POTD: A Big Thumper in a Little Package – Martini-Henry Carbine I.C.1
Sam.S 04.16.24
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! The Martini-Henry Carbine was an important British military firearm in the late 19th century. In 1877, the British military formally adopted a new carbine variant of their standard Martini-Henry service rifle. Designated the “Arms Interchangeable, Carbine Breech-loading Rifled, with clearing rod Martini Henry Mk1”, this new Martini-Henry Carbine design allowed it to be utilized by both artillery and cavalry units, instead of requiring separate models. Produced by the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield, the Martini-Henry Carbine featured a 21.3-inch barrel and weighed 7.5 pounds. It was chambered for the large .577/450 cartridge, a scaled-down version of the rifle’s ammunition. Key design elements included the distinctive Martini falling-block action with an internal striker mechanism, as well as some modifications from the original rifle – such as a smaller cocking indicator and rounded receiver corners to aid handling on horseback. Over the next few decades, the Martini-Henry Carbine would go on to serve the British military across the globe. While it represented an important transitional firearm between muzzle-loaders and the later turn-of-the-century bolt-action rifles, its effectiveness was sometimes debated. Nonetheless, the “interchangeable” carbine model illustrated the British Army’s efforts to adapt and optimize their small arms for the diverse needs of the varied service branches.
“Manufacturer: English
Model: Martini
Type: Rifle
Gauge: 577-450
Barrel: 21 1/4″.
Finish: blue
Stock: hardwood”
Lot 208: H.R.B. Co. Martini-Enfield Single Shot Rifle. (n.d.-a). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/2015/208/hrb-co-martinienfield-single-shot-rifle.
