About to buy a Martini Henry MK4 (But it will need proofing)

[sniper3]

Have a word with the guys from Dragon Arms( I think they are based in Cardiff), they will set you right.

[TomEnfield]

A gun is still in proof as long as it's not damaged/has rust pits to a certain depth/increase in size of bore etc...
Barrels don't really do accumulative stress so if it's old yet still in good condition then it's still in proof. If in doubt get it checked by a good gun's smith who will carry out the required measurements of bore and wall thickness. As has been said all proof says is that the gun didn't fail at that particular point in time with that particular load, it's a pretty crap measure of barrel strength.

[the running man]

As an addition to the above, don't forget that military proof marks are not valid commercially......

Proof...a pain but still the law...

[channel12]

Has the rifle ever been subject to UK proof or is a Nepali produced Martini ?

If it has proofed at one or other UK proof houses and barrel wall thickness hasn't been reduced by corrosion or having metal removed the it's still in proof even if it was proofed over a 100 years ago. If it looks sound and the bore is in good condition then just shoot it.

If you can't evidence of it being proofed at all or proofed in Nepal then a trip to the Birmingham Proof House might be in order. You can take it there yourself. Or just hang it on your wall and find a UK proofed one.

[TomEnfield]

It's been discussed already but can anyone point to the legislation/home office guidance that regards shooting a gun in/out of proof.

I can't think of any that that regards shooting. Just the sale of guns and even that's ridiculously ambiguous.

[huntervixen]

No offence to your local gunsmith, but make sure you take it to someone who really understands classic firearms.

As has been suggested, you can do the basic checks yourself first, carefully check the barrel and bore, also, strip out the bolt assembly and clean out all the storage grease ( these Nepalese issue Martini's are literally stuffed full of the stuff) and then check the bolt face and mechanism for play and wear.

[huntervixen]

Forgot to say, though I currently don't have one in my collection, I spent a cracking g day on the range with a mk2 and a Martini carbine back in May, just watch the target holder rock back when that big and slow .455 round slams into it, great stuff and very addictive!

[Gazoo]

aint it though

[dromia]

They shoot well too, this is a typical 100 yrd five shot group from my Mk4, the shot to the right was called.



I replace the rear sight with a Ross Mk3 sight, helps me with the aperture and has windage adjust too.

[450 Martini]

Over the past five years I have handled dozens of Nepalese catch Mk IV's and the vast majority of saw little to no use in British service or Nepali service.
The military Martini Henry went through 2 stages of proof, firstly the barrel was proofed then the final completed action.
My personal opinion is that proof is a once in a rifle's lifetime overload test. The military martini henry has one of the strongest firearm actions devised made from the best steel available.
From the 1890's onward a cordite loaded factory round was available through kynoch. In the 1960's many were tragically bored out to 20 bore shotgun and they coped well with heavy loads.
After a check up from a qualified gunsmith most martini rifles are good to go.
A recent proof test is only needed if you intend to sell the rifle on as a section 1 firearm. If you want to sell it without getting it proofed you can take it off certificate and sell it as a section 58 antique.