Original Antique MK I - II Short Lever Martini Henry Rifle, Dated 1875, By Enfield, Early Model Long Cocking Indicator, With Original Victorian Leather Sling. Rare Brass Muzzle Dust Cover & In Fabulous Condition. One Of Only 1400 Early MK1 Models Made

Original Antique MK I-II Antique Short Lever Martini Henry Rifle, with Victorian leather sling & fabulous stock patina, and great steel condition with barely negligible traces of corrosion anywhere. Numerous inspection stamps throughout the rifle, upon the barrel, action, trigger guard, dust cover etc. With Superb Steel Patination & Stock Patina

Only about 1400 MK I’s were made and in 1877 they were replaced by the MK II which incorporated several design improvements learned from the MK I. At this time the surviving MK I’s were factory
converted to the MK II. When converted to the MK II an additional “I” was added to the
receiver markings, which resulted in the marking being skewed to the right of centre, whereas rifles made originally as a MK II would have this marking centered.

The stock looks as good as the very best quality walnut stock can be, after it was used by a front rank regiment for several decades.

In our opinion this conservation has revealed this wonderful rifle to be one of the best and beautiful ‘used’ examples outside of the National Army Museum

Returning from professional hand conservation Fully actionable and a superbly tight mechanism.

The most desirable Martini Henry are the MK I's and the MKI-II's, The very types of Martini short Lever rifle as were used by the 24th Foot at Ishandwhana and Rorke's Drift, and then later in the Afghan War and several conflicts against the Mahdi in the Sudan. They were even also used up to WW1 by some colonial regiments. This is a very fine early original ordnance contract example, best line regiment issue, and made by Enfield with VR Crown mark stamped 'sx' on the breech for upgraded hardened steel pin.

This rifle was made at the Enfield arms workshop and is a truly exceptional and beautiful example, maker marked, and in very good operational order indeed with an excellent action, but clearly combat used.

The Martini Henry, .450 577 rifle was most famous British Infantry breech loading rifle of the 19th century. This rifle is just as were used in the film ZULU, and the exact model type as was used during the Zulu War, a much superior condition stunning example.

This Martini-Henry dated 1875, was the breech-loading lever-actuated rifle adopted by the British, combining an action worked on by Friedrich von Martini (based on the Peabody rifle developed by Henry Peabody), with the rifled barrel designed by Scotsman, Alexander Henry. It first entered service in 1871 replacing the Snider-Enfield, and variants were used throughout the British Empire for 30 years. It was the first British service rifle that was a true breech-loading rifle using metallic cartridges.
During the Martini-Henry period in service, the British army were involved in a large number of colonial wars, most notably the Anglo-Zulu War. The Martini Henry, 450-577, Short Lever, MK I converted MK II or the regular MK II rifle was the type used by the company of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot present at Rorke's Drift during the eponymous battle. The MK I originally had a small design fault in that the actions hinge pin was initially made of brass, which was too soft for continual use. The rare and early MKI's were thus converted by removing this pin, replacing it with a steel pin, and then redesignated the MKII. The Martini Henry were later used throughout the British Empire. In fact the Martin henry was such a good rifle many survived to be used in WW1 by some colonial regiments.

As with all our original antique arms, no licence is required to own, purchase or to collect anything of that description we sell. They, and all of these rifles, are entirely unrestricted to own, collect, and display just as they are, however, we only permitted to sell to those who are over 18 of age with suitable I.d.

Code: 26175