Item:
ONSV21DAG55

Original Indian Contract British Martini-Henry I.C.1. Carbine by H.R.B. Co. converted to .303 Martini-Enfield Rifle - dated 1894

Item Description

Original Item: One-of-a-kind. Well, this is an oddity, a carbine later converted to a rifle, instead of vice versa! In 1892, Henry Rifled Barrel Co was awarded the contract for 30,000 Martini-Henry I.C.1 Cavalry carbines from the Indian Government. These examples were manufactured over a two-year period under full Governmental Viewing in the now mostly obsolete .577/.450 chambering. They can be found dated 1893 & 1894 with an H.R.B_Co marked receiver. For further reference please see martinihenry.org or pages 398-399 of Ian Skennerton's A TREATISE ON THE BRITISH MILITARY MARTINI, 1880-1920.

This very interesting example has the exactly correct receiver markings for one of these carbines:

(CROWN)
V.R.
H.R.B_Co.
1894
(Viewed Mark)
I.C.1.

However, the rest of the carbine is not quite as expected, as this particular carbine offered here was converted to a Martini-Enfield, using a 30 inch long RIFLE barrel, front stock, and associated fittings. The rear sling swivel on the trigger guard was removed, and a new one attached to the butt stock.

This had come out of our acquisition from the Royal Armory of Nepal, so perhaps the Nepalese later fit it with a longer barrel as a replacement after conversion, or maybe it started life as what we see here, we just don't know how it came to be which means its very possibly one-of-a-kind.

A wonderful piece of British and Firearms history! Ready to display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1894 - converted later
Caliber:  .303 British
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Overall Length: 30 Inches

Overall Length: 46 1/4 Inches
Action type: Falling-Block
Feed System: Single Shot

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