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Reverend Al
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Fields Patent Martini side lever Number 1 Carbine
Apr 8th, 2019 at 4:55pm
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So the latest project rifle just arrived in the mail.  A "Fields Patent 1877" side lever Martini in .450 Number 1 Carbine.  It has a 21" barrel with Henry rifling (in good condition) with a rotating safety in the trigger guard.  Typical English hook style swivel loops.  Looks to be some printing under the rear sight which can't be read so might have to try to remove the rear sight (if it is screwed on and not soldered on) and see what it says?  The number on the barrel doesn't match the action so was likely re-barreled and the rear sight covered the original barrel markings?  A friend of mine had a carbine in the same cartridge several years ago and was kind enough to donate 30 rounds of formed brass, a home-made rough forming die, and a shell holder.  (These cases were made from shortened and reformed .50-90 Sharps brass.)  From what I can read online it appears that the Lyman Gould Express 330 grain HP cast bullet might be a good candidate for this cartridge and I have that mould so will try that first.  Does anyone here have any experience with loading for this cartridge?

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I may have passed my "Best Before" date, but I haven't quite reached my "Expiry" date yet ...
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Chuckster
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Re: Fields Patent Martini side lever Number 1 Carbine
Reply #1 - Apr 9th, 2019 at 9:58am
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Nice rifle. You see a falling block Fields once in a while. Believe this is the first Martini type Fields I have seen.
They are both shown on the patent drawings.
Chuck
  
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CharleHunter
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Re: Fields Patent Martini side lever Number 1 Carbine
Reply #2 - Apr 10th, 2019 at 6:05pm
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Neat rifle, found these in the cupboard yesterday
  
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rodneys
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Re: Fields Patent Martini side lever Number 1 Carbine
Reply #3 - Apr 11th, 2019 at 10:02am
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Very nice rifle and glad you posted the pictures of it. there is one in the Museum in Claremore Oklahoma. A friend has one in 44-40 came from Australia. marked 44-100. they work very well.
  
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oneatatime
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Re: Fields Patent Martini side lever Number 1 Carbine
Reply #4 - Apr 11th, 2019 at 10:42am
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Al, you certainly are tapping into a supply of very interesting rifles up there north of the border.
  
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Reverend Al
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Re: Fields Patent Martini side lever Number 1 Carbine
Reply #5 - Apr 11th, 2019 at 12:31pm
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Well, I do tend to watch especially for the "weird and wonderful", but I've been fairly lucky in finding a variety of single shots that appeal to me.  I've got a gentleman out in Ontario who is downsizing his single shot collection and he's been kind enough to advise me which guns he's selling before he lists them on the Net for sale.  I've bought several from him so far and there are at least 3 more that I will be buying from him as I sell off more of my lever action Winchesters and military bolt actions.  Trying to concentrate more on single shots these days ...
  

I may have passed my "Best Before" date, but I haven't quite reached my "Expiry" date yet ...
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Reverend Al
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Re: Fields Patent Martini side lever Number 1 Carbine
Reply #6 - Apr 11th, 2019 at 12:32pm
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CharleHunter wrote on Apr 10th, 2019 at 6:05pm:
Neat rifle, found these in the cupboard yesterday


Neat box of cartridges!  So I assume that 28 grains of "Number 6" powder would be some form of cordite?  I wonder what modern smokeless powder would come close in burning rate to "Number 6" cordite?
  

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oneatatime
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Re: Fields Patent Martini side lever Number 1 Carbine
Reply #7 - Apr 11th, 2019 at 1:19pm
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Nope, that would normally be Curtis and Harvey No 6 black Powder. Try Swiss 1 1/2 or 2.
Or, read this (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links).
« Last Edit: Apr 11th, 2019 at 1:37pm by oneatatime »  
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chipmaker
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Re: Fields Patent Martini side lever Number 1 Carbine
Reply #8 - Apr 11th, 2019 at 2:18pm
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Below is a picture of two additional Fields actioned rifles.
The falling block actioned rifle (above) was discussed on this forum, when it was noted on Gunbroker. It has a Winchester barrel and is chambered for the 32-40.
The Martini actioned rifle was put together by W&C Scott and Sons and is chambered for the #2 Musket.
Otto
  
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Reverend Al
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Re: Fields Patent Martini side lever Number 1 Carbine
Reply #9 - Apr 11th, 2019 at 5:21pm
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oneatatime wrote on Apr 11th, 2019 at 1:19pm:
Nope, that would normally be Curtis and Harvey No 6 black Powder. Try Swiss 1 1/2 or 2.
Or, read this (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links).


Will do.  By the way, the previous owner was shooting it with 22 grains of SR4759.  I had a quick look and I do have some 300 grain RCBS .458" bullets already cast, lubed, and gas checked so will try those first.  Not sure if I want to shoot BP loads or not, just not a big fan of the cleaning required afterwards.  If anything I'd likely duplex load it with a light "kicker" charge of smokeless and then the balance BP.  I do that with my Ballard Pacific in .40-90 3" with good results.  Cleaner cases, cleaner bore, and much easier to clean both afterwards.
  

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