Martini-Enfield
Royal Small Arms Factory · Rifle · Out Of Production · 1895
Also known as: Martini .303, M-E, Pattern 1895
Overview
The Martini-Enfield was a .303 British single-shot rifle built on the lever-operated Martini falling-block action. Most examples were obsolete .450/577 Martini-Henry rifles rebarrelled and rechambered to .303 with a new extractor during the 1890s, alongside some new-manufacture rifles. Dropping the under-lever lowered the breech block, ejected the spent case and re-cocked the action in a single fast stroke.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3860 g (136.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1251 mm (49.25") |
| Barrel Length | 767 mm (30.20") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 610 m/s (2001 fps) |
| Effective Range | 914 m (1000 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1829 m (2000 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 381 mm (15.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 7 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .303 British · primary — also known as .303 Mk VII, 7.7x56mmR, .303 Enfield
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Round
- Safety mechanisms: Cocking Indicator
- Features: Martini Falling Block Action, Under Lever Operation, Self Cocking, Single Shot, Cocking Indicator
Variants
- Martini-Enfield Rifle Mark I — Conversion
- Martini-Enfield Rifle Mark II — New Manufacture
- Martini-Enfield Carbine — Carbine
Service history
Operators
- British Army · adopted 1895
- British India
- New Zealand
Conflicts
- Second Boer War (1899-1902)
- World War I (1914-1918)
Production
Estimated total produced: 750,000 · Production years: 1895-1903
Mix of conversions from Martini-Henry rifles and new manufacture; figure covers rifles and carbines
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: Friedrich von Martini
Discontinued: 1903
Notes
Mark I rifles were generally conversions of Martini-Henry Mark III rifles; Mark II rifles were largely new manufacture. A cocking indicator on the right side showed the action's state in lieu of a conventional manual safety. Carbine variants served mounted and artillery troops.
Background
Many Martini-Enfields were literally Zulu War-era rifles given a second life: Martini-Henry rifles of the type carried at Rorke's Drift in 1879 were rebarrelled to .303 in the 1890s and soldiered on as reserve arms into the Second World War, a service span of sixty years on a single receiver.