Martini Build

  I`ve recently procured an Enfield MH 1874 MkII, converted to ME 303, 1901, ACII condition.

Heavily buba sported but retaining all but the nose cap stocking bits.

  My plan is to re-stock it in home brew Walnut as close to original military spec as humanly possible.

As it`s still in the mail, I`ll post a picture when it arrives around end of January. Pictures won`t be the greatest; I need a new phone, bought a rifle instead, priorities don`t ya know....

  In the mean time I`ll be looking for some suitable wood and try to find a set of sling swivels.

This should keep me out of trouble for a while......

   for now

Went to a gun show this morning, lot o fun lots of cool stuff.

I got a Mole manufactured P1889 bayonet broad arrow over crown B 36,

other side mole over 5.01 (May 1901?). Two rivet, scales excellent and what looks like a double struck N(Naval?) And a struck out 82, no scabbard. It`ll look good on the Martini.

Also found front and rear swivels. Was also looking for wood work but there was none.

Stocks arrived the other day and settled in to do a bit of work on the old girl

Butt stock first, fare bit of work to get it fitted just right so the lever stop lined up even and square. Drilling the cross pin hole was a challenge to get it right. Lots and lots of location measurements. One chance to get it spot on.

Stock disc, rear swivel, fit the butt plate and first coat of oil.

Just waiting on the nose cap to arrive.

Sure can get a lot done when there`s nothing else to do. need to start looking for another project.

The hand guard is from the left over front part of the full length stock I got to do the fore end. 

Not perfect but looks the part for this project.(I like hand guards)

I made the spring clips from a worn out hacksaw blade and used home made brass rivets to pin them.(old small brass screws turned down to 5/32" shaft with re profiles heads (then annealed before peening))

Cleaned and swaged the barrel. Nice bright pronounced rifling, no pitting, measuring .3085". Good enough for a 123yr old smoke pole.

Long wait for the nose cap, chomping at the bit to get this to the range for some trial shooting.

Rewarding isn't it? Simplicity in its finest. And yes those sights are hard to use.

I built these two up in addition to another thats not pictured and I'm getting ready to start another.

The one on the post is using a No 4 barrel thats been turned and threaded by my son and a scrap fore end that had been shortened.

I still have some work to do,  tidy up the wood and add a sighting system to the one with the no 4 barrel. Soon as it warms up in the shop Ill round them out and finish them entirely. The last one is going to use a SMle barrel but with a splinter fore end made out of a sporter stock front and horn nose cap.

My ME AC MK II.  Had a hard post-military retirement as a cadet rifle, but still original and complete.