Original Item: Only One Available. Here we have a very interesting British Martini-Henry MkIV rifle made by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock in 1886. This was not part of the Nepal purchase, and has no Negari or other Nepalese markings. This is a genuine War Department marked military issue Mark IV Martini-Henry, though for some reason it has been smoothbored to about .480, which is 42 bore / gauge. We do not know if this was intended to fire slugs or to fire shot, but it may be one of many "Prison Service" style shotguns put into use. We have also heard that these may have been used by regimental pioneers, and used buck shot cartridges.

We have not really been able to find much about the history of this example, though it does not have any "opposed broad arrows" sold out of service markings, so it may have been some type of experimental piece. However, this is the second example we have seen, with the other being a MkII converted to 40 bore, so it looks like these were some type of officially issued gun.

The right side of the receiver is marked:

The "I.V" mark of arm is off center, as is correct since almost all MkIV Martini-Henry rifles began live as MkI Enfield-Martini rifles in .402, which were then later converted to .577/.450 Martini-Henry. The barrel nocks form bears original proof marks, which look to be fairly standard for Martini-Henry rifles. There is however serial number B 1547 hand stamped on the left side of the barrel nocks form, which matches the number on the lower left receiver. We did not attempt to remove stock to see if there are any proofs under the barrel that may shed light on the conversion. There is a marking disc on the rear right butt stock, which is marked D P for "drill purpose", but also has what look to be possibly Arabic or Indian markings.

This example is in very nice condition, as the pictures show. The action cycles and dry fires, with the cartridge extractor / ejector presenting, though we have not tested it on real brass. The bore is quite clean, and does not show much use since being smoothbored. The original rear sight was partly removed and ground down, turning it into a simple notched rear sight. The stock is a lovely color, showing usual wear from use, and still retains both sling swivels, as well as the cleaning rod. We did notice that the 4 inches of the fore stock closest to the muzzle have been replaced entirely, and that in addition to the plugged hole in the butt stock for a shorter lever, there is also a wood graft repair around the lever cup.

The original sling is in very good condition, and looks to have a 1937 date stamped on it over C (Broad Arrow) 17, a British Proof Mark. The sling definitely looks to be correct for a Martini-Henry, and is definitely too side for an SMLE rifle, so we can only assume that some slings for these long obsolete guns were still being made during the first half of the 20th century. Definitely a great avenue for future research!

A very interesting smoothbored MkIV "Long Lever" Martini-Henry, ready to research and display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1886
Caliber: .480 - 42 Bore
Barrel Length: 33 inches
Overall Length: 48 3/4 Inches
Action type: Lever Action Falling Block
Feed System: Single Shot

Below copy is courtesy of martinihenry.org-

With the decision to make general issue of the Martini Henry MKII & MkIII to the militia and Volunteers in January 1885 and the impending new .303" caliber and the suspension and ultimate cancellation of the .402" bore Enfield Martini in June 1887, it was decided as a short term measure to convert those 65000 .402" Enfield Martinis already made into a useable .577/450" arm. The new rifle was to be designated the Martini Henry MkIV at a cost to convert those arms was expected to be 6s 6d per piece.

The success of enhanced extraction of the longer lever of the Enfield-Martini Pattern B rifle was readily adopted for all MkIV patterns, those existing Enfield-Martini A pattern walnut stocks required the brass stock cup re-siting to correspond with the long levers' tip. The process required a fresh recess hole to be drilled and the cup re-set. A purpose made wooden plug was glued into the hole completing the process. As the stocks were all removed there is no consistency as which stock was fitted to A or B pattern, so they will be found on any pattern. Wherever possible the old components were re-used, and the "E-M" designation originally marked on many of the parts betrays today its original pedigree often scored through thus: E-M. The A pattern trigger assembly, designed to accept the E-M"s safety was reamed to remove the original configuration, whilst Receivers and butt stocks of the old pattern had an extra Roman numeral "V" stamped alongside the original "I", whilst newly made but un-used components have a distinctive "IV" classification. A new pattern clearing rod, designed to spring into place and to be suitable with use of the new steel jag was installed and the nosecap was redesigned, however it was decided to retain to old pattern Barleycorn on Block foresight on the pattern "A".

Martini Henry MkIV pattern B & C

The Enfields' records throw into confusion as to what happened to the 49,902 Pattern B .402" arms manufactured, these rifles required less conversion, the obvious re-bore to .577/450 calibre, and apart from sighting alteration and re-tooling of the extractor it was a far easier task to convert. These existing Pattern B rifles after barrel conversion to the new .577/450 were designated as the Martini Henry MkIV Pattern "C", or "conversions", whilst those rifles made as new pieces, from new components which were rifled to .577/.450" were known as Martini Henry Pattern "B",

The author begs to be controversial and also doubts conventional thinking on the issue, In my collection I have a Martini Henry pattern B, with a "B" designation to the serial number, several B markings on the knocks form, and B on the receiver, I have inspected 15 other examples and found the same, all proof marks are single line, not a twin line of proofs clearly, a discrepancy, or maybe proof indeed of the original nomenclature, however to confuse matters, the official List of change No 5603, announcing the issue of the MH MkIV clearly states the knocks form of pattern A & B are 1/8th inch shorter than the pattern C, which ever, the new sealed patterns were offered for adoption and accepted on the same date 15th Sept 1887.

In 1895 BSA & M Co was contracted to refurbish 5000 Martini Henry MkIV, it is to be noted these rifles carry the BSA & M Co logo, however these rifles have Enfield made barrels, and therefore are not BSA original pieces.

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