Thread: Old Single shot rifle

Friend has an old Single shot given to him and was asking if the markings on it identify its age and history?
I have no idea but one of you guys might be able to help??

@mikee need images of the other side also

Should be a date on there also

Martini Enfield .303 1901 Victoria Regent, NZ marked and sold out of service. The HG is Home Guard with rack number, 3rd grouping (can't remember the unit names either at the mo Division, Battalion???) whichever that area was (Google...). Heaps of info on them online.

if he doesnt want it....yip plenty of homes will be found ,rather quickly too.

We need to see the other side. The 98 and NZ show it was accepted into NZ service in 1898, there should also be a number on the top of the rear if the action which is it's acceptance number. which is a bit at odds with the 1901 date. Unless it came as a 577/450 or mm
Most if these and there were around 4 thousand were used for training territorials but some went to south africa. If mm martini Metford it could have been upgraded to an Enfield barrel at that date. There will be serial nos etc to support this as the English loved to stamp everything.

Wow that's a fantastic rifle there mate. That would cause me to enter the black powder game

Lovely old thing
Be nice to own
You mate should hold on to it if he can

Trying to get pic of other side of receiver but this was a Pic I didn't put on original post

I think the rifle may have family significance

Yeah sorry should have mentioned that, the 1901 is conversion date to .303 with Enfield rifled barrel, RHS of the action body carries the original manufacture and build dates. What is interesting is that it's spent 3 years in NZ between N^Z stamping in 1898 and conversion in 1901. Not long for 4 or 5 months shipping as well...

Is there any where on the forum to discuss the value of rifles like this,?
I have a ME I'd like some idea of value on plus a MH complete with aiming tube the same.

Greetings all,
The date, if any, on the opposite side of the receiver is important as it tells us when the rifle was made. Compared with mine the NZ and 98 stampings look crude which makes me wonder about them. I wonder what the S means. The number on the top rear of the receiver is much higher than mine which is only three digit. There is a story here which someone with more knowledge may be able to unravel for us.
Regards Grandpamac.
PS, The rifles in use in South Africa were carbines which our mystery rifle was not. The carbines were replaced with bolt actions in early 1900 while our mystery rifle was still a 577-450.

@grandpamac Under the top handguard there will be another S. That's the full sold out of service mark, 2 broad arrows nose to nose with an S either side.
The back numbers go up to 4000, so yours is a reasonably early one

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

@grandpamac Under the top handguard there will be another S. That's the full sold out of service mark, 2 broad arrows nose to nose with an S either side.
The back numbers go up to 4000, so yours is a reasonably early one

Thanks for that @Marty Henry,
Mine is stamped 193 just behind the breech block so perhaps it went to Africa with the first two contingents. It is far from original now though. Do we know if the Martinis were delivered in batches or one big shipment? Mine was manufactured in 1881 and converted in 1896.
Regards Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings all,
The date, if any, on the opposite side of the receiver is important as it tells us when the rifle was made. Compared with mine the NZ and 98 stampings look crude which makes me wonder about them. I wonder what the S means. The number on the top rear of the receiver is much higher than mine which is only three digit. There is a story here which someone with more knowledge may be able to unravel for us.
Regards Grandpamac.
PS, The rifles in use in South Africa were carbines which our mystery rifle was not. The carbines were replaced with bolt actions in early 1900 while our mystery rifle was still a 577-450.

How many complete carbines are around in NZ?

Thanks for replies so far. I will post any more pictures when i get them