Anybody ever ordered from IMA

T

the11

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Sherwood Park Alberta
I was looking (lusting) at some Martini Henrys on the International Military Antiques website. Anybody here have any experience with them? Shipping costs, duty costs, customer service, and whatever other info you might have would be appreciated.
 
All in all the stuff from IMA will be hit and miss.The Francotte and Gahendra's in my opinion are wall hangers.The higher end items are not to bad.Nice to see that even a fellow like you can lust after firearms!
 
Some years ago I bought from them a replica lanyard and leather holster for my Webley Mk.VI. The goods were good, shipping was expensive relative to the price of the items, the order was processed promptly, the packaging was good, it arrived in a reasonable time.
 
There antique guns out of Nepal are very cool!!! I've had a relationship with IMA for years and even cleaned an un-touched P1858 clone and fired it - and you know what? I still have all my fingers - best $250 spent!!!

Older rifles are wall hangers for sure and due to the age many will be hit and miss. If you want a nice example - their grading is pretty good.

Repro kit etc is poor to excellent - with no rhyme or reason. The WWII sniper smock could be passed off as original but their repro k98 cleaning rod 8 years ago was garbage.

They will ship to Canada as long as it is legal.

Great folks despite warts and some pimples!!!
 
I bought 4 martini's from them. The best was the long lever but I like the short lever ones as it was the ones used at Rorkes drift :)
Just be ready for a really greasy rifle that needs a lot of cleaning.
Oh and all 4 are excellent shooting rifles
 
I have never bought directly from them but have had 2 Nepal cache mk4 martini henrys both were good condition one was untouched the other was put through their cleaning process and the stock was bone dry the one I have now is the untouched example and is in good shape for the most part other then some light pitting on the outside of the barrel just under the wood line(common) and some roughness right at the edge of the chamber
 
Add shipping, exchange rate, Canada Post broker fee, (no duty because antique) HST. It all adds up making the sale price not such a bargain as first sight.

However, the package will come to your door quickly with tracking.

Packaging is good.

The Francotte and Gahendras are pretty beat up. I have bought several. The last two (one of each) took a lot of work just to make them decent wall hangers.

IMA have a retail store where, as I understand, a walk-in buyer can choose their rifle from a selection on display. Store walk-ins get the better rifles, the remaining rifles get sold mail order I would guess. I have read on line about lucky buyers who get one that needs little more than a cleaning. I am not so lucky, but that won't stop me from buying a few more.

Read the descriptions about the untouched rifles. When they say maybe some parts missing and wood may have wood rot, they aint kidding.

I had one Francotte that was totally useless, even for parts. Wood missing, barrel bands rotted through, missing the butt plate, rear sight, nosecap, sling swivels, seized in cleaning rod that came out in three pieces. Broken spring, broken striker. Cracked subframe, no extractor. Major pitting under the wood. It did however have a nice bore. I could have returned it (shipping back at my cost) so I didn't snivel, I kept it, I got something exactly as described.


So my measure is that they are good company with great service right to your door. You pays your money and you takes your pick. I say roll the dice and buy one.


If you want a good one, buy one of their British made rifles, pay the money and get cleaned and complete with the hand select option, it'll cost you, but you won't be disappointed.
 
englishman_ca said:
Add shipping, exchange rate, Canada Post broker fee, (no duty because antique) HST. It all adds up making the sale price not such a bargain as first sight.

However, the package will come to your door quickly with tracking.

Packaging is good.

The Francotte and Gahendras are pretty beat up. I have bought several. The last two (one of each) took a lot of work just to make them decent wall hangers.

IMA have a retail store where, as I understand, a walk-in buyer can choose their rifle from a selection on display. Store walk-ins get the better rifles, the remaining rifles get sold mail order I would guess. I have read on line about lucky buyers who get one that needs little more than a cleaning. I am not so lucky, but that won't stop me from buying a few more.

Read the descriptions about the untouched rifles. When they say maybe some parts missing and wood may have wood rot, they aint kidding.

I had one Francotte that was totally useless, even for parts. Wood missing, barrel bands rotted through, missing the butt plate, rear sight, nosecap, sling swivels, seized in cleaning rod that came out in three pieces. Broken spring, broken striker. Cracked subframe, no extractor. Major pitting under the wood. It did however have a nice bore. I could have returned it (shipping back at my cost) so I didn't snivel, I kept it, I got something exactly as described.


So my measure is that they are good company with great service right to your door. You pays your money and you takes your pick. I say roll the dice and buy one.


If you want a good one, buy one of their British made rifles, pay the money and get cleaned and complete with the hand select option, it'll cost you, but you won't be disappointed.
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condition all depends on where it was stored in the castle the Nepal Frencotte and Gahendras see to have gotten the worse of it. I wish they would start selling off the barreled actions they parted out
 
yes and they suck. I ordered and unmarked martini bayonet and it came to me completely rusted and had napal markings on it. I told them about it and they were like sucks to be you and wouldn't do anything about it..
the things they show on there page are clean and polished and are the best pick of the lot.
I would never waste my money on any of their junk.
 
Valid points but a bit of an overstatement IMHO.

Shipping costs you anywhere except for local pick up.

Exchange rate - valid but move to the US if you don't like it.

If you have it listed as an "Antique" make a request there should be no broker fee or duty if not sent by UPS. I made this mistake with IMA - first rifle to see what they were like, everything was fine. Next 5x rifles sent via UPS (charged Duty/Brokerage etc.) - I just asked IMA on the next shipment to send via the Post and to mention that it is an Antique on the outside of the package - paperwork inside - but often Customs doesn't open packages and examines only Custom Declaration Slips.



englishman_ca said:
Add shipping, exchange rate, Canada Post broker fee, (no duty because antique) HST. It all adds up making the sale price not such a bargain as first sight.

However, the package will come to your door quickly with tracking.

Packaging is good.

The Francotte and Gahendras are pretty beat up. I have bought several. The last two (one of each) took a lot of work just to make them decent wall hangers.

IMA have a retail store where, as I understand, a walk-in buyer can choose their rifle from a selection on display. Store walk-ins get the better rifles, the remaining rifles get sold mail order I would guess. I have read on line about lucky buyers who get one that needs little more than a cleaning. I am not so lucky, but that won't stop me from buying a few more.

Read the descriptions about the untouched rifles. When they say maybe some parts missing and wood may have wood rot, they aint kidding.

I had one Francotte that was totally useless, even for parts. Wood missing, barrel bands rotted through, missing the butt plate, rear sight, nosecap, sling swivels, seized in cleaning rod that came out in three pieces. Broken spring, broken striker. Cracked subframe, no extractor. Major pitting under the wood. It did however have a nice bore. I could have returned it (shipping back at my cost) so I didn't snivel, I kept it, I got something exactly as described.


So my measure is that they are good company with great service right to your door. You pays your money and you takes your pick. I say roll the dice and buy one.


If you want a good one, buy one of their British made rifles, pay the money and get cleaned and complete with the hand select option, it'll cost you, but you won't be disappointed.
Click to expand...
 
JTF# said:
yes and they suck. I ordered and unmarked martini bayonet and it came to me completely rusted and had napal markings on it. I told them about it and they were like sucks to be you and wouldn't do anything about it..
the things they show on there page are clean and polished and are the best pick of the lot.
I would never waste my money on any of their junk.
Click to expand...

I have told you once before that you are getting a piece of history that has traveled the world rust should be expected Nepalese marking are to be expected for a bayonet that seen service in Nepal you don't like it don't order from them but there no new production bayonets and you went with the cheapest option
 
Are you are looking for a martini henry in 570 / 455? Last week I was in the Wood Joynt, there was one for sale. Didn't see it on the website so you may have to call Bill.
 
They will not get any recommendation from me.

I ordered a Martini Henry cleaning rod from them listed as VERY GOOD, even payed for hand select.

The one they sent was total garbage. Not at all like the pictures.

So rusted you could bend it easily with two fingers in several places.

When I complained they said I could send it back on my dime, but it would be a waste of time because they are all about the same.

Do your self a favor and spend your money somewhere else.
 
Those Martini Henrys sure are neat, would deffinetly be a display piece, i would like to hear of someone who bought one though.
 
Ax.338 said:
They will not get any recommendation from me.

I ordered a Martini Henry cleaning rod from them listed as VERY GOOD, even payed for hand select.

The one they sent was total garbage. Not at all like the pictures.

So rusted you could bend it easily with two fingers in several places.

When I complained they said I could send it back on my dime, but it would be a waste of time because they are all about the same.

Do your self a favor and spend your money somewhere else.
Click to expand...

you can't expect 130 year old guns/parts that were stored in a abandoned castle for close to 100 years covered in dried out grease to be perfect the fact that the cleaning rods were stored in the stocks makes sense to be that they would be rusty although the one that came with my mk4 was not rusty it did like like it was used to dish out some corporal punishment
 
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