Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. Well this Rifle has certainly been around. It started life in 1872, the very first year of production of the Martini Henry Mark I series when only 1,400 were produced. After 1876 it was updated to the Mark II configuration and saw service perhaps throughout the Empire even maybe in British South Africa during the Zulu Wars in the original .450/577 caliber.
The right side of the receiver is marked with Crown over V.R. over Enfield over 1872 under which is over the offset II indicating it was upgraded from the Mark I pattern to the Mark II Pattern.
In 1900 it was taken out of service and re-barreled to .303 caliber with a new lighter fore end fitted, this new fore end came with no provision for a ramrod. The receiver was then marked on the left side Crown over V.R. over B.E.Co. (Government contractor who made the conversion). It was then stamped M.E. .303 over II indicating that the Rifle was now a Martini-Enfield in .303 caliber.
Interestingly there is an E stamped over the chamber of the barrel together with some Arabic lettering indicating that this was one of the .303 cal. Rifles that saw service in Egypt.
The weapon is in a matured used good condition showing plenty of issue wear but it appears complete and is a very collectable example of a rare conversion of an early service rifle.
The Rifle comes complete with an original P-1876 long Socket Bayonet also converted from .450 cal to .303 cal known as the P-76/95 model. The bayonet shows faded British Acceptance markings and Egyptian numerals confirming service in Egypt as well.
Just to complete the offering we have the bayonet's original brass mounted leather scabbard which bears no markings of any kind, the leather it somewhat deteriorated and the stitching slightly deficient but is ideal for display.
This is a truly rare British Service Martini that lasted the entire course of the Martini's tenure of service, well marked and with a great Empire pedigree. Pre 1898 (1872) so considered an Antique by Federal Law.
- This product is 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 posses, 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 and most nations around the world.
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, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe.
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