Khyber Pass Martini?

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bearhunter

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I picked up a nice Martini/Peabody at the Salmon Arm gun show last weekend.

Upon closer inspection, it was obvious that it wasn't made in any factory.

There are matching numbers on all of the parts, includeing the stock "22" plus several numbers on the flats, none of them straight. There is an inclined rear tangeant sight base with the standard flip up sight and both parts are stamped, but also by hand, for yardage. The right/top side of the receiver is stamped with a slightly crooked crown.

There aren't any model or date stamps anywhere, or British proof marks, or ayone elses' for that matter.

The checkered "thumb" position is obviously hand done and there are file marks on the top of the receiver, with some middle east engraveings. No markings on the stock other than the serial number "22" and three "S" marks on the forend tang.

The trigger, gaurd and lever as well as the breechblock are only stamped with the number "22".

The butt plate and brass disc in the stock are all a little small and only resemble the real thing. There is also a top handgaurd behing the rear sight, that was obviously there from the beginning.

Other than that, at first glance you wouldn't be able to tell the difference from a factory rifle. It functions perfectly and has a very good or better bore.

By the way, it's in 303 British calibre.

Being as computer challenged as I am, I've never been successfull submitting photos to this or the milsurp site without help. If someone is willing, I will take a bunch of photos and submit the pics to either or both sites, for viewing. bearhunter:)
 
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I would not mind a good shooting version in .303 at all. I would have it checked out by a competent gunsmith and use it for reancting plinking and maybe even the occasional whitetail. There was a Nepalese version that was looks just like the Martini on the outside but has a different action. It was called the Genendra
rifle. The action is a little longer than the Martini and the lever has a distinct upward turn. There was also another version found in the Nepalese cache very similar to a Mark 2 but you could remove the internals and the trigger pull was very very heavy.

I know next to nothing about Martinis I just read this info straight from the G&A surplus mag.
 
Thanks bdft, i'll look into that site thoroughly.

The more I look at this rifle, the more amazeing it seems. The craftsmanship is perfect. The parts don't interchange with any of the other martini/enfiels/peabody types I have but, are very close.

It really is a marvel of what a motivated individual can do. I've seen some of the homemade pistols from Viet Nam and Europe, from WW2. Nothing matches the craftsmanship of this rifle.

I won't go on about it anymore, it needs to be seen to be believed. bearhunter
 
Calum, as mentioned above, I'm computer challenged. I've never been able to send pics successfully other than by email. If you would be so kind as to post them on this and the Milsurp site for me I would be happy to take and send them to you for forwarding and very much appreciate it. bearhunter
 
Keep in mind that a number of private firms manufactured Martinis during WWI as training and home guard rifles. From what I understand, most of these had the same general look and feel as many military production rifles, but dimenisionally weren't exactly the same. Often they made bayonets as well that fit the same description. The one I have is very well made, but has no military or manufacturer markings at all. It does have proof marks, however. My Khyber pass .303 carbine has no military marks or correct proof marks. It does have "NITRO PROVED" marked on the barrel, but all the letters a mirror images :eek: ! From what I have read, some of these were good enough quality that they were actually purchased by the British army during times of extreme shortages. I don't think I would fire one, however, as sometimes the metal used wasn't quite up to snuff.
 
Alan Lever brought a whole bunch of these into the country back in the '60s. I remember going into his shop and looking at Martini .303 PISTOLS that were dated in the 1920s and had Queen Victoria's signet on them..... backwards.

What you have may or may not be a Khyber Pass rifle. It could be a reworked and renumbered rifle that was done in a small arsenal. There has been a lot of time since 1871 for these things to get messed around. Photographs WOULD be good to have in this case.

I sympathize with your computer-ineptness when it comes to photos; I have exactly the same problem myself..... and get flamed for it. There's GOTTA be a better way!
 
As mentioned twice above, I will be happy to supply photos to anyone that can post them here for me. I really am computer challenged and have tried to do this more than once, without success. bearhuunter
 
John Sukey said:
Just keep in mind, YOU ARE THE PROOF TESTER;)

Now if it failed in the Khyber Pass, your relatives would make sushi of the guy who made it.
Click to expand...

I always thought that was a helluva motivation for the Peshawar gunsmiths. If one their guns blew up in a warlord's face the penalty would be severe. Remember Kipling's comments about "lying wounded on Afghanistan's plains." :D
 
Here Are the Pics From Bearhunter

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tootall and all of you other sceptics, myself included, I really don't intend to shoot this rifle, other than some very light cast rounds. I'm more than willing to bet that someone has put a fair bit of ammo through it at one time or another though. The bore is VG+ to excellent and the rest of the rifle is Good+ as can be seen in the pics, thanks vhenem, much appreciated.

I'm still very impressed by the workmanship, better than some of the British factory stuff and leaps and bounds ahead of some of the WW2 resistance and Vietnamese stuff I've seen. I've also seen a lot of homemade guns in Africa,if you want to talk about scarey.

I'll bet that "Khyber Special" could tell more than one tale, tall or otherwise.

Again, I admire the tenacity, determination and ethic that is behind this rifle, very inspireing. A real thorn in the side of Dionn and Layton. Something material instead of just semantical for them to choke on. bearhunter
 
Someone shot that rifle at some point. They no doubt shot military 303 out of it too. It wasn't made for fun or practice. I had a Khyber pass 303 that was made up of old BSA parts and handmade parts. It would keyhole every round at 50 yds. :D
 
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