Won a rifle Tuesday at noon than I thought I would never own. Really into the Martini Cadets in .22 and wanted to customize one in .32 mag. Living close to gunsmith Andy Horvath is dangerous.

Anyway watching an auction site regularly, 2 nice ones appeared. They were pieces of art and I own one. Starting this thread early, won’t have the gun till around March 23ish. The seller thinks it was made pre WW1, HE is a custom rifle maker in Laramie, Wyoming.

The rifle was made by Delhoune in Leige Belgium, they did a fantastic job by the pictures. Supposedly it’s in perfect condition can’t imagine being so nice since before WW1. Will post some pictures when it gets here, the pics posted I stole from the listing.

Tried to search the maker and can’t find nothing. The seller is gonna try to get some history from the previous owner, Larry

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Congrats Larry, that is a beauty.

Absolutely gorgeous, well done!

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"I'm feeling MUCH better now"

WOW!!! What a beauty!

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No baby we aint

"...can’t imagine being so nice since before WW1."
If you hadn't told me that, I've guessed it was a brand new elegant repro.
Congrats!

Really outstanding wood on that rifle, congratulations!

Very enviable rifle. In the 4th picture, it looks like the barrel is stepped down in diameter and then back up. Am I seeing it wrong? Would there be some ballistic reason for doing that?

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Just Say No - To Social Media

That’s extraordinary. I hope you will tell us more when you’ve had a chance to get it in your hands.

A real beauty Larry!

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

Hi Larry,

For me, single shot rifles are my personal favorite. And, the Martini action is one of the best; time proven, historically rich, and an excellent performer.
I doubt the gunsmith's name will appear in any first order data search. You will need to contact a Belgian guild organization.
I would suggest as a start that you contact UFA-Belgium. They are located in Liege and they are conversant in English. They also are affiliated with a gunsmithing school in Liege.

UFA Belgium | Union des Fabricants & Artisans en Equipements de Chasse & de Tir Sportif

There are other organizations, but you would need to be fluent in French or Flemish to pursue those routes.

I like the straight English style stock. Nice wood and checkering, too! The double set trigger is a very nice thing to have.
Somebody asked about the step in the barrel. I think the original open rear sight was there.

Can't wait to hear more and see some nice pics. A range report, too???

Dang! Now I have to wipe the drool from the keyboard

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de minimus non curat lex

The only Martini 22's I've ever seen were by BSA.

I bet you had to pay more than $2 for that gun!

I own a 1903 Citadel in 303 British. My biggest complaint is heavy trigger, somewhere around 7.5 pounds. I have a Belgian Champlain In 7x57 with a 22 pound trigger, so the Martini isn't so bad after all!

Ivan

A while had a Custom Cadet in 218 Bee.
Not quite as Pretty as this one!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Here's your Belgian maker.,,w/pics of a Martini much like yours..(same rifle??)
In biz from about 1897 to 1910

Nouvelle page 0

That is one beautiful rifle Larry. Congratulations.

Thanks everyone, can’t wait to get it. The check is in Denver at 8am not far from Laramie, he may get the check a day sooner. Jim, there will be a range report, supposedly it’s a 5.5 lb gun. Great for offhand shooting at 50ft at the club. I will bench it best as possible first, kinda basic there on tables that can be moved.

Mr Hunt, there was a rear sight where the stepping is on the barrel, the dovetail was filled with that. It matches the base of the front sight, nicely done. A Lyman 1A aperture sight was added to the tang. Added a picture of the front sight. There is a picture of the butt also showing the horn heel & toe clips.

2152hq, bingo. That rifle looks just like mine. The wood grain doesn’t match and I don’t have the fine engraving. Great link, thanks. The name “Delhoune” on the barrel appears to be gold inlay. Larry

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That thing is an antique, what you need is a more modern iteration which could more effectively be deployed in a self-defense situation when the Crackerjack Boys come a knockin'!



But seriously, that's a gorgeous Martini Rifle, congratulations!

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

That's a great link that 2512hq provided.

Your gunmaker is also listed in this book:

Belgian Liege gunmakers (D to F) - Volume 2

It's volume two of a seven volume set, hardcover, in French and English.
I like books like this because, besides the wealth of info, they offer some documentation or provenance that enhance the enjoyment of the gun. They might also enhance the value as well, kinda like getting a S&W letter, though not as individually detailed.

Jim

Now, THAT is funny! But, it's going to be hard to "unsee" that thing!
I'm sure it's been appropriately rechambered to 223/5.56 or 9mm....

Beautiful rifle, congrats!

The current version of the Lyman Tang sight uses an O-ring to hold the elevation in place. It works OK as an adjustable sight, but is not repeatable for engaging multiple distances, like the originals. Montana Valley Arms makes faithful reproductions, and they have parts to rebuild old sights if you should need them, Including better eye disks for the Schuetzen and offhand sports.

Ivan

I honestly haven't a clue, this abomination was made — where else — in Khyber Pass and was put up for sale — where else — on gonebroker a couple of months ago and I just had to save a picture of it for posterity because I knew I was unlikely to ever see such a monstrosity ever again.

I've had the image saved ever since and this thread provided the perfect opportunity to post it for laughs.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

I have a Greener Martini in .32-20. It's a plain jane compared to this one.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Nothing wrong with that!! Greener Martinis tend to be very well made, with nice forged steel and careful fitting.
Is it rechambered from 310 Cadet?

I just got a left hand BSA Martini International MKII with (thankfully) the original Parker Hale match sights. The sights detach for transport and, unfortunately, in many cases get lost.
The sights are left handed as well. Replacements are very difficult to find and expensive!

So, it's real? YIKES! I honestly assumed it was some sort of photo-shopped mock-up.

I wonder how they say "Bubba" in Pakistan?

I think I'm going to be sick....

Here in New Mexico There’s a Dude up on Bobcat Pass who makes some strange guns.
But he cant match those Khyber Pass guys!

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Thank you. Seems like it's stepped on 3 sides. I'll be interested in more pictures when you get your hands on it.

The woodwork on that thing is amazing.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

Made a mistake, it’s 4lbs 15oz. Should be easy on my old shoulders shooting, not really heavy.

Mr Hunt, here is another pic. If you can magnify it, the dovetail filler can be seen. Getting excited, Larry

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Bubka, I presume.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

Congratulations Larry, that is a beauty!!!

Hopefully you will be able to sleep during the anticipation of that sexy bugger showing up!!!!

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Tom Graham SWCA #2303

My last one was a BSA Australian Cadet. Douglas barrel chambered for 22 Saber Jet. It was stocked with Fajen wood. Was outstanding shooter, traded it off. It was nice but nothing like OPs.Monkey Tail was rolled up like a lever gun.

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I believe it was re-chambered to .32-20 from .310 Cadet.

It shoots fine. It holds minute of coke can quite well.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Ah, now I see it. Thanks, somehow it looked like it was stepped all the way around. I couldn't understand why they'd do that!

(I don't need to be "Mr", btw - any version of "hey you" suffices ... )

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Just Say No - To Social Media

Realized I never said the gun I am getting was in .22 lr. The check got to the seller, hopefully ship soon.

Here is another that I bid on the wood in a local auction 3 yrs ago. The nice wood ended up being one of the 21 Super Target 22 rifles in 1950 built by Al Freeland, the operating lever has a number 11 on it. The barrel is made by Eric Johnson. I added the scope after discussion on rimfire central. It’s my sub 1/4” at 50 yds gun. Larry

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"Realized I never said the gun I am getting was in .22 lr. The check got to the seller, hopefully ship soon."

Thanks, that was my question. That must have been an expensive stock blank, even in the 19th century.

Hopefully this is not being rechambered to .32 Magnum?

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Getting closer, the 2nd day shipping took 5 days to get to Cleveland and now seems stuck there. Should have been out for delivery this morning in the city it was sent to. Larry

Wow, it’s finally here and I saw it earlier. The employee at Cleveland Armory didn’t know how to log it in so he will wait till the owner comes in. They are very particular with manufacturer and caliber the way it’s written, BATF is very fussy how it’s logged in. The gun has O markings on it for who made it and what cartridge it uses. Guess I get it tomorrow, hopefully since they are closed but working on guns.

The BATF that audits them is 2 females that are fussy about spelling and such. Since they are looking for reasons to close gun shops, he doesn’t want to loose his license.

The 2nd day shipping took 8 days, I was wondering if it was actually stolen!!!!

Cool gun in person, excited. Probably won’t be able to sleep tonight, (Lol) Larry

Toooooooo much Martini for my check book ! ! ! Very beautiful rifle, I buy the $700 clunkers. Second one will be shipped shortly and Unertl scope installed.

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S&WHF 366

Engineer1911, glad to see another person that likes Martini Rifles.
I am hooked on them, don’t mind the slow shooting involved with a single shot like the Martini.

Finally got the gun, the auction ended on the 12th, been 18 days. It’s everything I imagined, about the same size as a 310 Cadet. Maybe a tad smaller and light weight. It even has very fine engraving on the receiver, nice tasteful touch. Very happy with it, and glad I finally have it in the basement.

Tried to chamber a round and it wouldn’t quite go in all the way. Could it have some minor chamber corrosion?? The gun is 100 years old and actually looks unfired. Since the seller is a custom rifle builder, I asked him in an email what I could possibly do to remedy the problem.

Hopefully have a range report next Tuesday. Larry

Happy Easter to those following this thread, enjoy the peace of the day.

Played with the Martini last nite and got a loaded .22 lr to fit in. Used an SK Standard round, didn’t try any US .22’s. Figured it has a tighter match chamber.

Need help here. Since a full length 22 fi in the chamber, it has to be chambered for 22 lr not 22 short correct? Being made pre WW1 will it be safe to shoot with standard velocity target ammo?? The date of manufacture would be hard to guess with no markings on it. Larry

Just an observation from looking / shooting the Martini I have now. If the barrel is 22 rimfire / CB cap, short, long, long rifle; I would believe that the sheer steel mass of the barrel & breech would safely fire any 22 LR cartridge except for the hypervelocity rounds.

Yes, I recognize that heat treating is questionable, non-existent, and unknown. One Half inch of steel will withstand any standard or high (not hyper-) velocity 22 LR rimfire cartridge. Modern cheap, low carbon, low quality steel has a mechanical yield strength = 20, 000 psi. Our Martini rifles can easily handle today's 22 rimfire cartridges less than hypervelocity.

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S&WHF 366

Happy Easter Larry!

Brad

Took it to the club to shoot with SK standard, standard velocity. First shot fired and wouldn’t eject so I put a piece of a 22 cleaning rod in to get it out by tilting the gun up and down. It got stuck, someone had another piece of 22 rod and we tried to push it all out. I think the first piece of rod entered the empty case 22 case expanded it, and sorta jammed it. Brought it all home to work on.

Next time I‘ll use CB longs. I think the standard velocity case expanded too much when it fired. It’s a very tight chamber. Disappointed so far, Larry

PS Need a form or somewhere to find information on the Maker of this gun. Want to learn about what I bought

You might check to see if it is a Long chamber verses a Long Rifle.

Ivan

I would also consider polishing the chamber.

That is one good looking firearm, the art of a professional gunsmith certainly shows in those photo's.
My own Martini, an 1895 .303 model only received a new barrel and a lick of varnish.

Beautiful rifle. So what is involved with the conversion? I know some of the obvious - rebore the barrel (JES?), refit the extractor. The receiver bolt looks tricky, would seem easiest to find a centerfire one from a .310 cadet.

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SWCA #3929

The gun in the opening post isn’t being converted, it’s will still be 22lr. Andy could convert a 310 cadet to 32 mag by sleeving the barrel with a 32 sleeve. Then make the extractor fit. It’s magical. He quoted 400.00. The LGS has a 310 in 38/44 B&D for 600.00.

I went the .310 cadet route with dies and original brass and for some reason it didn’t work for me. Larry

Here is an answer by the seller of the rifle from GB. Is is a custom rifle maker with a fantastic reputation. I asked him if he restored the rifle, his response.

“To specifically answer your question: no, I did not restore this rifle. In fact, I did not even shoot it. I sold this rifle in the condition in which I received it. Looking back at the description I wrote: "A dovetail insert that perfectly compliments the front sight fills the space vacated by the original rear sight, which was replaced by a Lyman 1A aperture sight installed on the rear tang." indicating that- at the very least- there were changes made to the sighting from its original configuration. Hence, I did not describe the rifle "in original condition". I described the rifle as accurately as possible with no intent to mislead. If, in fact, it was refinished I would say the work done was of world-class quality and not done here in the States. But that is my professional opinion. I agree that if the gun was restored, someone with a great amount of skill performed the work.

You have a remarkable, beautiful, rare and desirable rifle, one that most anyone would be delighted to own. I hope any detractors on the internet forums do not diminish the joy you have in owning such an amazing and unique rifle. I have not heard back from its previous owner regarding what he knows of its history. He is an international business consultant and currently traveling abroad. He did indicate he would contact me upon his return and I will gladly pass on what information he shares. I will be in touch.”

Shot 22 CB Long out of it today, actually got 5 rounds to fire. Every shot the empty case got harder to pry out with my fingernail. The 5th shot was tough to extract, didn’t want to use anything metal to avoid a scratch.

Gonna re-polish the chamber with a drill, turning slowly. Getting there, just need to figure it out.

The shots were 2” high and centered. The last 3 shots I used the set trigger and it worked great.😊 Wanted to try the CCI Quiet but quit, had nothing to get the empty case out. Larry