and now for something completely different

[JohnRippert]

I really liked the Zulu movies when I was a lad and a recent post on another forum about the restoration of a Afghan pattern Martini Henry from IWA got me to thinking. So........yesterday my Nepalese Martini Henry MK IV C came in the mail. Covered in dried yak fat (Nepalese cosmoline), dirt and brick dust but in pretty good condition for something put together in 1887. The wood looks solid and I am not seeing a lot of rust as of yet. This is going to be a fun cleanup project. When I get it done I am going to hang it on the wall next to a Turk Mauser. I will need to get a repro pith helmet to hang with it.

First pics.

 

[M3Stuart]

Interesting. What caliber is that?

 

[JohnRippert]

577/450 Martini Henry Ammo|Black Powder Ammo|Cowboy Ammo


.577-450

Try not to hurt yourself flinching when you see the price. I am not a reloader so I will likely get one box and shoot about half of it before hanging it up on the wall.

 

[Protected One]

Naturaly, if we don't see post clean-up pictures we have to presume it never happened!

 

[JohnRippert]

Hah, not sure when the cleanup pics will appear. Best friend and I will be painting rooms for the next couple of weekends. Eventually I will get to it though.

 

[CajunBass]

It's a miracle.

If it's a miracle, Colour Sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer Henry point 45 caliber miracle.

And a bayonet, sir, with some guts behind.

Love that movie.

Look forward to the "after" pictures.

 

[Engineer1911]

Did it come from Atlanta Cutlery? I and another Georgia Forum member have been discussing buying two of these relics. I admire your "courage" in doing a firearms project that will take this much time to complete.

This rifle makes a boat seem like a "money droplet" compared to the Grand Canyon of money pits. $6 per cartridge does seem pricey. Somebody makes brass with an annealed neck from brass 24 gage shotgun shells for about $3 each that have boxer primers.

 

[MOONDAWG]

These of late .577-450 Snider or Martini-Henry British vs. Zulu smoke poles are a bit pricey to feed.

Midway USA wants $141.99 for a box of 20 brass only; which works out to $7.09 a case + tax & shipping.

Buffalo Arms has 20 round "loaded" boxes of ammo, with 450 gr. RNL over black power for $118.96 which works out to $5.94 a "POP" + tax & shipping.

 

[JohnRippert]

I got mine from IMA. A bit put out that it did not come with a cleaning rod. What with them selling them separately.

 

[sigp220.45]

I got this handy adapter when I got my Martini-Henry.

Lets me shoot .45 Colts out of it. Lots of fun for busting rocks, very low report, no recoil, and a hell of a lot cheaper than 577/450 rounds.

 

[JohnRippert]

Just a quick update. IMA refunded my money for the cleaning rod I ordered after I contacted them about not receiving one with the rifle. Satisfying and fast customer service.

 

[gaucho1]

I got this handy adapter when I got my Martini-Henry.

Lets me shoot .45 Colts out of it. Lots of fun for busting rocks, very low report, no recoil, and a hell of a lot cheaper than 577/450 rounds.

Great solution, turns the gun into a low recoil shooter, Smart

 

[Erich]

Boy, that's neat, John - I don't know anyone who's watched that movie who didn't want a M-H for at least a little while. Thanks for the adapter tip, Brad: didn't know they made those.

I've got an English friend coming to stay a couple weeks with us in April - and she wants to shoot a M-H. Maybe I ought to get one of these Nepalese guns and adapter and get cracking out in the garage with the CitrusStrip!

 

[loknload]

Everytime I see the title / header for this post I keep thinking I'm going to see something from,,,,Monty Python

Anyway neat rifle and good luck with your project!

 

[JohnRippert]

From the research I have done so far on the adapters the accuracy suffers some because of the difference in size between the .45 Colt ammo and the 577/450 barrel. I saw one poster who said that using soft lead loads he had good accuracy but most people said that 6-12 inches at 50yd was the norm. There was also issues with a couple of the adapters getting stuck in the chamber because of differences in chamber uniformity. I amy still get one since they are only $38 shipped from a gent in Alaska.


loknload, exactly where the title came from.

"I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries."

 

[MWnBC]

Great Uncle

My great uncle, by marriage ,was in a Canadian Calvary Regiment that went to South Africa in one of the Boer Wars. The details are a little lost.

We have his Enfield Martini-Henri rifle and model of 1843 sword and scabbard and spurrs.

Also have his Pith Helmut, sadly sans hat badge, but with metal carry case.

It was interesting to learn that a chamber convesion is out there, have them for M 58.

Will try to post pics, if anyone is interested.



Mark

 

[JohnRippert]

Pics are always welcome.

 

[Cyrano]

Will try to post pics, if anyone is interested.
Mark

I'm interested; please post pix.

 

[JohnRippert]

I have been dripping Ed's Red on the screws for a few days now and pulled out the plastic toothpicks tonight. Thanks to the right tools, Wheeler Engineering Gunsmithing Screwdriver set) I had no problem loosening all the external stock and band screws. I have a large screwdriver with a square shank that I use on SMLE's and No4's that should take care of the buttstock screw. The plan is to spend some time this Sunday working on it. More pics then.

 

[JohnRippert]

I decided to put some time in and made good progress in the hour I worked on it tonight. Initial takedown is complete. I am going to soak the receiver in my 5 gallon bucket of Ed's Red for a while before stripping it down. I cannot stress how much easier it is to do this when you have good tools.

The worst of the pitting is, as expected, under the woodline. Nothing to cause concern and will be out of sight when finished.


Here is the pile along with the tools I have been using to work on it.

Very light strike on the receiver markings.

Markings on some of the forend metal.

Markings on the bottom of the knox form and chamber area.

Underside of the barrel outside the chamber.

Markings on the buttstock screw.