Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. The famous Martini Henry Martini Rifle was adopted in 1871 by Great Britain and production started in 1872. It was then in the very well known .450/.577 Martini-Henry Caliber used in the ZULU WARS, SUDAN, INDIA and throughout the Empire. Firearms technology moved forward, and in 1888 Great Britain adopted the Lee Metford magazine Rifle in .303 caliber. This was then followed in 1895 with the Lee Enfield Bolt action magazine Rifle, which was designed to use the new smokeless powder version of the .303 British cartridge, which the Lee-Metford rifling was unable to withstand.
Additionally, in 1895 British forces adopted the P-1895 MARTINI-ENFIELD RIFLE in .303 caliber, mainly by converting Martini Henry .450/.577 caliber Rifles to .303 caliber using a completely NEW barrel and fore end. These were intended for Colonial troops and were of course single shot. The lessons learned from the 1857/1859 Sepoy Rebellion, also known as the INDIAN MUTINY, seriously shook British Military confidence in its Colonial troops, so they were generally not provided with the most modern weaponry. This confidence was not rebuilt until after World War One, when colonial troops were once again armed with the standard British infantry weapons.
This particular rifle was made or converted by WILLIAM FORD of BIRMINGHAM, and has his stamp on each side of the wooden butt stock. The rifle bears no Military Markings on the receiver sides, although totally conforming to the P-1895 Pattern. It does have a small CROWN / BV marking on the top right of the receiver, which is the Birmingham inspector's viewing mark. Most probably privately ordered and purchased by a serving Officer going to South Africa or India at the end of the Queen Victoria era. The wood work is quite nice, with the expected wear from service and age. The trigger guard sling swivel is missing, but could easily be replaced. The bore shows clear rifling, with slight wear, and the action cycles properly, though it may require adjustment, as the lever must be held down to get the breech block to fall all the way.
In splendid condition ready to display!
Specifications-
Year of Manufacture: c.1880 - converted later
Caliber: .303 British
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Overall Length: 30 Inches
Overall Length: 46 Inches
Action type: Falling-Block
Feed System: Single Shot
- This product is not available for shipping in US state(s): New Jersey
This product is not available for international shipping.
IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States.
These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers". Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.
Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required.
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