ZULU WARS ERA, 1876 Dated British Martini Henry Mark I Converted to a MK II Rifle .577x .450 Obsolete Centre Fire Calibre Service Rifle by BSA Co & a Pattern 1853/72 Bayonet. Sn 23759 ZULU WARS ERA, 1876 Dated British Martini Henry Mark I Converted to a MK II Rifle .577x .450 Obsolete Centre Fire Calibre Service Rifle by BSA Co & a Pattern 1853/72 Bayonet. Sn 23759 Single Shot Various Rifle

The Martini Henry mark 1 rifle was approved for service on the 17th July 1874. In 1875 the rifle was modified to mark II standard. This is a Zulu Wars Era, original early British service .577x .450 Martini Henry mark I rifle made in 1876 by BSA Co in 1876. Mark I rifles were converted to mark II standard after 1876 and the mark number I was added to the left of the centrally located I (mark I) under the inspection stamp on the breech. This rifle has the early long cocking indicator block and the original mark 2 cleaning rod fitted. The action is stamped on the right side Crown V.R (Victoria Regina) BSA Co 1876 (manufacture date) an inspection stamp II (mark II), with the second I off centre to the left. Most of the parts of the rifle are stamped with Enfield WD inspection stamps including the action trigger, trigger guard, operating lever, butt plate and barrel band. The rifle has a 33 ¼” steel barrel, 49 ½” overall and has a blade fore sight, flip up ladder rear sight, steel butt plate, sling swivels, grooved trigger and bayonet lug. The rifle has a good rifling and the cocking and firing action works crisply. The wood furniture has the normal bumps and bruises to be expected with age and service use. Following service in the Zulu Wars and later, the British Arm adopted the .303 Lee Metford rifle. The Nepalese government were unable to re arm quickly so quantities of surplus British Martini Henry rifles were sent to arm the Gurkhas in 1894 including further batches sent between 1906 and 1909. This rifle is one of those guns. The right hand side of the butt is stamped with the British roundel dated faintly 1876 and class I and II stamps underneath. The butt also carries Nepalese stamps indicating that this rifle was supplied to India and was one of the batchs of Martini Henry rifles transferred. The rifle is neatly stamped to the left hand side of the rear sight NS NEP Native Scouts, Nepal. The rifle is fitted with an original pattern 1953/72 socket bayonet which was converted by bushing the socket to fit the Martini Henry rifle and is stamped on the ricasso E 467 /74 (1874 date) crowfoot over WD. See section D, Martini arms, RB 96 on page 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 rifle has 1 inert round of .577/450 ammunition supplied with it. 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 23759