Martini Henry British, Martini Henry MK II, 1888 Dated, Rifle .577x .450 Obsolete Centre Fire Calibre Service Rifle by B,S.A & M Co & P1876 Pattern Bayonet. Sn - 22335 Single Shot .45 Rifle

The Martini Henry mark 1 rifle was approved for service on the 17th July 1874. This is a Martini Henry mark 2 rifle. The action is stamped on the right side Crown VR (Victoria Regina) B,S.A & M Co (Birmingham Small Arms & Metal Company) 1888 (manufacture date) II (Mark II). The rifle carries many military inspection and proof stamps including the action trigger, trigger guard, operating lever, butt plate and barrel bands. The top of the receiver is stamped S-X for the strengthened extractor fitted to aid extraction of the cartridge case. The wood furniture has minor bumps and bruises to be expected with age and service use. The rifle measures 49 ½” and the 33 ¼” steel barrel's bore is clean with crisp rifling. The metal work has many WD ordnance inspection marks (illustrated). The action works crisply and fittings retain much of its original blued finish. After British service when the British Arm adopted the .303 Lee Metford rifle, surplus Martini Henry rifles were supplied to the Gurkhas who themselves were unable to re arm quickly. Quantities of surplus British Martini Henry rifles were sent to them from 1894 including further batches sent between 1906 and 1909. The rifle is neatly stamped to the left hand side of the rear sight NS NEP Native Scouts, Nepal. The butt is stamped with a roundel BIRMINGHAM over a crowfoot WD roundel over stamped with a Fort William, Calcutta Roundel . The rifle comes complete with its as found 1876 Pattern Martini Henry rifle socket bayonet and scabbard. The bayonet is marked on the ricasso with a crowfoot over WD and various other stampings including . See section D, Martini arms, RB 93 - 96 on page 18 and 19 of the Catalogue of the Enfield Pattern Room, British Rifles, published by Her Majesty’s Stationary Office and chapters 2 to 4 together with the plate on page 49 in The Martini-Henry for Queen and Empire by Neil Aspinshaw and Guns of the Gurkhas, (The lost arsenal: pistols, rifles and machine guns of the Royal Nepalese Army, 1816 – 1945) by John Walter . The price includes UK delivery. NB As an antique obsolete calibre rifle and no licence is required to own this rifle in the UK if retained as a part of a collection or display. Sn 22335