Making Martini Henrys in 1879.

Posts : 2881 Join date : 2010-06-02

The confidential reports from the RSAF at Enfield, now at the National Archives, contain some fascinating insights into the manufacture of Martini Henrys at Enfield. This short paragraph notes that they could make 2000 rifles per week at full capacity, but that work conditions in the forges were horrendous.
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Steve

Posts : 552 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

The high water mark was actually January 1873 when 2224 Martini's were made at Enfield. By 1879 the quantities had dropped off substantially, leading to contracts at the BSA and LSA companies being cancelled by E P Napean. It picked up by 1885 when an average of 259 rifles were being produced every working day.

Posts : 2881 Join date : 2010-06-02

Hi Neil

The numbers are astounding aren't they. How's the book coming along?

Steve

Posts : 8 Join date : 2019-03-15

Do the confidential reports of the RSAF Enfield now held at the National Archives contain production numbers for the Martini-Henry MK I Carbine for 1877-1879?

Did BSA and LSA companies produce any MK I carbines 1877-1879?

Posts : 552 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

Most of the reports from Enfield are actually at Leeds Royal Armouries library; the contents of the original pattern room went there after Enfield closed and a short stay at Royal Ordnance Nottingham.

Up until August 1878 production of the IC1 C.C. was 25,000.

No carbines are recorded from the BSA and LSA companies (before 1890). however 150 are actually recorded to have been made by the National Arms and Ammunition company, in 1877, after their entry into the government contracts.. but I've never recorded one and these must rate as being highly desirable.

Between 1892 & 1894 the Henry Rifled Barrel & Engineering Company produced some 30,000 IC1 Cavalry carbines under full government view for the Indian forces and some 2000 Artillery carbines for the NSW government in Australia.

The BSA company records show they made MH Carbines in 1895 however their type and quantity is un recorded.

Posts : 8 Join date : 2019-03-15

Are there any records of how the 25,000+ IC1 C.C. manufactured in 1878 were purchased or distributed?

You'll see my other post that Natal purchased 50 sometime in 1878-1879 according to Major Dartnell commanding all the Volunteers and Lt. William Stafford of the 1/1st NNC Company D states that he had one at Isandlwanda.

I am wondering if some of these 25,000+ Martini-Henry Carbines made their way to Natal or the Cape before the initial invasion into Zululand.

So far my initial tabulation shows that most units had the Swinburn(e)-Henry Carbine or Martini-Henry RIFLE. But Raff's Transvaal Rangers, Baker's Horse, Bennington's Horse arms are ambigious in the various histories. Frontier Light Horse is likely Martini-Henry Rifle per a quote from George Mossop at Kambula.

I am in the US so don't have easy access to SA & Natal records.