| Brithunter |
| (.300 member) |
| 26/03/10 08:33 PM |
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Re: A light .303 Martini "Muscat"
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Quote:
Very interesting, Brithunter.
Australia's most famous deerhunter, Arthur Bentley, used something like that to hunt sambar for many years. I think his was sporterised here and he has carved a deer into the butt-stock.
Your rifling would be a challenge to clean. I don't suppose it is the original barrel. Breech-loading military arms with full wood were sometimes designated 'muskets', though the spelling on yours suggests the maker was in the grip of the grape.
- Paul
Ahhh Paul "Muscat" is in Oman and ir seems that the Sultan of Oman had these made in both Belgium and England, of course mine is Belgian, it has however been repaired in Oman at soem point as the sear is a "Local" hand made "Armours" replacment and the parts are all numbered with a number and pattern od chisel marks. I suppose to keep all the parts together when on the bench.
Dr Rhodes from the HBSA is working in Oman with the Omanis reserching and restoring a "Citidel" or fort and I understand these are documented so it's not a true sporterisation as it's believed that they were built like this. Sorry I don't know who in Belgium made it. It's not made to British Military pattern as a breech block from an Enfield AC11 would not even go into the action slot.......... Yep I tried just for the heck of it.
As for the barrle yes it's the original but I don't know anything about the rifling or it's type it's not one I have come across before. I did fire some MkV11 through it but it left a lot of copper fouling in the bore so after cleaning it out I switched to gas checked cast bullets and last time I shot it was using "The Load" on the indoor 25 M pistol range..