303 Martini Enfield restoration

[Von Gruff]

Giday Guys, first post here. I had my first Martini cadet in 22 Hornet back in 1980 -81 but was offered enough that it slipped away. Just a few weeks ago I bought a Martini Enfield on a local auction sight, an 1879 Mklll that was converted in 1896. I thought it might be a simple restoration but when it arrived it had a 30-30 barrel, a cut down fore stock, missing nosecap, stock disc and butt plate. To top it off the butt had been cut about a 1/2 in short.
This is the rifle as it arrived

I have managed to get most of the missing parts except for the nose cap, and as the barrel had to be replaced I used a new no 4 Lee Enfield barrel that I was given. It is not going to be an original rifle so I had the barrel cut to artillery carbine length as the action has NZ issue marks and might have seen service during the second Boer campaign.
A full re-stock is in order and have bought a dark plain blank to work with.

Information

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[WarPig1976]

Looking forward to following your progress. Nice slab O wood you have there.

[Von Gruff]

Have made a little progress. It is always a little un-nerving to cut into the blank.


Drilling the draw bolt hole is another anxious time


Can relax a bit now.


Socket fitted

[PRWM1]

Am ambitious project. I used to think it would be fun to do a project like that but my abilities with even an semi-inleted stock falls short.

That's a grand piece of wood - will be nice when you get it finished.

What caliber?

I bought a cadet three years ago that had been rechambered to 32-20. I find that there's almost no selection of bullets. Right now I'm shortening 32-20 brass and loading Winchester 32 special bullets - really low velocity for plinking. I know the cadet can do better than than in a different chambering.

A friend relocated from Canada got me interested in the Martini years ago so when I saw this one I was compelled to make the purchase.

Looking forward to your posts.

Phil

[Von Gruff]

Thanks Phil. This is the Martini Enfield in 303. My initial post was an introductory post and the mods re-posted it here with the Martini Cadet 22 header and I cant change it to reflect what the post is about.
I have made a little progress but have been held up by not being able to source the correct nosecap. I have found out that the Lee Enfield (pre SMLE) Long Tom has the same nosecap so that widens the search perameters a little.
The butt stock has been finished after the correct screws and latch cup arrived from England and after I made a stock disc. Have just used Tung oil and left a flat finish to be close to authentic

Have cast up just over 2500 x212gn bullets and made a suitable cartridge pouch for them.



I have a couple of leads on a correct nosecap so should be able to complete the project some time in Jan

[Von Gruff]

This is what I intend the rifle to be when it is finished. It has NZ issue marks for 1898 and is a 1879 MKlll 577-450 converted at in 1896 to 303.




Mofre information here
Martini Enfield Artillery Carbine | All About Enfields

[Von Gruff]

I managed to find a nosecap and have been able to get the forestock shaped up. I wanted a easier sighting system for my blurry eyes and having aperture sights on anther couple of rifles, I knew how good they can be. The problem is-was that I simply could not afford the likes of the Mues or Parkerhale even if I could find one for sale so I made up something similar to the Lyman mod 21 sight, and it has worked a treat. Waiting on a reply from a chemical supply company to see if they will sell the required acids so I can rust blue it and a couple of other small parts and it will be getting on toward being finished.

[WarPig1976]

Nice woodworking skills you have sir...

[Von Gruff]

Just some blueing to do now on the nosecap and the aperture sight

[Barryeye]

What a great job you have done. There is a diorama of a mounted Boer War New Zealand soldier in our national army museum at Waiouru . As a Martini fan I noticed that he was armed with an artillery carbine and not the cavalry carbine. I was then lucky enough to meet one of the museums armourers and tactfully pointed out the error. I was politely informed that the 6,500 mounted troops (they only sent mounted) that were sent to Africa were issued with artillery carbines and not cavalry carbines.
So it would appear that your nose cap is correct for a New Zealand issue carbine of that conflict.