Martini Enfield rifle and P95 bayonet

[lithgow]

My rifle started life as a Martini Henry MkII .450" in 1885 and was converted in 1899 to a Martini Enfield in .303". From 1889 on wards the British army introduced the new magazine fed bolt action rifles of first the Metford then Enfield type rifling in .303 calibre. Large stocks of the older M H weapons were still available and serviceable so a conversion was done to provide numbers of a type suitable for training and colonial garrison use. These were made from 1895 to 1902 and were widely used in Australia by the separate Colonies and then by the new Commonwealth after Federation in 1901.

Service use in the Boer War 1899-1902 showed that the type was at a severe disadvantage against modern bolt action charger fed rifles, however the shortage of rifles at the start of WW1 meant that many were used in the fighting in central and southern Africa as well as training and reserve use during the war throughout the Empire. Again they saw use during WW2 for the same reasons but mostly for training and 'home guard' use.Attachment 221652

The P1895 bayonet is a conversion of the M H P1876 type with a new smaller diameter socket fitted that also meant the blade fixes under the barrel instead of to the right side of it.

[lithgow]

Sort of fixed-still minus a couple of photos-the crap on the left side of the action body is the remains of the 'sold' sticker-difficult to remove without damaging the finish.