Enfield ID Help

Norm99

Norm99

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Location
Newfoundland
I have a friend who recently inherited this rifle, and we need some help in identifying it. Receiver is marked V.R. Enfield 1893 M.E. .303 AC II and the barrel is marked 38E. Other than the obvious fact it's a single shot, don't know anything else, and don't know the caliber for sure. Is it a .303 British? What does the 38 E signify? Any help/info would be appreciated.

Ok, I know it's a Martini-Enfield and in .303 British. Has the barrel/wood been chopped(sporterized) or did they actually come with a 21" barrel?

IMG_1063.jpg
 
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ME 303 AC II, Martini Enfield .303" cal Artillery Carbine Mark II converted from a .450" Martini Henry Artillery Carbine. The 1893 date is too early for a ME so there is the possibility it is a Khyber pass copy and unsafe to shoot. The fore end has been shortened several inches. Cannot tell if it is still 303 cal.
 
A lot of these were made up as Martini-Metfords and later rebarreled to Martini-Enfield specs, used all over the world until WW2. Actually, NO military Martini was built in .303: they were all conversions from original .577/.450 rifles.

There were a variety of carbines builr, including one with a 21-inch barrel. Front sight on this one looks okay, Iwould think barrel well might not be cut. Wood, though, has definitely been cut.

One of the strongest actions ever built, and with the quickest lock time ever constructed. You can get really decent shooting out of these.

When half of your bullets fly wide in the ditch,
Don't call your Martini a cross-eyed old #####;
She's as human as you are, you treat her as sich
And she'll fight for the Young British Soldier! (Kipling, of course)

Very nice toy. Congrats.

DO enjoy.
 
Martini Enfield

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One of my reference books in Appendix "A", the Rifles and Cabines in the British Service 1893 lists the Martini-Henry (45 Calibre) and the Martini-Metford (.303 Calibre)

In 1895 the British changed from the Metford type rifling to the Enfield type. This was because of the change in ammunition for the .303. Cordite loads were replacing older loads, and, being hotter burning, would wear the Metford rifling more.

Appendix "B', Rifles and Carbines in the British Service at the time of the Boer War lists the Martine-Enfield Artillery and Cavalry carbines. They have Enfield rifling, and are 21 inch barrels.

The Martini-Enfield Marks I and I* were converted from the Martini-Henry Rifle, Mark III. Marks II and II* were converted from the Martini-Henry Artillery Carbines Mark I and III

The Artillery Carbine Mark III and Cavalry Carbines Mark 1*, Mark II* and Mark III were converted from the Martini-Henry Rifle Mark II,

In Appendix "C", Rifles and Carbines in the British Service in 1910, shows Martini-Enfield Artillery Carbines Mark I, I*, II, II* and III and Cavalry Carbines Marks I and I* still in service.
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Royal Garrison Artillery (carbine)
Someone "sportyized" it way back, shortening the forend and moving the nosecap back. going by the front sight, nothing has been done to the barrel.
The only thing required to put it back to milspec would be a replacement forend.
 
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