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the 577-450 Martini Henry Rifle researched and discussed

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2023 1:47 am
by timmy
This video begins a series on the Martini Henry rifle and its 577-450 cartridge.

For over twenty years, anywhere the British went, the Martini Henry rifle was with them. Considering all of the single shot cartridge rifles of this era, like the French Gras, the Russian Berdans, the German 1871 Mauser, The Dutch Beaumont, the Swiss Vetterli, the Springfield "Trapdoor", and the Rolling Blocks of many other nations, I think that the Martini Henry was superior to them all, both in design and in service.

Othias covers all of this and more in this first of a series of videos on this great rifle and its tipping block action.


Re: the 577-450 Martini Henry Rifle researched and discussed

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2023 4:33 pm
by ofbiro
Timmy, many thanks for showing an extremely interesting video.
Although the Martini Henry was a great rifle, I don't agree with you in deeming it superior to the Vetterli or the Mauser 1871.
Both of the latter evolved, later on, in repeaters while the Martini Henry was unsuitable to the conversion.
Second, the muzzle was easily damaged by the steel cleaning rod.
Third, the one piece stock of the Mauser enabled better accuracy.
Anyway, thanks again for the movie, mentioning the only poem with two verses about the Martini.

Re: the 577-450 Martini Henry Rifle researched and discussed

Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2023 8:39 pm
by eljefe
This a Martini in .577/.500.
My friend, Tony Small,made himself a birthday gift many years ago. Quite a Martini man, he has them from .303, .38/.40 and such, to a wildcat .17 cal made from a necked down .310 martini cadet ctg.
Poor foxes.
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