Martini–Enfield
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2011) |
Martini–Enfield Mk I & Mk II | |
---|---|
Type | Service rifle |
Place of origin | United Kingdom |
Service history | |
In service | 1895–1918 |
Used by | United Kingdom & Colonies Afghanistan |
Wars | British colonial wars, Second Boer War (Limited) World War I (Limited) |
Production history | |
Designer | RSAF Enfield |
Designed | 1895 |
Manufacturer | RSAF Enfield |
Produced | 1895–1903 |
No. built | approx. 250,000–500,000 |
Variants | Mk II Carbine |
Specifications | |
Mass | 8.5 pounds (3.9 kg) empty |
Length | 49.25 inches (1,251 mm) |
Barrel length | 30.2 inches (770 mm) (rifle) 21.3 inches (540 mm) (carbine) |
Cartridge | .303 Mk IIC SAA Ball |
Calibre | .303 British |
Action | Martini Falling Block |
Rate of fire | 10 rounds per minute |
Muzzle velocity | 2,200 feet per second (670 m/s) |
Effective firing range | 1,000 yards (910 m) |
Maximum firing range | 2,000 yards (1,800 m) |
Feed system | Single shot |
Sights | Sliding ramp rear sights, fixed-post front sights |
Martini–Enfield rifles were, by and large, conversions of the
Overview
The Martini–Enfield Mk I was a Martini–Henry Mk III rebarrelled to .303 and with a new extractor installed, whilst the Martini–Enfield Mk II rifles were generally of new manufacture, although there are examples of converted Mk II rifles.
Originally (from 1889) Martini–Henry conversions used Metford rifled barrels (and were known as Martini–Metford rifles), which were more than suitable for the first .303 cartridges, which used
The Martini–Enfield saw service with Australian colonial forces during the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902).
The Martini–Enfield was in service from 1895–1918 (Lawrence of Arabia's Arab Irregulars were known to have used them during the Arab Revolt of 1916–1918, along with any other firearms they could acquire) and it remained a Reserve Arm in places like India and New Zealand until well into World War II.
Martini–Enfield rifles were manufactured/converted by:
- RSAF (Royal Small Arms Factory), Enfield Lock
- LSA Co (London Small Arms Co)
- BSA & M Co (Birmingham Small Arms & Metals Co, later simply BSA)
- HRB Co (Henry Rifle Barrel Co, later went out of business and taken over by Blenheim Engineering)
- NA&A Co (National Arms & Ammunition Co)
Martini–Enfield rifles were very well made and are more than capable of handling modern commercial .303 British ammunition, but, as with all second hand firearms, they should always be checked by a competent gunsmith before attempting to fire them. In advance to the Mk VII
Khyber Pass Copies
The Khyber Pass region between Pakistan and Afghanistan has long had a reputation for producing unlicensed, home-made copies of firearms using whatever materials are available-more often than not, railway sleepers, junked motor vehicles, and scrap metal.
During the various British military expeditions in the
The quality on such rifles varies from "As good as a factory-produced example" to "dangerously unsafe", tending towards the latter end of the scale.[citation needed] The ammunition used in the region is often underloaded, being made from a variety of powders—or even old film (which contains nitrocellulose, a key component of smokeless powder). As such, Khyber Pass Copy rifles cannot generally stand up to the pressures generated by modern commercial ammunition, because of the significant possibility of severe injury or death to the operator it is generally advised that such weapons should not be fired under any but the most extremely unlikely rare and desperate circumstances, although some collectors have made mild handloaded cartridges for their Khyber Pass rifles.[citation needed] This practice is not recommended, and anyone firing a Khyber Pass rifle is doing so at their own risk.
Khyber Pass Copies can be recognised by a number of factors, notably:
- Spelling errors in the markings (the most common of which is a backwards "N" in "Enfield")
- V.R. (Victoria Regina) cyphers dated after 1901—King Edward VII)
- Generally inferior workmanship, including weak/soft metal, poorly finished wood, and badly struck markings.
Many different versions of the original Enfield rifles are on sale at
References
Small Arms Identification Series No. 15: .450 & .303 Martini Rifles & Carbines (2002) Skennerton, Ian, Arms & Militaria Press, Gold Coast, QLD
External links
- martinihenry.com—An excellent source of information on the Martini–Henry and Martini–Enfield rifles.
- Murray, Lieut-Colonel P L (1911). Official Records of the Australian Military Contingets to the War in South Africa. Vol. 1. Melbourne: Australian Government Printer.