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  1. #1
    Legacy Member AndyBBB3's Avatar
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    MKIII receiver question

    New member and first post here.
    I've wanted a Martini Henry for a while and came across a cheap one that had all the finish removed and the stock refinished. Cosmetically it's poor, but I wanted it to shoot and the action is tight and everything seems to function. It needs a serious cleaning.

    I was attempting to research some of the markings on everything, and noticed that my receiver is unlike any other MKIII receiver I have found. It is missing the thumb rest and has the rear concave shape as the MKIV receivers. The three III mark on the receiver also has the first and last I slightly offset from the central I.

    Is it possible this was made as a very late MKIII version using one of the Enfield-Martini 402 rifles? The date is 1887.

    I wasn't able to figure out how to add a photo, I think because this is my first post.

    Thanks,

    Andy B.
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  3. #2
    Advisory Panel Patrick Chadwick's Avatar
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    "The three III mark on the receiver also has the first and last I slightly offset from the central I."

    This is usually a sign of a re-used/converted receiver.

    "Is it possible this was made as a very late MKIII version using one of the Enfield-Martini 402 rifles? The date is 1887."

    Could be, therefore...

    Quote Originally Posted by AndyBBB3 View Post
    I wasn't able to figure out how to add a photo,
    ... make adding a photo your top priority, and then we can see what you've got.

    And now the good news: Don't worry about the appearance. Martin-Henrys are very, very tough. They can look like a disaster externally, and still shoot just fine. I once worked out the force required to stretch the receiver box by 1% (somewhere near the elastic limit), assuming the steel was normal industrial quality, no fancy alloying.

    The answer was over 50 tons.*** I.e. you could hang a tank onto the back end. The cross-section of that box beats any bolt-action rifle, regardless of how many lugs it has.

    OK, maybe that statement was a wee bit over the top. But seriously, M-Hs are tough!

    *** Don't trust my maths, work it out yourself!
    Last edited by Patrick Chadwick; 02-29-2020 at 02:00 PM.

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    Legacy Member AndyBBB3's Avatar
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    Thread Starter
    OK. I think I figured out how to add a photo. My "smartphone" does not appear to be smart enough to do it, so I had to find a real computer. LOL

    Attachment 105811

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    Legacy Member pisco's Avatar
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    i wished my martini henry looked that good mine is all pitted but has a mint bore

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    Legacy Member ActionYobbo's Avatar
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    Looks like the finish was removed by sanding or an abrasive pad similar to rifles that were sourced from the sandbox.
    1ATSR 177AD & 4/3 RNSWR

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    Legacy Member AndyBBB3's Avatar
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    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by Mr E View Post
    Looks like the finish was removed by sanding or an abrasive pad similar to rifles that were sourced from the sandbox.
    That's exactly why I was wondering how this receiver started life. LOL

  10. #7
    Legacy Member Terrylee's Avatar
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    The Martini Henrys Mk IV A, B & C Patterns with their markings.

    Attachment 106003Attachment 106004

  11. #8
    Deceased August 31st, 2020 englishman_ca's Avatar
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    Which do you want first, the good news or the bad news?

  12. #9
    vykkagur
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    Quote Originally Posted by englishman_ca View Post
    Which do you want first, the good news or the bad news?
    Well, if no one else is going to bite, I will: What's the good/bad news? The curiosity's killing me!

  13. #10
    Deceased August 31st, 2020 englishman_ca's Avatar
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    The bad news is that the 'Mk.III receiver' has totally bogus markings. All of those markings are faked.
    It is a Khyber special sold as a souvenir to some GI Joe. The thing is actually a Mk.IV.

    Good news is that it is probably a genuine Britishicon made unit that has been remarked for sale in the Casbah. It might even be in working condition.

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