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Parabola
.224 member

Reged: 09/01/21
Posts: 26
Loc: England

.303 Martini-Metford Artillery Carbine Mark III
#369363 - 19/09/22 03:39 AM

Click here to view rifle butt and medallion:
https://i.imgur.com/BvfUFs6.jpg

Externally in”NRA Horrible “ condition, the Metford rifling has survived, and despite one nasty pit near the muzzle it still shoots reasonably well.

Originally made in 1882 at Enfield as a .577/.450 Martini-Henry Mark II rifle it was converted by by B.S.A. in 1896 into its present configuration Carbine, .Artillery, .303”, Martini-Metford Mark III.

The butt marker disc reads “May 1900, 3 Field Troop, Royal Engineers, Rack number 34.”

3 Field Troop was formed at Ladysmith in May 1900, using personnel from the Balloon Section, Royal Engineers. So, undoubted Boer War service.

The opposed “Crowsfoot” Broad Arrow mark is the “Sold out of Service” mark.

Edited by NitroX (19/09/22 10:26 PM)

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93x64mm
.416 member

Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4198
Loc: Nth QLD Australia

Re: .303 Martini-Metford Artillery Carbine Mark III [Re: Parabola]
#369366 - 19/09/22 05:40 AM

Well its an old warrior, bound to have a few nicks & bumps!
Still looks quite good to me Parabola.
Interesting piece, who would have had these type of weapons in the Boer war, Engineers would have done what exactly back then - repairs to rifles etc as the Lee-Metford was up & running by that stage?

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Parabola
.224 member

Reged: 09/01/21
Posts: 26
Loc: England

Re: .303 Martini-Metford Artillery Carbine Mark III [Re: 93x64mm]
#369371 - 19/09/22 06:49 AM

Repair of small arms would have been done by unit Armourers, and I think at the time of the Boer war major repairs and replacement would have been down to the Ordnance Corps (later by Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers).

The Balloon Section Royal Engineers operated a static observation balloon up to the Relief of the Siege of Ladysmith.

When that happened the war became more mobile, so 3 Field Troop was formed to operate from waggons to build and repair bridges, fix railway lines, build blockhouses and the like.

They would have needed Carbines for camp guards, self defence, putting down cast horses and no doubt for discreet foraging.

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93x64mm
.416 member

Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4198
Loc: Nth QLD Australia

Re: .303 Martini-Metford Artillery Carbine Mark III [Re: Parabola]
#369385 - 19/09/22 09:49 PM

Quote:

Repair of small arms would have been done by unit Armourers, and I think at the time of the Boer war major repairs and replacement would have been down to the Ordnance Corps (later by Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers).

The Balloon Section Royal Engineers operated a static observation balloon up to the Relief of the Siege of Ladysmith.

When that happened the war became more mobile, so 3 Field Troop was formed to operate from waggons to build and repair bridges, fix railway lines, build blockhouses and the like.

They would have needed Carbines for camp guards, self defence, putting down cast horses and no doubt for discreet foraging.

Jack of all trades then!!!

Thanks for elaborating mate. As for discrete foraging, that short barrel would have been anything but discrete...imagine the muzzle flash at dusk - it would be impressive!

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NitroX
.700 member

Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39877
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...

Re: .303 Martini-Metford Artillery Carbine Mark III [Re: 93x64mm]
#369386 - 19/09/22 10:24 PM

Picture way way too big. Find an app to resize images! About 1024 pixels is about the largest MAXIMUM to fit.

Or just post a link to the image.

Fixed.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Edited by NitroX (19/09/22 10:27 PM)

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lancaster
.470 member

Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9033
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...

Re: .303 Martini-Metford Artillery Carbine Mark III [Re: NitroX]
#369388 - 20/09/22 12:42 AM

no problem

I allways wonder if this action was strong enough when they rebbarrel this for a nitro cartridge.
other rifles of this period were strenthened like the swedish rolling block when changed for the 8x58RD from 12,7x42R BP.

--------------------
Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
.
bringing civilisation to the barbarians

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Parabola
.224 member

Reged: 09/01/21
Posts: 26
Loc: England

Re: .303 Martini-Metford Artillery Carbine Mark III [Re: 93x64mm]
#369391 - 20/09/22 02:47 AM

9.3x64

Yes , particularly with Cordite that often produces a very bright muzzle flash.

On the other hand the Veldt is a pretty big place

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Parabola
.224 member

Reged: 09/01/21
Posts: 26
Loc: England

Re: .303 Martini-Metford Artillery Carbine Mark III [Re: lancaster]
#369392 - 20/09/22 02:51 AM

Lancaster,

Thank you for resizing picture.

On conversion to .303” they had a hard steel insert dove tailed horizontally across the breech face which was then drilled for a smaller firing pin hole.

Edited by Parabola (20/09/22 02:52 AM)

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lancaster
.470 member

Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9033
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...

Re: .303 Martini-Metford Artillery Carbine Mark III [Re: Parabola]
#369394 - 20/09/22 04:50 AM

thanks, the 577-450 martini henry is like a blackpowder express cartridge but it makes sense the action was not strong enough on the long run for the complete different world of nitro cartridges. maybe they try it first with only a new barrel but see very quickley the action need some extra. the big firing pin was a problem with pierced primer what was very common then.

--------------------
Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
.
bringing civilisation to the barbarians

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