1887 MkIV Martini Henry.

[Anzac15]

Just picked up this 1887 Enfield MkIV MH...really good condition. I have a question regarding the knoxform..it is the short version. Is this not a rifle that was intended for the ( I believe ) the Enfield Martini .402? Good tight action, Nepalese markings, but no 'NS NEP' marking on barrel as I've seen on most from the Nepalese cache.

Information

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[Terrylee]

Your rifle with the short knoxform is the so-called "A Pattern", a conversion of the Enfield Martini to accept the standard .450 Martini Henry cartridge.

[Terrylee]

A, B & C Knoxforms

Attachment 64494

[Anzac15]

Great group pic there. Mine also has a standard block front sight instead of the ramp sight.

[Flying10uk]

If you look on the underside of the stock there should also be a small wooden bung filling the counter-bore for the heel of the original shorter cocking handle if it is conversion, assuming of course the stock is original to the gun. I believe that the majority of mk4s produced are conversions.

[Anzac15]

Yep, it's there.

[jamie5070]

Is it possible that the barrel is from an earlier MK IV? The "IV" is centered on the receiver. I have a "B" pattern that had the "V" added after conversion. My stock does not have a plug in it and does not have the N.E.S. N.E.P. stamp on it that my older MKII does.
john

[Terrylee]

The markings on my A are exactly the same as the original example. Herewith the markings of an A, B & C in sequence. I also have another B with markings similar to the one shown.

[3Miles2Gburg]

The Enfield-Martini, manufactured in two patterns in the .402 caliber in the 1880's, were converted to the Martini-Henry Mark IV (.577-450 caliber) Pattern A & B. The M-H Mark IV Type A and B as we refer to them today came about as conversions of the E-M Pattern I and II.

Pattern C M-H Mark IV's are new made.

E-M Pattern I was a short lever; Pattern II already had a long lever (so no relocated lever cup on original stocks).

The E-M in .402 was a new type rifle to the British War Department, therefore it received a designation of E-M Mark I. During manufacturing, the buttstocks and receivers received the "I" mark. Upon conversion to the M-H Mark IV, the "V" was placed beside the previously existing and centered "I." The M-H Mark IV Pattern C was new made-this is where the reference "centered" and "off-center" comes from as a possible discriminator for identification.