The attached picture is one of my older Martini projects. Just posted it to get the ball rolling. It was made by John Mitchell of the Classic Rifle Company. John was nice enough to step away from his classic Sharps rifles long enough to build this for me. TC&GB...cordell

creedmoormatch,
Please accept my apology for implying that I built this Martini, my only part in this project was acquiring the pieces. The stock blank came from Ron Griffey (sp?) in Maryland, the barrel (with Metford rifling) was custom made by a barrel maker (I am drawing a blank on his name) in Pennsylvania. The action came from an individual in PA who salted away several decent actions back in the 60's and I was fortunate enough to talk him out of one etc etc.  John Mitchell gets the credit for this rifle and IMHO is a master craftsman going outside his field of expertise (which are beautiful Sharps rifles) to creat this piece. As far as this 5th Martini being my last project rifle, good grief I hope not !!! I just meant it would be my last Martini! I have several other projects that I want to tackle, one is an extra barrel (.22 mag) for my Stevens, and I am waiting for a 9X57 Mauser that is just begging to be re-done and put back into the field. It sports a full rib, light engraving, double set triggers, 3 leaf rear sight and badly in need of a stock and re-blue! Sorry I missled you. Take care and God bless. cordell

Joe,
PM sent. Thanks for the picture, does it shoot as good as it looks??? TC&GB. cordell

Hello CMM,
Yes it was Bobby Hoyt who made my barrel, I was having a senior moment earlier and his name would not come to mind! As far as competitive shooting goes I am just a paper puncher who loves to reload and cast a few boolits . I have a special place in my heart for most single shot rifles and a particular fondness for the old 45-70 Gov cartridge. I am also attracted to big bore stuff but am getting a bit tender at my age so I tend to download to compensate for the recoil........ ............. What are you building with the barrel you picked up today??? Take care and God bless...cordell <><

Hello CMM,
Here are a few pictures of my Steven's 44, I have posted these in the past but thought you might enjoy them.  Many years ago (40+) I hunted pheasants in your beautiful state and still talk about it to this day! We are located in Chatham Virginia and the soil in this area just won't sustain pheasant. We do however have a modest quail population but most farmers in the area will go out of their way to leave the quail alone. I am told that 50 years ago birds were everywhere but farming has all but removed the feed and cover the birds need to exist. We have 2 or 3 coveys here at the farm but nothing like what we would like. Have a great holiday and God bless you and yours. cordell <><

Another

I forgot to mention that it is chambered for the .300Sherwood cartridge.

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Here is another, a cadet in .357 Magnum.  Oops, that is actually a model 6.

Ed

Hello Fred and Ed,
Wow! some beautiful rifles, thank you for posting them. 

Fred you are absolutely right, I did get off the beaten path there for a moment or two. Here are a few pictures of a 2 barrel set that Bob Snapp did the 45-70 barrel on. Ed I also collect knives who did the one pictured??? Take care and God bless. cordell

The other side............

I suppose I should add one.  This is an in progress work.  I stil need to send it out for checkering and then find a windage adjustable Number 8 rear sight.

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Martini's do not need bridge timbers for fore-stocks.

Vic Samuel's did the stock work on this I. Hollis small Martini Henry in 218 Mashburn Bee.

Very nice rifles DoubleD and EdBu. I agree wholeheartedly about the forend size. Way too many customized martinis have absurdly large and ugly forends. The British model for single shot forends is hard to improve upon.

The wood on all these Matini's is wonderful.  I love the wood and the much improved shapes. 
Great checkering too.   


                      Joe. 

That is a great looking forend on the Muscat Martini.  No 2 x 4 bridge timber that!!

Thats a truly beautiful gun, stock and the best Martini forearm i've ever seen. Do you have any idea who did the checkering?

Frank

Can we post Greener's too? 


Opps, too late. Don't know how to take it back.
Dick

Hello trapdoor Dick,
What caliber is your Greener in, I like it, thanks for sharing.........cordell

Last pic!!

This is in .222R, shoots a treat

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Hi Cordell, I like your Martini Mannlicher. Is that a standard 303 Brit. case just necked down to 7mm as you say its chambered for a 303 but the photo says 7mm.
This photo shows my BSA Martini (cannot remember which model it is but its a thick wall) in 7mm Waters. Its not a very good photo as it doesn't show very well the octagon barrel or the fancy work the gun smith did on the rear sight or the grooves cut for fitting a scope. 
Now that I have had one of my cataracts done I can see to shoot with open sights and l like carrying the rifle like this as it only weighs five and a half pounds according to my bathroom scales. 
It likes Sierra 140 and 150 grain boat tails and with a 3-9 Zeiss on for anything over a hundred yards it will shoot into moa and I do not notice the recoil.

Hello trapdoor Dick, Fazer, 40X, and Nero.

trapdoor Dick, can't wait to see the additional pictures I really like your rifle. Fazer, that is what I want the one I posted to look like!!! Mine still has a way to go, hopefully it will get there. 40X the large frame with the bull barrel is a beaut, thanks for posting it!!! Nero, the photo says 7mm but that is because I am senile! ...I was coresponding with someone regarding my 7mm Mannlicher and typed that in by mistake on this post ..............It is standard 303 Brit .................... Love your rifle!!!! Take care all and God bless....cordell

and again

trapdoor Dick,

Dick, very nice indeed the case and engraving are beautiful!!! As I mentioned earlier I have been a fan of the 45-70 for over 40 years and have loaded untold numbers of rounds for this cartridge. Thank you for sharing and God bless you and yours. cordell

My two 12 bore greener rifles

Hello iomskp,
They are BEAUTIFUL!!! please tell us more about this fine cased set..............Who did the work, barrel length, what type of barrel used, what type of sights, what loads do you use, can we ge some close ups of the actions and stocks, what is the white material (ivory?) who made the case?... Please tell us more!!!!!!!! ........ .........cordell

Hello Trevor,
This is what I would like my GP TD to look like when all is said and done. We have a master cabinet maker in our area and if and when I finish he said he would be interested in building a case for my 12 Ga X 45-70 Martini set. 

If and when you dig that beautiful set out again I would love to see some close ups of the action, stock, and open and closed case...... Thanks again for sharing and God bless you and yours.....cordell

OOP'S attached is a picture of my newest acquisition. It is a Steven's Bisley that has been converted to 218 Bee (unfortunately). I will add more on this when I receive it!! ...cordell

40X,
I am afraid slumLord44 has first dibs on the Bisley should I ever move it......... sorry. Take care and God bless.   cordell

This is my ugly duckling. It is a work in progress. Built by a benchrest guy in Ohio who is gone now by the name of Orlin Gilkerson. Its purpos was to shoot varmints from his truck. Barrel is Hart  17 1/2" with a tight chamber 222 R. Dot on target is 3/4"  shot at 200 yds. This is a very eficient tool. 
Tom

One more of the Peabody.

David, it's kinda like what came first , the chicken or the egg. The Peabody Martini patent predates the other Martini patents.
Mike

Well, here is a copy of the Peabody patent, the first one dated 1862. Von Martinis patent was later, much.

and finaly the Von Martini patent a year later. Others were working on this same idea and Fruend held patents that were for a center hung hammer martini and a hamerles martini early on.

Good Stuff. 
  MWhite49 

TommyAuger

If yo go to this link and read the patent's it is very interesting. It seems most were listed as improvements.
Mike

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Nice Westley Richards, what caliber?
Mike

Hi Cordell,
made the photo larger and added a few more pixels.   
Regards.

I just picked up this BSA Model 12 with a Fecker scope, last shot at Camp Perry before the crash of 29, and the original owners medals from Perry. But the best thing is the barrel, it is a heavy barrel by Arthur Hubalek. Can't wait to shoot it.
Mike

I had one of those #3s once. Sold it to Bob Bowman. He had the barrel set back and proceeded to start taking us over the hurdles with it.   


                    Joe. 

           

Nice rifle Butch.

My Grunig and Elmiger palma rifle has a Kenyon trigger. It's superb!

            Joe. 

trapdoor Dick wrote on Sep 12^th, 2010 at 7:21pm:


Man Dick, you do just as good of a Greener as you do a Trapdoor.

Man, now I really want a Martini.

More pic's

Last one for now!

Cordell,
That is a very nice rifle, excellent work, Hope you have some method of protecting the Schnabel. I tend to chip even conservative ones. That one looks very graceful but very fragile. Maybe an insert would help, just don't know.
Chuck

And another

OK Cordell, I give. Which one are you calling the wedge? This latest picture with what I call the "Gemmer/Plains" rifle or the earlier ones with the recoil boot on it?  These latest pix style is great offhand, but the butt plate hurts off the bench. The other doesn't hurt off the bench. With the recoil boot, it's like shooting a loud .22. 

Anyhow, latest projects are two more complete Gemmer/Hawkens, one going to Illinois and the other Missouri. Past these, I keep looking at my project wall, the barreled actions I have on hand and what stock wood, waiting to see what "jumps" together in my head. I've got a couple of ideas rolling around that head, but nothing solid yet. Thanks for asking.

Dick

See how slow I've gotten Cordell? I did think you were talking about the forend shape and not the fact that a wedge holds in together. The wedge was a leftover of the plains rifle configuration. So, now we both understand how olde critters communicate.

Dick

Hey Cordell, think this would be a rifle someone might be interested in buying? Which configuration would make it more saleable? You guys are way ahead of this olde critter regarding things like this. I value your input a lot. 

Dick

Thanks for your input Cordell. Let me know if I can ever be of assistance in ANY of your projects.  Blessings on all your efforts and may our Lord walk with you.

Dick

Dick,
Did you build the trapdoor in your Avatar? I just took a picture of it and blew it up....What a beauty!!!!!..... We serve the same Master, I see he is already walking with you!!! Take care and God bless you and yours. Rick (aka cordell)

Frank,

The old 14 gauge police guns make a great action for a custom single shot. Now you have me thinking about that 50-70 and how much brass and bullets I lready have..........hmmmmmmmmmm maybe I will make one also!! Good luck when and if you start and if I can be of any assistance please drop me a P.M. Take care and God bless. Rick (aka cordell)

Hey Cordell (Rick), yes, I did build that one along with a "few" more  . Thanks and I'm glad you get some enjoyment from it. I have been indeed blessed and thankful for the ability. Give me a PM and I'll share some more if you'd like. Blessing my friend and to all the "guys" on this great forum. 

Dick

Try this one - a BP LR match rifle built on a Westley Richards/Francotte ZAR receiver.  Chambered for the Brit #2 Musket cartridge.

The wood is done, now the steel needs to be finished.  And no, I didn't do the stock:  A friend made it according to my indications, and it then got a professional checkering/finish.

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

It will see 1st match use early next month in Germany...

Very nice!

This martini is in 17 Ackley Bee caliber. It also has a safety on the triggerguard but a different type. It has a 15x Super Targetspot on it.

Here is a picture of my newest project. I have to get the French Gray done and then install a barrel but it all takes time. I really like Martini's and have been shooting them since the early 60's.

Hi tbird1960, I sure would like to see the other side. Regards.