Untouched Martini Henry Mk2 from a Chelsea Wardrobe

Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

Every now and again some real gems appear that can literally be called "Sleepers", Last Saturday I aqquired one of the best Mk2 Rifles I have seen in many a long time.

A chance 'phone call enquring if I bought Martini's?, doh!, me thinks another dip into my bank account, and my was it worth it?. I was sent photo's, ..it looked good, but in reality it proved to be a hidden gem, residing for 40 years in a wardrobe, the firing pin filed off for safety (a thirty second job to change).

An here she is, a very early pre-production Mk2, 1876 from Enfield, it carries exactly what I expected to see, a 6.1882 issue stamp. Weedon stores were brimful in 1878, indeed production ground to a halt as over 500,000 peices were in store at that time.

So, if you want to know what a "straight from the factory" Martini looks like
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Whilst the price I paid was a bit higher than I would normally go, this was worth the effort.

Subject: untouched M.H. Fri Jun 25, 2010 9:16 am

hi Neil.
Well done , and thanks for sharing it with the photos , It looks to be in fantastic condition.
cheers 90th.

Neil. Any History with the M.H (ie) Previous owners.

Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

Not at the moment, the stock is marked E.C.C, which does point the finger as a Cadet Corps, however, Eton cadets used E.T.N, so my reseach will expand to Area codes. Eastern countes Cadets.

As it begins with R.39, I do suspect this is a reserve rifle, 90.. could be 1890.but the bible for these marks Skennerton "Broad Arrow" has no similar codes.

The rifle number is 42, a) because it is marked, b) because even the rod is numbered 42!, that, I have never seen before!.

Posts : 1093 Join date : 2009-01-14 Location : East London

Quote :: residing for 40 years in a wardrobe

Neil. What could one expect to pay for a rifle in this condition? And was the firing pin the only problem with it, or is there other renovation to be done. I gather the owner didn't realise what He/ She had stuck in the wardrobe for that long.

» THE MARTINI-HENRY RIFLE. Special interest attached at the present moment to a blue book on the Martini-Henry rifle and ammunition
» The Martini Henry rifle was adopted by the British army in 1871
» Just how effective was The M.H.