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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) I want a Martini (Read 20161 times)
Shooter
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I want a Martini
Jan 5th, 2006 at 6:19pm
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I would like to have one to plink with for low dollars. What advice would you guys offer? Would rather have a calibre smaller than 577/.450. Prehaps .303.
I guess I've been reading too much Kipling.
Best,
Mike
Central Va.
  
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marlinguy
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but they sure are neater!

Re: I want a Martini
Reply #1 - Jan 5th, 2006 at 8:31pm
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Are you looking for a large frame Martini Henry, or just a Martini? If it's just the Martini action you desire, I'd go fr a Cadet, 12, 15, or International in .22LR.
  
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MartiniBelgian
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #2 - Jan 6th, 2006 at 6:48am
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Granted, a 577-450 does cost quite a lot to get shooting - and it uses lots of powder and lead, cases are expensive.  OTOH, it is the kind of 'plinking' experience where you leave with a huge grin from ear to ear, and all people around with their mouths wide open...
NOTHING about shooting 577-450 is cheap (cases, dies,...), but it really is worthwhile.
Of course, there were also the .303 Martini-Enfields which are cheaper, and then a multitude of small-actioned Martini's.  If you would want something both authentic colelctor and a nice shooter that doesn't break the bank, and reloading is no problem, then get a BSA .310 Cadet.  Case conversion is easy, the bullet mould is available, and the little rifles are surprisingly accurate.  What's more, these also have a steadily increasing collector value, but are still relatively affordable.  OTOH, you will be shooting a boys' rifle...
  
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Shooter
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #3 - Jan 7th, 2006 at 2:41pm
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I don't mind shooting a boy's rifle, I'm a boy at heart. Grin I like the kangaroo too.
I have .303 dies and brass so that should enter into it. I like the Enfield carbines. A cadet would be hard to pass up.
Best,
Mike 
Central Va.
  
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QuestionableMaynard8130
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #4 - Jan 7th, 2006 at 5:44pm
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We will be running a new article on the cadet actioned Martinis in an upcoming ASSRJ issue.   Not the "next" one (the Nov/Dec 05 issue) that is currently at the printer as I write this, but the following one (jan/feb 06)---we ARE trying to catch up.  It will be by our own Ed Martini-man" Cooksey
  

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B1acksmith
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #5 - Feb 1st, 2006 at 8:21pm
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If he needs any pictures of various small frame Martinis (CF and RM), the guys over on the Martini Henry Forum can come up with about every version made. I have a 3 small frame CF ones my self.
  
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Brent
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #6 - Feb 2nd, 2006 at 8:20am
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Shooter, if .22s interest you, Thad Scott has a pile of them.
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links); I thnk there are some other calibers mixed in there as well.

I'm looking for the right .577-450 sporter myself (need an eland rifle)...

Brent
  
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Shooter
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #7 - Feb 4th, 2006 at 2:19pm
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Thanks Brent,
He does have few. Smiley I think I will hold out for Enfield rifled .303 carbine. I want to read the next issue of the journal before I leap. I usually buy in haste and repent at my leasure, but I'm trying to do better.
Best,
Mike
Central Va.
  
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Dale53
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #8 - Feb 4th, 2006 at 5:27pm
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Shooter:
>>>but I'm trying to do better.<<<

Why should you be any better than the rest of us? Grin

Dale53
  
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DoubleD
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #9 - Mar 3rd, 2006 at 9:02am
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Let me give you some words of discouragment.  Good clean 303's are the hardest of all the big  Martini's to find.  Don't get me wrong.  You can find the 303 ME's quite readily, but the bores are sewer pipe material.  If you find one with a good bore jump on it. If you find some one offering one with a good bore be sure and set an exam period before buying.

DD
  

Douglas, Ret.
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martininut
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #10 - Mar 3rd, 2006 at 11:47pm
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Douglas,

I guess I shouldnt show him the pics of my darn near mint Martini Enfield Rifle, you know the Mark I converted to Mark II with the checkered butt plate....the one that is locked up in Fort Knox Grin

As for the carbines, now that is a man's gun......that little sucker kicks like an Army mule!!!!
  
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Shooter
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #11 - Mar 4th, 2006 at 8:56am
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Thanks for the dicouraging words.  Smiley The game's a-foot! I've learned I want Enfield rifling. Recoil won't bother me as I'll shoot cast bullets with a dab of unique.
Best,
Mike
  
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DoubleD
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #12 - Mar 4th, 2006 at 11:30pm
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Quote:
Douglas,

As for the carbines, now that is a man's gun......that little sucker kicks like an Army mule!!!!


Sidebar here: Craig is talking about 303 Carbines, not the 577/450 Carbine.....I wonder what he is going to call recoil of 577/450 Carbine the stomp of the elephant...these kids!

I am going to make it a special point to find Craig a very nice Adult size  Martini while I am done in RSA the next two years.   We are going to graduate him to big bore!!
  

Douglas, Ret.
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Cknerr
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #13 - Mar 16th, 2006 at 1:15pm
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There is a company here in Atlanta that cleaned out a cache of old weapons in Nepal. (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) Some are Martini, and of course a bunch of other flavors too. They seem to be reasonable prices. Don't know a thing about them, except for an articles in the NRA Riflemen. They say they are the genuine article... and they have the big calibers you where talking about. Most of the rifles are in very good condition with many having little or no signs of ever being fired.

If you pick one of those up. PLEASE leave a post about it. I am interested, just never find the time to go there and look. 

Good luck,
Chris
  
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DoubleD
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #14 - Mar 17th, 2006 at 3:14pm
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I have been hearing rumbles that IMA/Atlanta Cutlery may have mixed in with all the 577/450 some ME...303's.

If they do and they are anything like the 577/450's  they will have immaculate bores.  What a find if true!!!

Mean while to help you find the Martini of your dreams here is a link to my [url=http://www.martinihenry.com/links.htm][u][color=blue]Martini Resource list[/color][/u] [/url]
  

Douglas, Ret.
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Bad_Ass_Wallace
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #15 - May 26th, 2006 at 6:36am
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If you want a 303 shooter then why not get an action and screw in a standard SMLE barrel which incidentially has the same thread. Any compentant 'smith could mill the extractor slot and headspace.
Then add a sporting stock you end up like this one. A Lyman peep sight screws onto the side of the flat action.

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Drifter_Mike
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #16 - Jun 2nd, 2006 at 1:42pm
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How about a overall picture?
Mike
  
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Brozbows
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #17 - Jun 30th, 2006 at 1:09am
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Find yourself a nice little BSA martini, you'll love it!

I just got a Cadet in 22lr... I'm in the process of restocking and relining the barrel (barrel's pited and shoots poor). Great littel gun though and the price was reasonable for such a cool action and amazing trigger... crisp and sharp barely if even 2lbs pull!

Good luck,

Darryl
  
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Dai.S.Loe
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #18 - Jul 3rd, 2006 at 10:21pm
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When I lived in the UK I went to a  firearms dealer in Llansamlet, South Wales. Whilst there he showed me a rifle that I had only heard of. An original Alexander Henry in 577/450. Apparently the company was 2-3 days late submitting their samples for the selection that Martini eventually won.

They then  produced these for the civilian market.

I got to handle this rifle along side a large number of the Martini Enfields and in my humble opinion there was no contest. The Alexander Henry was so well made that it just stood out.

If anyone out there has photos of the Alexander Henrys I would love to see one again.

At the time I think a ME was going for about 4-600 UKP and this rifle was 2000 UKP

Dai.

  
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MartiniBelgian
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #19 - Jul 4th, 2006 at 3:35am
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I had a NSW military issue Alex Henry once - IMO, the Martini was a much better military rifle, less prone to breakage, less parts, simpler, no external hammer, better extracion.  In all, mechanically a more sound design.   
Actually, the A. Henry did participate in the adoption tests, and was beaten by the Martini - mostly for the reasons mentioned above.
However, New South Wales did use it some time as military rifle, but those weren't made by Alex Henry himself.
Of course, a sporter made by A. Henry himself would ooze quality, but then it shouldn't be compared to a Brit military Martini either - maybe to a H&H-made martini sporter!
  
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Richardwv
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #20 - Jul 8th, 2006 at 9:31pm
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I have a beautiful first contract NSW Alexander Henry produced by Westley Richards.  Its fit, finish and materials are definitely better than an Enfield produced Martini-Henry and is on par with a mid-grade sporter of the era.  I also have a volunteer model Martini of the same era that is every bit as nice as the AH.  Both of course are commercial products, where such things count for sales and are not general issue rifles made in a government arsenal, where such things are a waste of time and money.

The Martini Henry is the superior military rifle in all regards.  Since it lacks the external hammer, it is faster to operate, is simpler in design and more robust in construction.  That said, I sure do like my AH as a fine example of the gun maker’s art…..but if I was taking a  single shot rifle or that era into the field, it would be a MK IV MH.  
  
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AkMike
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #21 - Jul 9th, 2006 at 1:56pm
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But the real deal, an Alexander Henry in 450 BPE has a coolness factor off the charts.

Edit,
Note the hammer on the RH side of my A. Henry and RichandWV's is on the left.
  
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AkMike
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #22 - Jul 9th, 2006 at 1:59pm
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Close up shot
  
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Dai.S.Loe
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #23 - Jul 9th, 2006 at 6:19pm
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Quote:
But the real deal, an Alexander Henry in 450 BPE has a coolness factor off the charts.

Edit,
Note the hammer on the RH side of my A. Henry and RichandWV's is on the left.


I thank you very much for these photos.

The one I saw in Sth Wales was very similar to this. It must have had very little use as the blueing and woodwork were immaculate and the action of using the lever had a very sweet sound. 

I'm going to d/l these pics to add them to my permanent store. 

BTW If any one is interested the Martini Enfield in 577/450 caliber does not require a permit or licence to purchase, in the UK. It is considered an obsolete round and if you want one to put on display you can just buy it. If you wish to reload and fire it then you need a firearms certiuficat.

There have been a lot of these rifle reappear on the UK market. Most of them reimported from the Indian sub continent.

Supprisingly a lot of them in very good condition. A good one sells for about 600-700 UKP

Dai
  
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AkMike
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #24 - Jul 10th, 2006 at 1:38am
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Dai,
If you liked that tent pole of mine you'll love this one!!!
(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links);

I hope it works.
 
This one tells of a rifle similar to RichardWV's rifle.
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AkMike
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #25 - Jul 10th, 2006 at 2:20am
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That link didn't work so here's one of the pics.

Notice the similarity to the ASSRA Wesson rifle that is being raffled off soon. I have had mine side by side with an origional Wesson here locally and there is an amazing similarity between them. (Someone was a copycat) Shocked Shocked Shocked Roll Eyes
  
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AkMike
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #26 - Jul 10th, 2006 at 2:21am
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And a full length.
  
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Richardwv
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #27 - Jul 10th, 2006 at 3:02am
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The left hand hammer is a legacy of the Martini trials where Alexander Henry/Westley Richards was asked to change it to the left...supposedly to prevent interference with righthand loading.  Hence all military models are left hammer and all but a few civil models were right hammer.  Having shot both on multiple occassions, I understand the switch, but it makes the left hammer AH an oddity to say the least.

AH never produced his own military model.  Even the trial rifles were produced by Westley Richards.  The most interesting factoid from the loss at the trials is that Westley Richards started the NSW production before Enfield started regular production of the Martini-Henry.  Of course these were originally in Westley Richards' own 500/450 and were later rechamberred to 577/450.  I wonder if AH/WR had been the winner whether NSW would have ordered Martini rifles????

While it is a finely finished elegant action, I certainly understand why it lost out to what became the Martini-Henry.....at least AH got his rifling adopted in the final arm selected.
  
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AkMike
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Re: I want a Martini
Reply #28 - Jul 17th, 2006 at 9:41pm
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BTW,, I need the maker and address line picture off the barrel of a Alex Henry. Mine is worn off and it's being re-barreled so I want everything to look the same as the origional. IF anyone has this info I'd very much appreciate a detailed pic.
  
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