Martini Enfield 303 Carbine

Description:

Historic Martini Enfield 303 Carbine. Recently rebarrelled with a new unissued Lee Enfield Mk1 No 3 barrel and sight set. The original action is stamped 'Enfield 1874 III' on the right side and 'V.R. Enfield 1900 M.E. 303 II' on the left side.

The known history is it was found in the recent amnesty on a rural property near Port Pirie SA. Handed in and then permitted by SAPOL to be registered as a historic firearm, which is when I acquired it. The original barrel was ruined from poor maintenance and useless and it was decided to reform an original 303 Lee Enfield barrel to fit onto it, which research indicated was a common practise until the 1960s. Action internals are very good and tight.

Further research indicated the carbine type Martini 303s were common issue to civilians to purchase in the early 1900s or acquired when part of the various militia units, of which the north of SA was known for recruitment to the 'SA Mounted Rifles,' a unit still in the Australian ADF order of battle. This carbine has been reblued, but has sign of having the former hard life, having some pitting present on the action sides. It shoots fine groups in test firing with Mk7 spec 303 ammo. Something different. Asking price is what it cost us to repair and get it back to a shooter.