Original British Martini-Henry I.C.1. Cavalry Carbine by Enfield – Retroconverted from .303 Back to .577/.450 – dated 1888 Original Items

Original Item: One of a Kind. This is a Martin-Henry I.C.1. carbine that has definitely led a very long and interesting life! Most of these we have are .303 conversions, with a very few being in the original .577/.450 Martini-Henry chambering. This example however was actually .303 converted, but then “retroconverted” to .577/.450, almost certainly for Colonial service. We have never seen one like this before! It has a great service worn look, but in spite of this, it is still covered with markings and full of research potential!

The right side of the receiver still bears relatively clear markings from the original manufacture:

(CROWN)
V.R.
ENFIELD
1888
I.C.1.

2

This started life in England as a .577/.450 Martini-Henry I.C.1. Carbine in 1888, made at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock, one of the major producers of the Martini-Henry. This was made in time to take part in the Mahdist wars, however this was also the same year that the .303 Lee-Metford was introduced, so it had a relatively short service life before being converted.

The left side is marked with the .303 conversion information, which is partly worn away on the left hand side.

(Crown)
[V.]R.
[H.R.]B_Co.
[18]92
(Lock Viewer Mark)
M.M. ‘303
1

This indicates that it was converted to a Martini-Metford .303 carbine by the Henry Barreled Rifle Company, who would later make many I.C.1. carbines under a contract for India. After that, we assume it saw service, but after the Metford Rifling was found to be insufficient and replaced in 1895, the decision was made to apparently convert it BACK to .577/.450 Martini-Henry, which was still in use in many colonial locations. We can see on the left side of both the receiver AND the barrel the “opposed broad arrows” indicating that it was “Sold out of Service”, which is also marked on the right side of the butt stock.

We examined the rest of the butt stock as well, and it actually still has some very interesting markings visible! There is a mostly complete War Department stock cartouche reading BIRMINGHAM / W.D. / 1896, as well as a stock disk reading:

10
1896
GR . H .
137

There are also many of the standard proof marks on various components. The metalwork overall shows a lovely aged patina overall, with the finish on the barrel and breech block in a bit better condition, as they were replaced during the retroconversion. There is still a cleaning rod under the barrel, though it may be a replacement. The stocks show wear from long service, with dents, gouges, and other standard markings from use. There is also an old wood graft repair on the toe of the butt stock, which was probably done during the retroconversion or earlier.

The barrel is the correct 21 inches long, and is fitted with the correct short rear sight and front sight for an I.C.1. carbine. The sight is fully functional, and there are also screws on both sides of the fore stock, usually used on carbines to hold a leather sight protector in place, which is now missing. The carbine does cycle, with the ejector presenting, and it dry fires correctly. We checked the bore, and the Henry rifling is still in very good condition, with a mostly bright finish and only light wear.

A very interesting example of a Martini-Henry I.C.1 carbine which has had a very long history! We rarely get example with wonderful research potential! This is definitely a great collector’s opportunity! Ready to display!

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: 1888 – converted 1892 – Retroconverted later.
Caliber: .577/.450
Ammunition Type: .577/.450 Martini-Henry
Barrel Length: 21 inches
Overall Length: 37 1/2 inches
Action: Falling Block Lever Action
Feed System: Single Shot

Martini Henry Cavalry Carbines

The Pattern was sealed and introduced on the 24th Sept 1877. LOC 3215 as “As Arms Interchangeable, Carbine Breech loading Rifled, with clearing rod Martini Henry Mk1.” “Interchangeable” was to be used in the description, and the actions were marked I.C.1. Not only did it simplify production, the carbine could be made as basic arm, with uniformed manufacturing techniques, sharing common rifle and carbine component parts, but providing an arm which simply required a change of furniture to convert from Artillery to cavalry. The new stocking arrangement required a re-think as to how the fore-end was to be fixed, the new slim barrel design did not facilitate a traditional lug hole and cross pin method of fixing used on the Mk1 & MkII rifle, so as a result a new steel hook was screwed into the bottom of the fore-stock, this in turn located into a slot in the front of the receiver.

The design carried a 21.3″ lightweight barrel, and the carbines’ weight was reduced to 7lb 8oz. Developments with the new single part tumbler for the proposed MKII rifle gave the new arm a positive cocking action, the original pattern arm had a combined half cock thumb catch on the right of the action body. To eliminate the “catch points” the front of action was rounded off to allow the carbine to slide into saddle bucket, and two rigid “Wings” protected the foresight. Most obvious external change was a new smaller cocking indicator providing too less external projection. In 1876, the safety thumb-piece catch was discontinued and not adopted.

Production costs of the new carbine per arm was £2.10s 7d.

Complaints were reported of the rear sight leaf becoming entangled or damaged by the saddlery, on the 18.4.1879, the IC1 Cavalry carbines were supplied with a folding leather back sight protector held by two screws, the screw edges were sharp and it caught clothing. A List of change No 3566 3.7.1879 gave simple instructions that the screw heads were to be softened and rounded.

Between the years 1878 and 1889 the RSAF Enfield made 130,000 IC1 carbines, but with the adoption of the .303″ calibre in the regular army, production ceased, with most of the component parts being utilized in the conversion to .303 Martini Metford and Martini Enfield carbines. IC1 Carbines emanating from the Birmingham Small Arms factory have never been seen by the author, their factory returns report that they had made over 1600 pieces in the 1890s, however, it is believed that these were made under contract by the Henry Rifled Barrel company, with parts supplied from Enfield.

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