A little help with what I've got here?

[Ryan112929]

Recently I had a blast with my son restoring a No1MkIII* Enfield. My dad thought I might like to have a crack at fixing up my grand fathers old rifle. I'm told it's an 1890's Martini Metford. It's a .303 but I can't find any markings on it to tell me it's story. Any help would be awesome!

 

[green]

Birmingham proved commercial not military rifle.
How many grooves in the barrel? Metford had 7, Enfield had 5

 

[Old Albertan]

From what is visible, it is likely a commercial production. The barrel knoxform may also have an E to indicate an Enfield barrel.

 

[Ryan112929]

Ok. That's something I didn't know. There are 7 grooves.

 

[Ryan112929]

From what is visible, it is likely a commercial production. The barrel knoxform may also have an E to indicate an Enfield barrel.

Thanks! I will see if I can find an E but it does have the 7 grooves.

 

[Old Albertan]

Thanks! I will see if I can find an E but it does have the 7 grooves.

Well, as green indicated, it is most likely a metford barrel. There are a few sites on the rifle if you googlize it. Very interesting rifle.

 

[Ryan112929]

I've just spent the last 3 hours taking it all apart and meticulously cleaning every last piece. The metal is in much better shape than I initially thought. There was a gunk and surface rust and god knows what else covering everything. Looks 100 times better.

 

[RRCo.]

Looks like your dad played war pretty hard with that one when he was a kid!

 

[AP]

My father mentioned having one of these when he was a kid. So probably around the mid to late 1920's. I think at the time they were the 'affordable' surplus rifle in parts of Canada. My father was from Sault Ste Marie.

 

[Ryan112929]

The old girl has seen some hard miles. My grandfather worked trap lines in Northern Ontario and from what I understand this rifle went with him. I think it cleaned up really nice though. In fact I was able to take it out and fire it today. Felt great!

 

[577/450]

Front sight, is that a penny?

 

[Ryan112929]

Sharp eye! I believe it is. I hadn't noticed. Just went and pulled it out of my safe to look and sure as heck it is! I honestly just thought the front sight had been banged up a bit not stamped.

 

[englishman_ca]

USA coin, I can see 'liberty'. lol. Nicely done to raise the front sight as these rifles were sighted to shoot high. Aim at the belt buckle!

I just replaced a sight bead in a similar way. I wanted a piece of silver nickle, so I went to my change tray and started working up a Canadian nickle coin.

Friggin thing is steel with a silver metal coating!!!!!

 

[Ryan112929]

Can't count on anything when nickles aren't even nickle! I can't believe I didn't notice this though. Lol! I had a blast shooting it yesterday. It's an interesting experience for me firing a rifle that old and thinking of what that sight picture has seen over the years.

 

[infideleggwelder]

what is the total length of that rifle? 37.7 inch? also, is there a hole or evidence of a fastener directly entered under the rear sight on each side of the stock?

 

[Ryan112929]

I think it was 49" or thereabouts. I can't remember exactly. I do know that the barrel is 29 1/4" however.