-to-point broad arrows = sold out of service mark
XIX MRC ?
DFH ?
All for now ...
Your Martini Henry carbine was originally Cape Government property - indicated by the KT and deleted C/l\G. According to the U Broad Arrow it was still government property in 1912 when the Colonial Forces were absorbed into the Union Defence Force. The MRC stamped into the butt strongly suggests that it was at some stage issued to one of the Mounted Rifle Clubs which existed in the Cape during the period 1896 - 1910. The fact that it is stamped DP and deactivated is typical of Martini Carbines which ended their careers as cadet rifles. I know - I carried them!
DFH = Diamond Fields Horse (South Africa Skennerton Broad Arrow Pg 128)
XIX=19 which translates to Clackmannan (possibly) this was a search through the British Isles markings and territorial force county associations (Skennerton Broad Arrow Pg 110)
27 could mean Dumfries (Skennerton Broad Arrow Pg 110) or Rack No. ? or just anything....
I then looked at Indian markings and British a fair few times but could not find reference to the MRC ?
Militia Reserve Cavalry (Now that would be to easy I guess)
Receiver marking I.C.1. ? (As above? India ?) anyway gave it a crack got 1
Wow, all of a sudden the Martini has a personality to go with her reputation !!!! Amazing - thank-you all for that most interesting barrage and wealth of knowledge and suggestions......absolutely fascinating.....
MRC?
Military Rifle Club?
---------- Post added at 09:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 PM ----------
As you can see, basically the markings on metal say what it is, and the markings on the wood say where it's been (if you can decipher them).
I haven't got a copy, but I would guess that somewhere in "The Broad Arrow" one can find IC !!!
Come on lads, look harder!
How about this for a fanciful interpretation?
The carbine was made by Enfield.
So the IC does not indicate a maker.
It is in the position where the model/type was usually indicated.
Skennerton refers to Artillery Carbines AC1 etc. and Cavalry carbines CC1 etc.
Could IC1 stand for Infantry Carbine 1 ???
And if you don't agree, can you make a better suggestion?
I.C.1. stands for Interchangeable Carbine Mk.1. As you will note the upper Artillery Carbine Issued to the Cape Yeomanry only differs from the lower Cavalry Carbine of the Cape Mounted Rifles by having a different muzzle ring with provision for a bayonet and two sling swivels. Their roles could thus be easily altered by changing these parts.
Sorry but I beg to differ. What both of you guys have are 577/450 cal, Mk1 Carbines, 1st class. These were issued to both Cavalry or Artillery units. Later when converted to .303 the designation marking were stamped on the LH side of the action and took a different form. The butt roundel also confirms it was Enfield manufactured and a 1st class arm.
Richard - thanks for posting - those are some awesome stamps and marks you have there!
Everyone else - thanks for sharing your knowledge. It's always a great learning experience.
Vern
Richard, you also need a cocking indicator and possibly one or two bits more - the hole through your action isn't meant to be there - see TerryLee's examples for comparison.
Can you open the action, or is the deact such that it is welded shut?
Fortunately parts are available and putting the cocking indicator back shouldn't affect the deactivated status.
As regards stamps on SA rifles, TerryLee is (really!) the world expert.
I agree with Cinders that that DFH = Diamond Fields Horse, and this fits in with the Cape Govt. ownership stamps.
Rob
There is a wealth of information available on Martini Henrys on the Martini Henry Society website and they also have some parts for sale. Just Google Martini Henry Society.