Martini henry mkII

[Paratrooper]

This has an interesting history.
It is my Martini Henry MkII dated 1877, this was the first year of issue for this rifle and was the one used at Rorkes Drift and Islandlwana.
This was an improved version over the MK1 (I have not got one yet) with an improved trigger operating system.
It also got rid of the cheqered butt plate.

This particular rifle was brought back from Afghanistan (one of two,the other was a Mk1....chinned!) by one of our lads in the Army.
It come from a compound occupied by Taliban and had been in the family inside the compound for generations.
The story is it was captured by Afghan Tribesman in the 1880's when we were over there and has since been used against us.
Typical Afghan and arab custom is to polish all the bluing away to bare metal.
The cocking indicator has been changed to the smaller type used on the MkIII and IV.
I am cosidering a restoration to it's origional colour,cost being the issue.
this though is a British Rifle through and through no foreign stamps on it.

Regards

Jim

[lithgow]

Great provenance on the old girl-pity it can't tell the tale!

- - Updated - -

Great provenance on the old girl-pity it can't tell the tale!

[4md]

nice, i wouldnt mind one of these

[lithgow]

They do pop up here from time to time but are getting scarcer and more expensive (like every bloody thing else I suppose).

[4md]

I did see one at the Adelaide gun show in october, Not as nice as Jims, though

[Edmil]

Great rifle! I want one for my collection, but, hard to find one here