DoubleD
.400 member
Reged: 23/11/03
Posts: 2481
Loc: Retired in Oklahoma
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Ever once in a while you can pick off a sleeper on Gunbroker. I have been looking for one of these for a while.
Just won the auction for this .303 Sporting Martini marked Halloway and Naughton. From the markings I think this is retail gun and not actually made by them.
I saw one of these for sale in France marked Bonehill and I think they were the actual maker. The French shop would not export out side EU.
https://www.naturabuy.fr/MARTINI-HENRY-303-C-G-BONEHILL-BIRMINGHAM-item-6678871.html
There also was another similar in Germany, bit fancier that had been rechambered to 8 x5 7 JRS and the rib cut and claw scope mounts fitted. To butcher an old antique sporting rifle like this-tasteless. Beautiful rifle, ruined!
https://www.egun.de/market/item.php?id=8765714#img
Anyway this new acquistion will go to the range when it arrives and we will see if it shots well enough to go elk hunting with me this fall.
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DD, Ret.
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vykkagur
.300 member
Reged: 28/11/19
Posts: 223
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
To butcher an old antique sporting rifle like this-tasteless. Beautiful rifle, ruined!
If the conversion had been done a hundred years earlier, it would have been a beautiful period conversion. The workmanship is excellent. As it is, it's vandalism. High-quality vandalism, but vandalism nonetheless.
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DarylS
.700 member
Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27654
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
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A standing rear sight, 3 leaves and a ladder too. WOW! That would be fun on our out of town range, with steel plates out to 1,100 meters.
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Daryl
"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V
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93x64mm
.416 member
Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4387
Loc: Nth QLD Australia
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Wonderful pick up DoubleD!
Lovey piece indeed, hopefully we'll get some more pics when you get it home!
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TH44
.375 member
Reged: 21/02/09
Posts: 740
Loc: West UK
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Very nice rifle as others have said and a good buy
With those sights I would imagine built for the South Africa market
TH44
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DoubleD
.400 member
Reged: 23/11/03
Posts: 2481
Loc: Retired in Oklahoma
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Now to find a .303 load and see if this gun will shoot, well of course when it gets here.
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DD, Ret.
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40609
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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Very nice DD. Good luck with it and hope it proves to be a wonderful rifle to use. Taking an elk with one, how classic!
Quote:
There also was another similar in Germany, bit fancier that had been rechambered to 8 x5 7 JRS and the rib cut and claw scope mounts fitted. To butcher an old antique sporting rifle like this-tasteless. Beautiful rifle, ruined!
https://www.egun.de/market/item.php?id=8765714#img
I wonder? Such a beautiful rifle. How much is due to a "restoration" and how much is original.
I wonder if the new calibre and rechambering to 8x57R is due to a worn or shot out bore? A slightly larger rebored rifle rechambered? Might have been nice if so, to make up a .375/303 or similar or a .375 NE if possible. But perhaps 8x57R was done to ensure factory ammunition was possible. At least the 8x57R is another similarly aged classic cartridge.
Such a beautiful rifle. If still in .303 how perfect. I could cope with it in 8x57R if one had one however.
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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"
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40609
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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Quote:
There also was another similar in Germany, bit fancier that had been rechambered to 8 x5 7 JRS and the rib cut and claw scope mounts fitted. To butcher an old antique sporting rifle like this-tasteless. Beautiful rifle, ruined!
https://www.egun.de/market/item.php?id=8765714#img
DD or anyone, did anyone keep photos from this link. I intended to copy them and add them to the NE forums, but see the link is now gone!
If you did I would appreciate being sent copies of the images and description. Thanks.
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John aka NitroX
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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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DoubleD
.400 member
Reged: 23/11/03
Posts: 2481
Loc: Retired in Oklahoma
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Nope, I did not save any pictures of it, too disgusted.
The rechambering can be rationalized and corrected. The milling and drilling for the claw mount mutilation, nothing more, nothing less.
Being Army Navy it is a moderately historical weapon as the records exist as to who bought the rifle originally and where the rifle was shipped. Tnhe rifle had provenance.
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DD, Ret.
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EDELWEISS
.375 member
Reged: 22/11/05
Posts: 608
Loc: Gettysburg
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Quote:
Quote:
To butcher an old antique sporting rifle like this-tasteless. Beautiful rifle, ruined!
If the conversion had been done a hundred years earlier, it would have been a beautiful period conversion. The workmanship is excellent. As it is, it's vandalism. High-quality vandalism, but vandalism nonetheless.
Exactly. I dont mind sporterized guns IF they are done WELL, its the Bubbed guns that really bother me. Sure there are some scarce guns like the G33/40 that make me cringe when I see sporters; but when done well I appreciate the craftsmanship.
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If it's not custom, it's just borrowed
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Ripp
.577 member
Reged: 19/02/07
Posts: 16072
Loc: Montana, USA
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Let us know if you go elk hunting with this...
And good luck
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ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..
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Huvius
.416 member
Reged: 04/11/07
Posts: 3612
Loc: Colorado
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Nice rifle DoubleD!
I sure hope the bore is good. Always a bit of a crap shoot especially on Martinis where a good look see isn't as easy as a bolt or falling block.
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He who lives in the past is doomed to enjoy it.
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50Calshtr
.300 member
Reged: 01/11/05
Posts: 119
Loc: Southeast Georgia
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Douglas:
Great looking rifle, I know you've been looking for one for a while so I know you are thrilled. Hope the bore looks as good as the rest of the rifle but as mentioned previously it's often a craps shoot. Looking forward to hearing "the rest of the story" when you get some loads worked up for it.
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DoubleD
.400 member
Reged: 23/11/03
Posts: 2481
Loc: Retired in Oklahoma
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While I am updating. This rifle needs a new bore. I talked with Mike Bishop formerly of Crossno's about installing a liner. He does not wish to take the job on. A liner is .625", the muzzle of this rifle is .680 diameter.
In talking with others shooting MLM's, they are shooting .316 and .318 diameter bullets with good results.
I may try this and see how that works.
In the end I may have this rebored to .375 2-1/2 Flanged NE.
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DD, Ret.
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