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

[Joe Pugh]

Hi all as the title says im about to get my first Martini Henry MK4.
It is one of those guns supplied to the Nepalese in 1906 and I have been advised to reproof the gun which seems fair it has been laying in a basement for 100+ years.

So my question is-
How do I go about getting a gun re-proofed do I just call the London proof house asking can they do it??
Also do these guns fail the reproofing if anyone has any experience?

Any information that may be of help would be great to.

Thanks

[Joe Pugh]

Hear is a pic

[saddler]

Just wondering why you are re-proofing it?
Is it not S.58 as it stands?

[Joe Pugh]

Yes it comes under section 58
But I want to shoot it.

[saddler]

You don't NEED to have it re-proofed to shoot it, just have it added back to you FAC

IF you want to have an RFD that KNOWS about such older guns give it a once over, then all good

[Joe Pugh]

Thats fair enough.

I know I don't have to have it re-proofed but wouldn't it be a good idea?

I meant it has been sitting in a basement for a long time and I don't want it blowing up on me.

[saddler]

Thats fair enough.

I know I don't have to have it re-proofed but wouldn't it be a good idea?

I meant it has been sitting in a basement for a long time and I don't want it blowing up on me.

As long as the barrel is CLEAN & there are no obvious signs of damage AND you make sure that ALL the loads you make are safe for the gun....to paraphrase Dromia - all a Proof House stamp does is show that the gun did not blow up THEN....

I also seem to recall that IF it is re-proofed it's then NOT a S.58 from then on?

[River]

You don't NEED to have it re-proofed to shoot it, just have it added back to you FAC

IF you want to have an RFD that KNOWS about such older guns give it a once over, then all good

I agree, I have an old Nepalese Martini which I shoot all the time, it was never reproofed - as said above just get somebody to look it over. All I did was remove the woodwork and look for any corrosion to the barrel which could possible affect it.

[the running man]

You may not be covered by some places insurance if you shoot an unproofed gun,and as it's a condition on your fac to have adequate insurance in place whilst shooting if you then carry on regardless you could face fac revocation or if someone gets hurt much much worse......so it's well worth checking it all out before you do whatever your going to do....

[Joe Pugh]

Right ok then tanks for your answers.

First thing ill do is take it to my local gunsmith ask him to give it a once over and get some advice off him.

Ill update you as I go along.

Cheers