.303 Martini rifles with M-1895 Colt

[butlersrangers]

I ran across this unidentified picture from the Boer War couple of days ago. It was assumed the Troops are Australian, but, I suppose they could be New Zealand soldiers. I do not know the provenance of the photo.
It is pretty neat seeing the Martini-Metford or Martini-Enfield rifles and 'pattern 1888' bayonets alongside a Colt 'potato digger'. (The men are wearing spurs. I imagine they are mounted Infantry, since they have rifles rather than carbines).
IIRC - I have seen a picture of New Zealand Artillerymen during the Boer War, but, they were armed with .303 Martini Artillery Carbines.


Attachment 54793

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[Von Gruff]

I don't think they arte NZ troops. A few pics in this link show differences. Great photo all the same.

Boer War Rifles | All About Enfields

[butlersrangers]

Von Gruff: You appear correct. New Zealand troops, prior to being upgraded to Lee-Enfields & Lee-Metfords appear to have been armed with Martini-Enfield Carbines.
There seem to be a number of pictures of Australian troops with Martini-Enfield Rifles in South Africa. (Attached picture of Australian Bushman, circa 1900).

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[Brit plumber]

Interesting about the potato digger because that's the first photo of one in use by either British or commonwealth troops. I've been looking as I've recently bought a potato digger tripod (In the UK) and I believe it is Ex British Army or Home Guard (The seller acquired it from a deceased gent's house clearance and the family knew the tripod had been around for as long as any of them can remember). The only information I could find is that the British bought some in the early 1900s in .303 and then acquired more in .30 for the Home guard in WW2.

What I do know is that the tripod is the lower variation with the elbow rest and it is for the Colt M1895 and not the later Marlin model.

[DocAV]

The Various Australian Colonial Units (1899-1900) and the Commonwealth Units (1901-02)
did have Colt M1895 MGs, and used them in both S.A. and later in training for WW I (at home).They also retained them into the 1930s for Training (Photos of Light Horse in 1930s uniforms with a Colt Potato Digger.)

Previous to the Boer War (1890s) the QMI had Nordenfeld 4 barrel in .450 ( and also a Gatling in .45 Gardner-Gatling Cartridge ( Used in the Shearers Strike of 1891.

None were taken to Gallipoli or France ( spare parts etc) and they were all Mk II cartridge (Later Mark VI).

BTW, I also have a ME ACII NZ99 Carbine; it is NOT DP (previous Post).

Doc AV

[Frederick303]

Some years ago I bought a Martini-Enfield rifle with NZ99 markings on it. it was a rifle not a carbine. It has been fitted for use with the M1888 bayonet, rather crudely if I recall . Anyway it loos rather like the rifles shown in the picture. It was bought from Robbie Tiffin He went by the logo (NZ armorer) in Christchurch if my memory serves me correctly.

I also seem to recall the ie had Home guard markings, so it might have had the bayonet rifle band fitted to take the M1888 bayonet at that time. I have no idea. Certainly it does not appear in the form it was sent to me in any reference book of Bore war NZ arms.