Rumor in Egypt is that when they built it they "scratched" the high quality stones covering the great pyramids and used that to build it and that's why the pyramids look the way they do today.
I think that's a pretty cool story behind the gun. To think, that gun started as a cutting edge rifle in British service, was offloaded upon obsolescence to Egypt, where it was rebuilt with spare/surplus parts, spent god knows how many years probably sitting on a gun rack in an Egyptian police station or something of the sort, and finally a hundred years later turns up on an American UA-cam channel. I love firearms and the trail they blaze through the centuries.
Looks like a lovely rifle still, we can still legally buy Martini rifles in the UK as they are classed as obsolete firearms, I may take the plunge and buy one eventually.
This. It's more than possible to buy an obsolete firearm like a Martini Henry, have it on display, etc with no paperwork, and then put it onto an FAC so you can shoot it, then afterwards have it taken off the FAC and have it be treated like an obsolete firearm again. The rifle is basically destroyed 'on paper' by an RFD which turns it back into, legally, an obsolete and antique firearm (the rifle itself is unharmed).
Great reply Badlander That's sort of my point I have no interest in actually getting a FAC Section 1 as for me it would be a waste of money even if approved as I have nowhere near where I live where historic firearms can be shot, there are lots of .22lr target clubs but that's about it. I like the idea of simply being able to buy a functioning yet legal firearm for ownership reasons, not to actually go around shooting it, then if I did want to shoot it as you correctly point out, I could cross that bridge when I come to it.
thanks for the input mate. Thats the power of interwebz.... I bought an antique Japanese teppo recently and posted a picture of the kanji on my blog. Got a reply back in a day telling me what it said and what that meant in terms of where and when and who made it. Gotta love interwebz....
The fact that i can tell you share my enthusiasm for these old guns is one of the main reasons i love your channel. I love to learn about where these things came from, why and how they were designed, and what they were meant to do.
"it’s a nice intermediary rifle that’s not quite a musket but not quite a bolt action rifle " What do you mean by this? Many black powder breach loaders existed at the same time, many very famous ones too. Trapdoor Springfield, Remington rolling block, things like the sharps falling blocks chambered in cartridges rather than paper cartridges. An in between gun for the martini and actual muzzle loaders would be something like the enfield snider.
Have to say I agree mate... there is something magical about a Martini. Simple, clean and f ing deadly. Holds second place for me to the Snyder Enfield tho.... Im deeply in lurve with those.
I flippin love these carbines. A Martini carbine of some description is definitely around the top of my antique rifle want list. I am just imagining it displayed prominently in my study. God, I can't wait to get to retirement age. I will make a fantastic stroppy old git hahahaha. Great tips on how to identify and on the history as ever. Keep up the great work.
lol. I can't wait to have a proper study, which I will have as I am moving house this year. Nice big desk and corner for my miniature painting, plus a nice antique bookcase chock full of excellent books of excellence. Fireplace, got some nice Persian rugs to tie the room together and the Martini rifle above the fireplace. Might invest in a fine smoking jacket like Ians one but probably a bit garishly coloured. hahahahaha Im getting well carried away hahahahaha
Nope. He's an intelligent man. You don't advertise for bids against yourself. My guess is he already has one , but perhaps he wants to hold out for a better one.
Like the Egyptian Sniders and later Greener Police Martinis one reason that they were well worn externally but little used internally is that they were issued daily to each shift so some were out 24/7 in the hands of users but every time they were fired the empty case had to be handed in and a report made of the event so they were rarely fired.
what I love about these video's is that you don't even need to watch. If you're halfway familiar with Martinis [or Berthiers, or Mausers] you can just listen, like a podcast...
Along with the "Citadel" armory in Cairo, there was a smaller Facility in Khartoum, in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. They did similar rebuilds of Martini-Enfields and are marked " Khartoum" . DocAV
When I lived in Australia in the 60's there were people who put new barrels on the Martini action. The would use 303 brass to make .22 and .25 caliber wildcats. I wonder if any of those are around. It sounded like a lot of fun.
Still a fair few around, a lot of the smaller calibers will be cadet rifles, not full on Martini's. Apparently many of the .22lr conversions are not very accurate, many just having some kind of conversion tube rather than a full length barrel.Proper Martini Henry's are going up pretty fast in value,sometimes they do appear cheap but get snapped up pretty fast! I been waiting for one for a while for a wall hanger. I recently found a Lovely Martini Enfield for a shooter, as i already reload 303 it was a no brainer. Heaps of SMLE wildcats around still, they are bargain basement, i was eyeing of a 303-25 conversion for a lowely $120 the other day.
dunxy :( That's too bad not all of the 22lr conversions were good. Honestly I wish more companies made Martini Henrys, Remington Rolling blocks, and falling block rifles in modern calibers.
The blue paint is Arabic number 1214 while the circular plate marking has the letter "ج" which is either "J" or "G" in English and serial number 147. Its a pretty cool find you have there. I believe my father told me that when he was in the Egyptian army in the early 70s they still had martini guns in service though they were mostly used to hunt critters like the fat sand rat and almost never saw live action.
The Jeem character in Arabic is short for Jiammarya, or Government. Used in Iraqi property markings, and has a similar meaning in Other Middle Eastern Countries. DocAV
These seem to fall into my wow weapon area like seeing them in the old movies and so forth thanks again for coming up with another back room weapon stay safe
Its interesting that typically guard force firearms generally appear beat up and rough handled but the action is still in good condition sometimes barely used. Guns that have been handled a lot but not actually fired very much.
BijiMustardGas1988 well the 5 deployments I did in Afghanistan didn’t really go that way. But your the expert I suppose buddy. I feel someone may have struck a nerve, someone didn't get to be all they can be?
Interesting history. I've always liked the M-H and always wanted one, and a 303 makes great sense. I guess i never knew that so many were converted to 303 later, but that also makes sense. I'm sure they were distributed in India as well. The Brits never wanted to give native peoples the latest and most capable small arms, so that their army would always have the advantage in the event of a conflict or revolt. I may have to nose around and see if i can find a basic 303 conversion- doesn't have to be a Citadel one. It would go well with my No 4 Mk1, i think. Great video as always. Thank you
Those old Martini's are still refusing to die. I've seen them with .22 barrels, I learnt to shoot on one, cost me £5! Also quite a number were conveted to .410 shotgun. The calibre is close enough to .303 that you can bore out the rifiling, and still stay in proof. They were popular with farm workers as the Grey Squirrel, any time you Yanks want to come and take them back, have a bounty on them so the avaerage labouroe could get meat for the table, a cash bounty and the cartridge replaced. Also Pigions on grain crops, during WW2 you could get cartridges if you could show they were for pest control, and the meat wasn't rationed.
Mally57 . Hi , I have a Citadel rifle , with bayonet lug and 3 sling swivels , dated 1905 , it has an armoury repair to the woodwork at the top of the wrist immediately behind the action , the brass disc from the Butt is missing unfortunately , but apart from that is in really good knick for a rifle that is 113 years old and shoots good groups at 100metres. She lives quietly in a gun safe in my house in NZ now , tho occasionally I take her out and let her go BANG!!
Cute rifle, and that one has been there and done that for sure. I mean, I have seen front sights broken off, but I have never seen a front sight worn down to a nub before.
Thanks Ian, for clearing this up for me. I have a 1904 Citadel marked BSA with unusual fore-end piece that was allegedly brought back from Gallipoli in WW1- British made gun presumably used to kill Australians !!
Edit ~ I just realised while going back over early F.W. videos, that the fore-end on my Citadel Martini 303 resembles the one on the "'Martini-Henry I.C.1 Carbine" video from Dec 2014. The others I've seen here in Australia resemble the one shown on this video. Mine has a "Stirrup", mounting a forward sling loop, plus a hole for cleaning rod, which is unfortunately missing.
If nothing else, that Martini would make a great addition to anyone's collection. Now to find a carbine in shooting condition to spend a Saturday (and sore shoulder) plinking away with.
Thanks Ian, I just recently acquired a long rifle version in pretty good condition. The markings on the top of my receiver looked Chinese but after this video and looking again it seems that its probably Arabic that’s a little worn off. Glad I got it before your video. Take care!
In 1882 the British Army landed in Egypt to quell a Rebellion against the Khedive which culminated in the Battle Of Tel El Kebir on September 13th!🤨💂🔫🐴🐎👳⚔️🐪🏜️🇬🇧🇪🇬
An 850 year old building being young in Egypt isn't far wrong - for example, Julius Caesar is closer in time to us now than he was to when the Pyramids were built (4500 years ago)
Stock discs are pretty common on Brit rifles of that period. All my old Martinis have them. I bet if you unscrew that one on the Citadel Martini the old Brit markings will be on the other side. Why make a new disc when you can just flip the old one over and remark it ;-) ?
I would love to see a video on the M1 Garand Tanker/Tank Carbine. It's just a shortened M1 Garand made for tank crews, and wasn't used pretty much at all. But it filled a niche that needed to be filled, and I think it would make an interesting video.
Not a real firearm. It's a civilian creation made by people to sell Garands to whoever wants a short Garand. The military never used them, experimented sure, but didn't ever use them.
By random chance I just grabbed mine (it's not a citadel, but a 1901 Enfield rebuild with arabic markings, so close enough!) and sat down at the computer, happened to check your channel and you have a video on them. What are the chances of that?!? I've wanted a martini for quite a while, finally found this one a couple months ago. I haven't shot it yet but the action is nice and the bore is pretty good. Unfortunately, the stock was replaced at some point and it's missing the sling swivels, but otherwise its in pretty decent shape.
Trouble with old guns that have been used well beyond the expected life, bit like Grandad's axe, three new handles and two new blades. But so what? Each change is part of the history.
I've heard some mixed things, does anyone know how safe it is to use modern ammo (such as PPU .303) in a 303 converted Martini that's in adequate shape? It's a British produced Martini .303 carbine converted in 1894 by Enfield I believe
Ian- You mentioned "opening the breech briskly". That concept makes sense to me as far as ejecting the round but I cant help but notice how thin the breech lever is. Were there ever any problems with then bending and even breaking over time from repeated use? These silly firearms problems always happened at the most inopportune times...in this case it would certainly be while a Zulu warrior was bearing down on you. Yikes.
I've heard some mixed things, does anyone know how safe it is to use modern ammo (such as PPU .303) in a 303 converted Martini that's in adequate shape?
terrence johnson hi Terry that's true but for a long time 310 Cadet wasn't available at all that's why you find a lot of Cadets that will chamber 32-20 as they were not restamped too take the 32-20 and you don't find out until you fire the original 310 Cadet in it .
I wonder how much the end price will be at that auction. I guess it will worth several years of pay for the last egyptian guard to whom it has been issued...
This would have served a useful Rifle grenade launching rifle by the American Army in the Second World War. Strong, nothing to break, simple, strong cartridge.
I am assuming you do not link directly to the auctions anymore because of the new YT policies . . . can you confirm that and has that negatively affected the auction house being represented ?
Ian? My father has a old british carbine percussion cap black powder rifle that was supposed to go to india but there was a revolotion of sorts in 1857 due to the ammo being sealed with animal fat, this is all i have found out about it it has a british and indian marking and was found in a box in birmingham it was still in its paper wrapper and fully greased up my farther has fired it once all the others that where in the box have been destroyed i carnt find any info on them only the long rifle version theres not much info on them any info would be appreciated i can provide pics of the said gun
That was part of the Indian Mutiny. The story was put out that new cartirdge was sealed with a Beef fat, that upset the Hindu religion or Pork , that upset the Muslim religion. I belive the fat wa sactually goat or mutton. Amongst other things this led to the incident of The Black Hole of Calcutta.
I dont believe the part about it not actually being beef or pork fat. That sounds like whitewashing. The British used beef fat for tons of stuff and it would have been much more available than goat fat in industrial quantities.
We are talking India here. The Britsh Raj for all it faults wasn't stupid. You don't excersise controll over three million odd people with a couple of thousand by giving obvious cause for unrest. Religious faiths were an obvious target for unrest and so were respected. In fact most of the problems for the Empire came when Christian Missionaries were let loose on local custom .
Patrick Donohoe The cartridges were specifically made with bees wax. The officers thought their sepoys should trust them and so refused to communicate that fact.
Brendon Burns yes mate the Turks did a conversion with a vertical spring loaded ejector that would snap under the rim of the cartridge a bloke at the local gunclub has one and it works a treat
Metford was balck powder rifiling, when Cordite came in the Royal Armoury at Enfield developed a new rifiling. The Martini and later Lee actions remained unchanged.
"at 850 years old that would make it like, the youngest ancient building in Egypt."
Brilliant! :D
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Rumor in Egypt is that when they built it they "scratched" the high quality stones covering the great pyramids and used that to build it and that's why the pyramids look the way they do today.
@@RealMoukeycat I mean exposed stones instead of smooth surface
If guns could tell their stories, this carbine would buy you a drink and keep everyone in the bar listening all night.
yep
He'd say something like "Martini... I haven't heard that name in years" after giving a long draw to his cigarette.
ok...
I dunno, after being converted to Islam, it probably would tell me the drink is Haram, and offer me a pull on the hookah.
Either way a good night in the making.
I think that's a pretty cool story behind the gun. To think, that gun started as a cutting edge rifle in British service, was offloaded upon obsolescence to Egypt, where it was rebuilt with spare/surplus parts, spent god knows how many years probably sitting on a gun rack in an Egyptian police station or something of the sort, and finally a hundred years later turns up on an American UA-cam channel. I love firearms and the trail they blaze through the centuries.
Looks like a lovely rifle still, we can still legally buy Martini rifles in the UK as they are classed as obsolete firearms, I may take the plunge and buy one eventually.
I never mentioned anything about doing those things.
No felonies in UK law, only indictable and summary offences.
This. It's more than possible to buy an obsolete firearm like a Martini Henry, have it on display, etc with no paperwork, and then put it onto an FAC so you can shoot it, then afterwards have it taken off the FAC and have it be treated like an obsolete firearm again. The rifle is basically destroyed 'on paper' by an RFD which turns it back into, legally, an obsolete and antique firearm (the rifle itself is unharmed).
Great reply Badlander
That's sort of my point I have no interest in actually getting a FAC Section 1 as for me it would be a waste of money even if approved as I have nowhere near where I live where historic firearms can be shot, there are lots of .22lr target clubs but that's about it.
I like the idea of simply being able to buy a functioning yet legal firearm for ownership reasons, not to actually go around shooting it, then if I did want to shoot it as you correctly point out, I could cross that bridge when I come to it.
Can you still own and shoot Lee Enfields un the UK?
The Egyptian marking reads in Arabic (M. Police); I am guessing its a Military Police issued rifle.
Thanks!
Yes further thanks, power of the channel we all learn from each other.
Agreed it reads م. بوليس which is phonetic for "M. Police " instead if using the arabic translation which is " Shorta "
thanks for the input mate. Thats the power of interwebz.... I bought an antique Japanese teppo recently and posted a picture of the kanji on my blog. Got a reply back in a day telling me what it said and what that meant in terms of where and when and who made it. Gotta love interwebz....
Possibly Metropolitan Police?
...or is there a city in Egypt that phonetically begins with the letter M?
if this were french with half the parts smashed ian would be top bidder for sure
The fact that i can tell you share my enthusiasm for these old guns is one of the main reasons i love your channel. I love to learn about where these things came from, why and how they were designed, and what they were meant to do.
Ive always loved the martini Henry, it’s a nice intermediary rifle that’s not quite a musket but not quite a bolt action rifle
One thing about the acton it is almost an artillery pice. A lot of surplus actions were bought and converted to shotgun and other calibres.
Aviation lord
Would love to see some repros in .223, .308, that sorta thing.
"it’s a nice intermediary rifle that’s not quite a musket but not quite a bolt action rifle
"
What do you mean by this? Many black powder breach loaders existed at the same time, many very famous ones too. Trapdoor Springfield, Remington rolling block, things like the sharps falling blocks chambered in cartridges rather than paper cartridges. An in between gun for the martini and actual muzzle loaders would be something like the enfield snider.
Dangerous Amoeba Maybe its just his favorite.
Have to say I agree mate... there is something magical about a Martini. Simple, clean and f ing deadly. Holds second place for me to the Snyder Enfield tho.... Im deeply in lurve with those.
I flippin love these carbines. A Martini carbine of some description is definitely around the top of my antique rifle want list. I am just imagining it displayed prominently in my study. God, I can't wait to get to retirement age. I will make a fantastic stroppy old git hahahaha. Great tips on how to identify and on the history as ever. Keep up the great work.
"God, I can't wait to get to retirement age." I wish I had such a positive outlook on life haha.
lol. I can't wait to have a proper study, which I will have as I am moving house this year. Nice big desk and corner for my miniature painting, plus a nice antique bookcase chock full of excellent books of excellence. Fireplace, got some nice Persian rugs to tie the room together and the Martini rifle above the fireplace. Might invest in a fine smoking jacket like Ians one but probably a bit garishly coloured. hahahahaha Im getting well carried away hahahahaha
James Horsey Walsh Throw in a bear rug and you got yourself a classic mansion study right there
There's a interesting looking rolling block carbine in 7mm mauser in the same lot as this one.
ArthurAlcantara What’s it’s name? I’d love to research it
According to the auction page it's a Uruguay contracted Remington model 1902 rolling block carbine.
Anyone else think that Ian is going to bid on that rifle?
Nope. He's an intelligent man. You don't advertise for bids against yourself. My guess is he already has one , but perhaps he wants to hold out for a better one.
Like the Egyptian Sniders and later Greener Police Martinis one reason that they were well worn externally but little used internally is that they were issued daily to each shift so some were out 24/7 in the hands of users but every time they were fired the empty case had to be handed in and a report made of the event so they were rarely fired.
what I love about these video's is that you don't even need to watch. If you're halfway familiar with Martinis [or Berthiers, or Mausers] you can just listen, like a podcast...
Fitting that of all the ancient buildings in Egypt, the youngest would be the one that started producing guns down the line
I like a nice martini. Crushed ice, sapphire gin, say "vermouth," and add a lemon twist.
Along with the "Citadel" armory in Cairo, there was a smaller Facility in Khartoum, in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. They did similar rebuilds of Martini-Enfields and are marked " Khartoum" .
DocAV
When I lived in Australia in the 60's there were people who put new barrels on the Martini action. The would use 303 brass to make .22 and .25 caliber wildcats. I wonder if any of those are around. It sounded like a lot of fun.
A lot of UK gun clubs and ranges had .22 rifles for use by guests and in traing, I bought me first one for £5!
Dana Patelzick there are still a few floating around you can find them at gunshows for not a lot of money
51WCDodge I'd take a good condition one in 22lr any day.
Still a fair few around, a lot of the smaller calibers will be cadet rifles, not full on Martini's. Apparently many of the .22lr conversions are not very accurate, many just having some kind of conversion tube rather than a full length barrel.Proper Martini Henry's are going up pretty fast in value,sometimes they do appear cheap but get snapped up pretty fast! I been waiting for one for a while for a wall hanger. I recently found a Lovely Martini Enfield for a shooter, as i already reload 303 it was a no brainer.
Heaps of SMLE wildcats around still, they are bargain basement, i was eyeing of a 303-25 conversion for a lowely $120 the other day.
dunxy :( That's too bad not all of the 22lr conversions were good. Honestly I wish more companies made Martini Henrys, Remington Rolling blocks, and falling block rifles in modern calibers.
The blue paint is Arabic number 1214 while the circular plate marking has the letter "ج" which is either "J" or "G" in English and serial number 147. Its a pretty cool find you have there. I believe my father told me that when he was in the Egyptian army in the early 70s they still had martini guns in service though they were mostly used to hunt critters like the fat sand rat and almost never saw live action.
The Jeem character in Arabic is short for Jiammarya, or Government. Used in Iraqi property markings, and has a similar meaning in Other Middle Eastern Countries.
DocAV
Best gun channel. Really love your content
How post colonial nations used european firearms, like the Vietcong, is so fascinating, so much history
Salokin it’s British not European
Wiltshire beers reviews Good ales britain is in europe
@@BonsaiBrandy geographically speaking, yes. But their hearts belong elsewhere
@@louisbeerreviews8964 you must be some geographic expert
I appreciate his opening address in his videos. 😊
I’ve got one of these in my collection. Neat piece of history.
most satisfying BF1 gun, especially pre-nerf
The One shot One kill beast!
These seem to fall into my wow weapon area like seeing them in the old movies and so forth thanks again for coming up with another back room weapon stay safe
I like the history lessons that come with the gun that I "forgot".
Keep up the good work.
Another awesome video! My morning therapy everyday.
Its interesting that typically guard force firearms generally appear beat up and rough handled but the action is still in good condition sometimes barely used. Guns that have been handled a lot but not actually fired very much.
BijiMustardGas1988 well the 5 deployments I did in Afghanistan didn’t really go that way. But your the expert I suppose buddy. I feel someone may have struck a nerve, someone didn't get to be all they can be?
Absolutley bloody smashing
That's quite a beaten martini, maybe it's better to stir your martini after all.t
Yea I'd say that martini has been shaken, not stirred it's entire life...
Interesting history. I've always liked the M-H and always wanted one, and a 303 makes great sense. I guess i never knew that so many were converted to 303 later, but that also makes sense. I'm sure they were distributed in India as well. The Brits never wanted to give native peoples the latest and most capable small arms, so that their army would always have the advantage in the event of a conflict or revolt. I may have to nose around and see if i can find a basic 303 conversion- doesn't have to be a Citadel one. It would go well with my No 4 Mk1, i think. Great video as always. Thank you
Those old Martini's are still refusing to die. I've seen them with .22 barrels, I learnt to shoot on one, cost me £5! Also quite a number were conveted to .410 shotgun. The calibre is close enough to .303 that you can bore out the rifiling, and still stay in proof. They were popular with farm workers as the Grey Squirrel, any time you Yanks want to come and take them back, have a bounty on them so the avaerage labouroe could get meat for the table, a cash bounty and the cartridge replaced. Also Pigions on grain crops, during WW2 you could get cartridges if you could show they were for pest control, and the meat wasn't rationed.
Amazing video and a really interesting piece of history there!
Cool old rifle/carbine :) Thanks Ian
A very nice piece of history.
Mally57 . Hi , I have a Citadel rifle , with bayonet lug and 3 sling swivels , dated 1905 , it has an armoury repair to the woodwork at the top of the wrist immediately behind the action , the brass disc from the Butt is missing unfortunately , but apart from that is in really good knick for a rifle that is 113 years old and shoots good groups at 100metres. She lives quietly in a gun safe in my house in NZ now , tho occasionally I take her out and let her go BANG!!
850 years and still the youngest ancient building ? Fuckin hell...
Martinis are my favorite. Single shot large caliber has always appealed to me
It’s not often I properly list after a firearm, but I’d love to own this!
Cute rifle, and that one has been there and done that for sure. I mean, I have seen front sights broken off, but I have never seen a front sight worn down to a nub before.
Thanks Ian, for clearing this up for me. I have a 1904 Citadel marked BSA with unusual fore-end piece that was allegedly brought back from Gallipoli in WW1- British made gun presumably used to kill Australians !!
Edit ~ I just realised while going back over early F.W. videos, that the fore-end on my Citadel Martini 303 resembles the one on the "'Martini-Henry I.C.1 Carbine" video from Dec 2014. The others I've seen here in Australia resemble the one shown on this video. Mine has a "Stirrup", mounting a forward sling loop, plus a hole for cleaning rod, which is unfortunately missing.
Describe Ian in one word: encyclopaedia!
If nothing else, that Martini would make a great addition to anyone's collection. Now to find a carbine in shooting condition to spend a Saturday (and sore shoulder) plinking away with.
Thanks Ian, I just recently acquired a long rifle version in pretty good condition. The markings on the top of my receiver looked Chinese but after this video and looking again it seems that its probably Arabic that’s a little worn off. Glad I got it before your video. Take care!
A large number were supplied to the Japanese , and to China as well during the 1850/60's so you may not be wrong.
Saludos señor Mc Callum. Por favor siempre que le sea posible digamos la clase de madera usada en las armas. Gracias y continue con buen trabajo.
Algunos utilizaron nogal original pero muchos fueron restaurados en la Ciudadela con madera local. Supongo que este usó un poco de madera local.
Gracias.
WHO TF DARES TO DISLIKE GUNJESUS VIDEO???
HEATHENS!!!!
Blasphemers!
HERETICS!!!
Pagans
Zeekat. Demons
In 1882 the British Army landed in Egypt to quell a Rebellion against the Khedive which culminated in the Battle Of Tel El Kebir on September 13th!🤨💂🔫🐴🐎👳⚔️🐪🏜️🇬🇧🇪🇬
jocks again
An 850 year old building being young in Egypt isn't far wrong - for example, Julius Caesar is closer in time to us now than he was to when the Pyramids were built (4500 years ago)
I really find the martini Henry's very interesting
That stock disk looks like a case head screwed to the rifle lol
exohead1 I thought that too. Should do that as a custom touch on a shotgun and as an easy reminder of what caliber/gauge you are shooting. 😅👌
Stock discs are pretty common on Brit rifles of that period. All my old Martinis have them.
I bet if you unscrew that one on the Citadel Martini the old Brit markings will be on the other side. Why make a new disc when you can just flip the old one over and remark it ;-) ?
sandmanhh67 You must be fun at parties
I would love to see a video on the M1 Garand Tanker/Tank Carbine. It's just a shortened M1 Garand made for tank crews, and wasn't used pretty much at all. But it filled a niche that needed to be filled, and I think it would make an interesting video.
Not a real firearm. It's a civilian creation made by people to sell Garands to whoever wants a short Garand. The military never used them, experimented sure, but didn't ever use them.
lunarpking if if worked well in ether 30 06 7.62 x 63 or 308 Win 7.62x51MM would be a good weapon IMHO
Tim Schuflin makes them on customers barreled actions. Pretty neat guns.
Tim will also make you a BM 59. He re-barreled one of my Garands, does excellent work at a fair price.
mazkact that would be a tough choice
Hey IAn, I'm not sure your website is robust enough to handle all the new traffic. I'm not able to access it lately
By random chance I just grabbed mine (it's not a citadel, but a 1901 Enfield rebuild with arabic markings, so close enough!) and sat down at the computer, happened to check your channel and you have a video on them. What are the chances of that?!? I've wanted a martini for quite a while, finally found this one a couple months ago. I haven't shot it yet but the action is nice and the bore is pretty good. Unfortunately, the stock was replaced at some point and it's missing the sling swivels, but otherwise its in pretty decent shape.
Trouble with old guns that have been used well beyond the expected life, bit like Grandad's axe, three new handles and two new blades. But so what? Each change is part of the history.
What happened to all the earlier remington rolling blocks egypt bought?
I actually learned to shoot in England using .22 cadet version of this rifle! Marksman badge age 9 😊
I've heard some mixed things, does anyone know how safe it is to use modern ammo (such as PPU .303) in a 303 converted Martini that's in adequate shape?
It's a British produced Martini .303 carbine converted in 1894 by Enfield I believe
I just realized this is what the long neck rifle in ark is based off
So did the Egyptians make all the rifles into carbines or did they keep them full length?
They made both rifles and carbines.
So what bid did you put In Ian?
They pick up martinis wherever they can get their hands on them... they also look out for any British rifles while they are at it.
Have you done a video on the Swiss Peabody rifle? Martini "ancestor".
Love the martini guns
Ian-
You mentioned "opening the breech briskly". That concept makes sense to me as far as ejecting the round but I cant help but notice how thin the breech lever is. Were there ever any problems with then bending and even breaking over time from repeated use? These silly firearms problems always happened at the most inopportune times...in this case it would certainly be while a Zulu warrior was bearing down on you. Yikes.
We should really make replicas of these in 308, 22, 45-70.
BTW who gives a thumbs down to history?
What a jerk.
I've heard some mixed things, does anyone know how safe it is to use modern ammo (such as PPU .303) in a 303 converted Martini that's in adequate shape?
Ian please do a video on steyr built martinis and gras
A perfect mad max gun
Question
Does the Martini Henry not have any sort of safety, is the gun always ready to fire at the pull of the trigger.
It has no safety. Don't load it until you are ready to fire.
Thanks
link to page on rifle doesn't work
Looks like Ian is going to bid on this one
I HAVE ONE! I emailed you about it a few months back. Mine is in near perfect condition though. Much better than that one.
By the early 1880s the Martini Henry Rifle was on the way out and the early Lee Enfield Rifles were starting to appear!🤨🔫🇬🇧
Sounds like someone has an eye on their next purchase :)
How much did it sell for ?
In Australia we have converted ( 32 20 I think) Winchester lever guns to 310
Usually the other way around as the supplies of 310 Cadet dried up it was a simple job to rechamber too 32-20
Don Paterson in australia we had over 50000 of these guns in 310 and the ammo is still available new to this day
terrence johnson hi Terry that's true but for a long time 310 Cadet wasn't available at all that's why you find a lot of Cadets that will chamber 32-20 as they were not restamped too take the 32-20 and you don't find out until you fire the original 310 Cadet in it .
Don Paterson that's true i used to have one in 357 mag
I wonder how much the end price will be at that auction. I guess it will worth several years of pay for the last egyptian guard to whom it has been issued...
Gun Jesus tells the story of Saint Martini in Egypt!!!!!!!
This would have served a useful Rifle grenade launching rifle by the American Army in the Second World War. Strong, nothing to break, simple, strong cartridge.
I am assuming you do not link directly to the auctions anymore because of the new YT policies . . . can you confirm that and has that negatively affected the auction house being represented ?
That is why I do not have a direct link, but you would have to ask the auction house about its direct impact on them.
I know it’s stupid but with the amount of these out there I want to tacticool one of these with a suppressor etc. lol
The blue markings on the stock reads in Arabic : 1814
Do Martinis have good triggers?
The ones I've had yes. The engineering is that a brick outhouse, so you may consider them a bit heavy, but they breack clean and brisk.
Fitting thunder stick for our Lord and Saviour Gun Jesus.
Everything should have a bayonet lug on it
Mihály Törley even the bayonet.
a bipod for my bipod
That's strange, your name doesn't sound Japanese at all.
Extra weight not needed for deer or groundhog hunts. Saw them off. LoL
*attaches bayonet on a flare gun*
But the front grip looks like a bar front grip
MH carbines are cool little guns.
Ian? My father has a old british carbine percussion cap black powder rifle that was supposed to go to india but there was a revolotion of sorts in 1857 due to the ammo being sealed with animal fat, this is all i have found out about it it has a british and indian marking and was found in a box in birmingham it was still in its paper wrapper and fully greased up my farther has fired it once all the others that where in the box have been destroyed i carnt find any info on them only the long rifle version theres not much info on them any info would be appreciated i can provide pics of the said gun
That was part of the Indian Mutiny. The story was put out that new cartirdge was sealed with a Beef fat, that upset the Hindu religion or Pork , that upset the Muslim religion. I belive the fat wa sactually goat or mutton. Amongst other things this led to the incident of The Black Hole of Calcutta.
Thanks dodge
I dont believe the part about it not actually being beef or pork fat. That sounds like whitewashing. The British used beef fat for tons of stuff and it would have been much more available than goat fat in industrial quantities.
We are talking India here. The Britsh Raj for all it faults wasn't stupid. You don't excersise controll over three million odd people with a couple of thousand by giving obvious cause for unrest. Religious faiths were an obvious target for unrest and so were respected. In fact most of the problems for the Empire came when Christian Missionaries were let loose on local custom .
Patrick Donohoe The cartridges were specifically made with bees wax. The officers thought their sepoys should trust them and so refused to communicate that fact.
Now I can get the reference of the Muslimgauze's album, "Citadel". I mean I think I can. Thank you :)
Ohhhh THE MARTINI!!!!!
Has anyone heard of a martini or Peabody in 7x57 or 8x57??? I want one!
Brendon Burns yes mate the Turks did a conversion with a vertical spring loaded ejector that would snap under the rim of the cartridge a bloke at the local gunclub has one and it works a treat
thats awesome. Id love to find one here in the stATES
Is there anyone who still makes martini rifles to modern standards (and not Pass copies)
*Inhales* NOPE, not gonna do it. Gorgeous gun though.
I like it.
I'd rather have a 303 Martini henry in WWI than any 303 bolt action rifle.
Hey Ian.
Hey Ian.
Hey Ian.
...You're asesome.
Enfield rifling as in...Enfield rifling. Not Metford. It would be pretty obvious that it wasn't Henry.
Metford was balck powder rifiling, when Cordite came in the Royal Armoury at Enfield developed a new rifiling. The Martini and later Lee actions remained unchanged.
What caliber did the martini's come in? Thanks
Looks identical to my GP greener shotgun.lol
The greener is based on the martini
Will this end up in the Gun Jesus office?