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ZULU WARS ERA, 1876 Dated British Martini Henry MK I Converted To MK II Rifle .577x .450 Obsolete Centre Fire Calibre Service Rifle. Sn - 22337 The Martini Henry mark 1 rifle was approved for service on the 17th July 1874. This is an original British service .577x .450 Martini Henry mark I rifle made in 1876 and was the later in its service life converted to mark II standard. The rifle has a long cocking indicator block and blade fore sight, flip up ladder rear sight, steel butt plate, sling swivels, grooved trigger & bayonet lug. The rifle has a 33 ¼ “ steel barrel and measures 49 ½” overall. The metal work retains much of its original blued finish including the breech block and has many WD ordnance inspection marks (illustrated). The action is stamped on the right side Crown VR (Victoria Regina) B,S.A &M Co (Birmingham Small Arms & Metal Company) 1876 (manufacture date) an inspection stamp Mark I to Mark II conversion designation where the first I is central over the inspection mark with the second I stamped to the right after the conversion of the rifle from a mark I to a mark II. Most of the parts of the rifle are stamped with Enfield inspection stamps including the action trigger, trigger guard, operating lever, butt plate and barrel bands. The wood furniture has only minor bumps and bruises to be expected with age and service use. The action works crisply. The Nepalese government were unable to re arm quickly so quantities of surplus British Martini Henry rifles were sent to arm the Gurkhas in 1894 including further batches sent between 1906 and 1909. The rifle is neatly stamped to the left hand side of the rear sight NS NEP Native Scouts, Nepal. The right hand side of the butt is faintly stamped ALLAHABAD ARSENAL. The right hand side of the action is also stamped 2 under the markings which was stamped on all weapons sent abroad. See section D, Martini arms, RB 93 - 96 on page 18 and 19 of the Catalogue of the Enfield Pattern Room, British Rifles, published by Her Majesty’s Stationary Office and chapters 2 to 4 together with the plate on page 49 in The Martini-Henry for Queen and Empire by Neil Aspinshaw and Guns of the Gurkhas, (The lost arsenal: pistols, rifles and machine guns of the Royal Nepalese Army, 1816 – 1945) by John Walter. The price includes UK delivery. NB As an antique obsolete calibre rifle and no licence is required to own this rifle in the UK if retained as a part of a collection or display. Sn 22337 £1,875.00
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