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I recently bought a Martini Henry MK IV that had been converted to .375 2 1/2 Flanged NE. I have only fired three rounds through it so far to center the sights at 50 yards in anticipation of hunting deer. The rifle was very pleasant to shoot and seemed reasonably accurate as well.

The rifle was constructed for the gentleman from whom I purchased it for shooting High power rifle competition. This sport is dominated by U.S. military service rifles.

Instead of the standard 33.06 inch bbl or 33.187 inch bbl of the MK IV this rifle this rifle has a 30 3/4 inch bbl. The forend was shortened the appropriate amount. A sight ramp was installed and a Lyman globe sight installed.

For a rear sight a series two BSA Martini Cadet sight has been installed. This is the one that has both windage and elevation in it. It is a great design!

The barrel that is installed is a Shilen barrel that the gunsmith contoured. Instead trying to copy the nocks form, the gunsmith turned a ring similar to that found on the Winchester M-70. Of course he then chambered it in 375 21/2 flanged Nitro Express.

Now when I went to buy the rifle I knew it was in military configuration. It was my intention to cut the rifle down into a sporting rifle, restock and reform the lever into a commercial style lever for a pistol grip stock and add a barrel to the end of the lever, like this Hollis rifle.

When I saw the rifle and shot it I changed my mind. This is a nicely built target rifle and I won't change it.

Instead what I intend to do is build a .375 2 1/2 Flanged Nitro Express on this rifle...It's a Westley Richards!

The Martini is a very strong action. Don’t get me wrong you should not run out get a 300 Rum put on one, even if you can get to fit. It will take most moderate pressure rimmed cartridges. This may be changing as a company here in the U.S. is getting tooled up to build Martini’s using modern steels.

The real limit to the various Martini actions is the length of cartridge than can be made to fit. The angle of the breech block limits the length of the cartridge, Short Fat bottle neck cartridges will fit where long skinny won’t.

Of course another limitation is the position of the trigger. That doesn’t limit the cartridges, just the shooters who want to put up with the awkward location. Pistol gripping helps just not much. You have to want one.

A Martini doesn’t have the grace of a nice double but they still are a symbol of a glorious bygone era and I would not be without one. When I went on my “once in a lifetime hunt’ to South Africa last year, I took two rifles and picked up a third over there. I took a bolt gun and a Martini and picked up another Martini over there.

I used my big Martini to take a Kudu…

…my little Martini to take a steenbok

I may never be able to go after dangerous game or own a double rifle, but if (when) I go back to Africa it will be with a Martini and it will be chambered in .375 2 ½ flange Nitro Express!!! For back up I will carry a Martini in Westley Richards No. 2 Musket!

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DD, Ret.