Martini Henry carbine..or is it?

[Anzac15]

Picked this up this past Sat along with a Martini Enfield ( which I just posted ) Supposedly brought back from Afghanistan, it's pretty solid, so I don't think it's a true 'Khyber Special' in the strictest of terms. The 'ENFIELD 1880' receiver marking is definitely fake, and you can see remnants of the original markings. Possibly a Citadel or Afghan carbine. Rounded receiver edges, and screws fot the leather sight cover. I imagine the counterfeit marking and date was placed there so that it could be sold to an unsuspecting GI as an antique, and therefore buy it and get it home. Welcome any thoughts.

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[Patrick Chadwick]

Don't forget - many, maybe most, rifles in real active service have been dismantled, serviced, and had worn parts replaced at some time. So do not be too quick to condemn it as fake, just because not everything is original.

I think it's a probably a "Bitsa" - original parts mixed with Afghan replacements. But it may be basically original. From my own experience (it took me 4 years to find a 100% original among enough fakes to equip a battalion) these old bangers require a hands-on investigation in dismantled condition to be really sure. And obviously, the more parts that turn out to be original, the better.

The action body does indeed look chunky enough to have been original, before it was "improved". But the cocking indicator looks very poor indeed.

One item that is very difficult to fake well is the trigger. An original trigger has a fineness and a lovely sweep to its curves that I have not yet seen imitated successfully (or, of course, I have been fooled and didn't notice!). The markings on the butt and the front ring also appear to be worthy of a closer look - or better photos!


There was a proper arsenal at Kabul, and the markings on the barrel speak for originality, as a faker would have ground them off and fudged up some imitation British marks.


More and better detail photos please!

[Patrick Chadwick]

P.S. Just looked at your other post on the 303. Compare the parts on the carbine with those on your 303 and you will have a very good idea of what is OK, and what is "iffy".

[Anzac15]

I took it down completely yesterday, and the more I've looked at it, it appears to be a Kabul Arsenal carbine. I'll get some more detailed pics up.

[3Miles2Gburg]

It is/was a Kabul Arsenal Type 4 with the Mosque on the right side of the receiver produced between 1897 and 1908. If you can get a good serial number from somewhere on it (fore arm barrel channel, butt stock under the buttplate, rear sight bed, or if they left it visible in one of the other locations), I can narrow down a specific year for you.

Good news is it is not a khyber, and the Kabul Arsenal Martinis are considered shootable with all the usual caveats about old guns/gunsmiths etc.

The roundel is one of the clearest I've seen on these.

Vern