Original British P-1885 Martini-Henry MkIV Rifle Pattern C – Untouched Condition Original Items

Original Item: Part of our exclusive discovery of antique firearms in the royal palace of Nepal. The great success of the P-1871 Martini Henry Short Lever Rifle had only been marred by the occasional difficulty experienced with the ejection of the spent cartridge from powder residue fouling the chamber.

The solution was the introduction of the P-1885 “long lever” model that provided great leverage for case extraction. In front line service for only three years when it was superseded by the .303 cal P-1888 magazine Rifle the P-1885 Martini saw principal use in Britain’s overseas colonial empire.

Official documentation tells us that approximately 100,000 Pattern C MkIV Martini Henry rifles were ever produced.

Approximate MKIV Production numbers:

Pattern A- 22,000

Pattern B- 40,000

Pattern C- 100,000

Every MKIV Martini-Henry rifle bears a date within the 1880’s.

Martini Henry Pattern C is a conversion of the Enfield Martini MK1.

Unique Features

1) Block or Ramp style front sight

2) Long knocks-form (but will be approximately 1/2 of an inch shorter than Pattern B)

3) Two rows of proof marks under barrel.

Below copy is courtesy of martinihenry-

With the decision to make general issue of the Martini Henry MKII & MkIII to the militia and Volunteers in January 1885 and the impending new .303″ caliber and the suspension and ultimate cancellation of the .402″ bore Enfield Martini in June 1887, it was decided as a short term measure to convert those 65000 .402″ Enfield Martinis already made into a usable .577/450″ arm. The new rifle was to be designated the Martini Henry MkIV at a cost to convert those arms was expected to be 6s 6d per piece.

The success of enhanced extraction of the longer lever of the Enfield-Martini Pattern B rifle was readily adopted for all MkIV patterns, those existing Enfield-Martini A pattern walnut stocks required the brass stock cup re-siting to correspond with the long levers’ tip. The process required a fresh recess hole to be drilled and the cup re-set. A purpose made wooden plug was glued into the hole completing the process. As the stocks were all removed there is no consistency as which stock was fitted to A or B pattern, so they will be found on any pattern. Wherever possible the old components were re-used, and the “E-M” designation originally marked on many of the parts betrays today its original pedigree often scored through thus: E-M. The A pattern trigger assembly, designed to accept the E-M’s safety was reamed to remove the original configuration, whilst Receivers and butt stocks of the old pattern had an extra Roman numeral “V” stamped alongside the original “I”, whilst newly made but un-used components have a distinctive “IV” classification. A new pattern clearing rod, designed to spring into place and to be suitable with use of the new steel jag was installed and the nosecap was redesigned, however it was decided to retain to old pattern Barleycorn on Block foresight on the pattern “A”.

Martini Henry MkIV pattern B & C

The Enfields’ records throw into confusion as to what happened to the 49,902 Pattern B .402″ arms manufactured, these rifles required less conversion, the obvious re-bore to .577/450 calibre, and apart from sighting alteration and re-tooling of the extractor it was a far easier task to convert. These existing Pattern B rifles after barrel conversion to the new .577/450 were designated as the Martini Henry MkIV Pattern “C”, or “conversions”, whilst those rifles made as new pieces, from new components which were rifled to .577/.450″ were known as Martini Henry Pattern “B”,

The author begs to be controversial and also doubts conventional thinking on the issue, In my collection I have a Martini Henry pattern B, with a “B” designation to the serial number, several B markings on the knocks form, and B on the receiver, I have inspected 15 other examples and found the same, all proof marks are single line, not a twin line of proofs clearly, a discrepancy, or maybe proof indeed of the original nomenclature, however to confuse matters, the official List of change No 5603, announcing the issue of the MH MkIV clearly states the knocks form of pattern A & B are 1/8th inch shorter than the pattern C, which ever, the new sealed patterns were offered for adoption and accepted on the same date 15th Sept 1887

In 1895 BSA & M Co was contracted to refurbish 5000 Martini Henry MkIV, it is to be noted these rifles carry the BSA & M Co logo, however these rifles have Enfield made barrels, and therefore are not BSA original pieces.

What does “Untouched Condition” mean? OK, this is exactly what we are offering: Genuine pre-1898 British manufactured Martini-Henry Rifles that have laid undisturbed for well over 100 years in far from perfect storage conditions in the Old Palace of Lagan Silekhana in Katmandu, Nepal. Our DVD of “TREASURE IS WHERE YOU FIND IT” shows these very weapons as we found them and the story behind them.

What you will get:

– Action
– Lever
– Trigger
– Stock [May have Cracks, Missing Chunks, Old repairs, Wood Rot]– Barrel
– 2 Steel Barrel Bands
– Cleaning Rod
– Butt Plate

What you might not get:

– Screws [Butt Plate, Sling Swivel, etc]– Sling Swivel
– Sight Leaf/Slide
– Other minor bits’

Typical Condition:

– Will show rust & pitting
– Will be covered in filth
– May not operate
– May be incomplete
– May have Cracks, Missing Chunks, Old repairs.
– May be frozen in grime
– May have cracks and/or rot in wood

However, every British Long Lever Martini-Henry will be 100% genuine! We ask you to look closely at the photographs, the example photographed here is a typical gun that could expect to receive, read reviews, both good and bad, and only then place an order understanding what you are likely to receive. We want Educated Aware Customers. If it isn’t what you expect, that is fine, return it (before you attempt any restoration) and the full gun purchase price will be refunded to you, however the customer will pay shipping both ways. We cannot exchange guns and will not get into an exchange situation, so please do not ask.

We are not trying to sell you an incomplete weapon and then sell you the missing parts. We will do our best to make sure it is complete as possible. One day we will also sell replacement parts, but that is in the distant future. We are not trying to frustrate you; we are trying to fill a void in the marketplace for genuine but affordable rare and unique antique weapons so that collectors and historians of all backgrounds can enjoy a genuine part of history.

These should be viewed as “project” guns, work on it with your Son or Grandson, clean it up, hang it over your mantle, or don’t clean it, they are impressive anyway you seem them. The price is affordable; the history is priceless.

If you want to shoot it, DON’T! If you still want to shoot it, take it to a licensed GUNSMITH first. These are 100+ year-old guns, be very careful, IMA sells these for display purposes only, they are not intended to be fired. Please buy our products, but do read the reviews and descriptions first. We feel you will agree that the recovery of old weapons from Nepal was a milestone for the collecting fraternity and we hope you enjoy a genuine antique weapon that has never been touched by any other collector than you.

Specifications-

Years of Manufacture: 1884-1889
Caliber: .577/450 Martini-Henry
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 32 inches
Overall Length: 49 Inches
Action type: Lever Action Falling Block
Feed System: Single Shot

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.