{"product_id":"original-british-martini-henry-mk-ii-short-lever-rifle-by-enfield-dated-1872-converted-from-mk-i-configuration-with-nepalese-service-markings","title":"Original British Martini-Henry Mk II Short Lever Rifle by Enfield, Dated 1872, Converted from Mk I Configuration with Nepalese Service Markings","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a particularly interesting early British Martini-Henry rifle manufactured at Enfield in \u003cstrong\u003e1872\u003c\/strong\u003e, originally produced in Mark I configuration and subsequently upgraded to the \u003cstrong\u003eMark II\u003c\/strong\u003e standard during British service. It retains the desirable early short lever, 33\" barrel, large early cocking indicator, extensive British inspection markings, Nepalese service marks, and an excellent polygonally rifled bore. The rifle came directly from our historic 2003 discovery of arms stored in the old Royal Arsenal of Nepal, giving it a remarkable service history spanning both the British Empire and Nepal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Martini-Henry is among the most recognizable British military rifles of the Victorian period. Adopted in the early 1870s, it combined Friedrich von Martini's falling block action with Alexander Henry's distinctive rifling system and chambered the powerful .577\/450 Martini-Henry cartridge. Unlike the earlier Snider-Enfield, which converted existing muzzleloading rifles to breechloading operation, the Martini-Henry was designed from the outset as a purpose-built breechloading service rifle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe type became inseparably associated with Britain's colonial campaigns, particularly the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. Martini-Henry rifles were used at both Isandlwana and the famous defense of Rorke's Drift on January 22-23, 1879, where a small British and colonial garrison successfully held the mission station against a much larger Zulu force. The defense resulted in eleven Victoria Crosses being awarded to men involved in the action and helped make the Martini-Henry one of the iconic firearms of the Victorian military era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis rifle is an especially desirable early example because its action body was manufactured at Enfield in \u003cstrong\u003e1872\u003c\/strong\u003e, during Mark I production, and was later upgraded to Mark II configuration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe right side of the receiver is marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(CROWN)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eV.R.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eENFIELD\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1872\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(Crowned Broad Arrow)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eII.   \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe crowned \u003cstrong\u003eV.R.\u003c\/strong\u003e is the royal cypher of Queen Victoria, \u003cem\u003eVictoria Regina\u003c\/em\u003e. \u003cstrong\u003eENFIELD\u003c\/strong\u003e identifies manufacture at the Royal Small Arms Factory, and \u003cstrong\u003e1872\u003c\/strong\u003e is the original date of manufacture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eII\u003c\/strong\u003e below the acceptance marking identifies the rifle in its final Mark II configuration. Particularly significant is the position of this mark. The second Roman numeral appears offset rather than forming a perfectly centered original \u003cstrong\u003eII\u003c\/strong\u003e, a feature encountered on early Mark I rifles subsequently upgraded to Mark II standard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdditional physical evidence confirms the conversion. Early Mark I rifles were originally fitted with a mechanical safety on the right side of the action. On this rifle the holes associated with that system have been plugged, and the corresponding slot beside the right side of the trigger guard remains visible. These surviving alterations provide strong evidence that the action began life as an early Mark I before being brought up to later service specifications.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rifle retains the early \u003cstrong\u003eshort operating lever\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003e33\"\u003c\/strong\u003e barrel. This is the classic configuration associated with the Martini-Henry rifles of the 1870s, well before the adoption of the much longer operating lever on the later Mark IV.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBritish military inspection and proof marks are present throughout the metal components, as expected on a service rifle produced and accepted through the Enfield system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rifle later entered Nepalese service. On the left side of the barrel beneath the rear sight is the marking:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eN . S\u003cbr\u003eN E P\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis marking is associated with arms transferred for service in Nepal, generally interpreted as indicating \u003cem\u003eNative State Nepal\u003c\/em\u003e. Additional markings in Devanagari script appear on the right side of the receiver and on the butt stock, reflecting subsequent Nepalese inventory or unit use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis rifle came directly from the remarkable cache of historic arms acquired by IMA from Nepal in \u003cstrong\u003e2003\u003c\/strong\u003e. Many of these rifles had remained in long term arsenal storage for generations, which accounts for the characteristic combination of original military components, Nepalese repairs and substitutions, surface oxidation, and remarkably preserved internal parts seen on many examples.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe metalwork on this rifle shows a pleasing service aged surface with the original finish largely worn into a peppery gray and brown oxidized patina. There is scattered past oxidation throughout, together with more noticeable erosion along the wood line of the fore stock, typical of arms that spent many decades in Nepalese arsenal storage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stocks have developed an attractive dark red brown color. The fore stock appears to have been replaced during arsenal service, most likely while the rifle was in Nepal. It is unusually clean compared with the balance of the rifle and is almost entirely devoid of markings and heavy service wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe butt stock retains significantly more historical marking. A faint original British stock roundel remains visible and includes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eR (Crown) M\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(Broad Arrow)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWD\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eENFIELD\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Enfield and War Department markings identify the stock as British military property, while the numeral \u003cstrong\u003e1\u003c\/strong\u003e denotes a First Class arm classification.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe butt stock also shows an additional inlet farther to the rear consistent with accommodation for the longer lever arrangement used on later Martini rifles, including the Mark IV. This suggests that the stock itself may have been reused or altered during a later arsenal rebuild. Such component substitutions are commonly encountered on rifles that remained in extended Indian or Nepalese service, and the stock should not necessarily be assumed to be original to the 1872 action.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth sling swivels remain present and move freely. The cleaning rod is also intact and retains its threaded end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rear sight is complete and mechanically functional. The ladder moves correctly, although the slider presently does not grip the ladder securely and will require adjustment if the sight is to hold a selected elevation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Martini action cycles smoothly during manual inspection. When the lever is lowered, the extractor presents correctly at the chamber, although we have not tested the rifle with a fired or empty cartridge case and therefore cannot confirm actual extraction or ejection under ammunition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rifle dry fires correctly, and the large early style cocking indicator moves appropriately with operation of the action. We have not disassembled the action to verify the present condition of the striker.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bore is in \u003cstrong\u003every good condition\u003c\/strong\u003e. The distinctive Henry pattern polygonal rifling remains strong, with only light evidence of old fouling in the grooves and no major interior oxidation or other significant damage observed. Henry rifling looks quite different from conventional sharply cut lands and grooves, using a polygonal bore form that was intended in part to reduce fouling and facilitate cleaning when firing black powder ammunition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its early \u003cstrong\u003e1872 Enfield\u003c\/strong\u003e action, clear evidence of conversion from Mark I to Mark II configuration, short operating lever, surviving early cocking indicator, Nepalese transfer and Devanagari markings, British First Class stock roundel, complete cleaning rod, and very good bore, this rifle has an unusually layered service history. It is an excellent example for a collection focused on early Martini-Henry development, Victorian British military arms, Anglo-Zulu War era weaponry, or the fascinating British and Nepalese service history represented by the Nepal cache.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1885\u003cbr\u003eMaker: R.S.A.F. Enfield\u003cbr\u003eModel: P-1871 Martini-Henry MkII Rifle\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaliber: .577\/450 Martini-Henry\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAmmunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBarrel Length: 33.22 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall Length: 49 Inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAction type: Lever Action Falling Block\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeed System: Single Shot\u003cbr\u003eFederal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOTE:\u003c\/strong\u003e International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46088597700677,"sku":"ONAC26B097","price":1495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/D3073B07-67C0-4C7C-A6C9-914EDF71C9C7.jpg?v=1792609424","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-british-martini-henry-mk-ii-short-lever-rifle-by-enfield-dated-1872-converted-from-mk-i-configuration-with-nepalese-service-markings","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}