martini breakdown

I have four of these and have had them all apart. They are tricky to reassemble. I believe that instructions are posted on <www.martinihenry.com>. If you don't find them there post a follow up and I'll check my sources. Great old rifles. Is yours full military stock? Is it Canadian marked? Dave
 
Cocking indicator - Hit it!

Don't force it, get a bigger hammer!

The pin is held in place only by the detent screw on the left hand side of the receiver. Line the notch in the screw up fair with the pin and drive the pin out.

Problem is that the tumbler has a square hole and is a tight fit on a square on the shaft. Usualy a bit of encouragement will get things moving. If you can drive it through just 1/8 inch, it will pop right out.

Use a brass drift square to the end of the pin, then tap, tap, TAAAAP, pop! If the far side of the receiver is supported, you won't hurt anything. Those are tough rifles built for service in the field.

Once out, dress the square on the shaft a bit with a stone or fine file, make sure that there are no burrs. The tumbler should be a nice slide fit on the square with very little play.
 
thanks gents, got it apart/ repaired, and back together again. i simply needed more brute force. the crospin was wore so bad it was sorta locked into the reciver sides. we got it all fixed up anyways.
its a very lowe serial number, i have to do some searching. its only 3 digits
 
Low serial number

They had been making them for fifteen years by 1886. They made tons of them by then so a three digit serial would seem unusual. Perhaps a trade pattern rifle?

I have a trade pattern Martini with serial number 120. Made in limited production by a member of the trade for sale to the public, so the likelyhood of low serial numbers.

Or perhaps your three digit serial number is something else. With military rifles, some armouries stamped a rack number on the action and various parts, often a three digit number. The armoury kept records on their own rack number, not factory serials.

I just looked at an 1886 Mk.IV marked with rack number 255 on the underside of the receiver, in the barrel channel, on the breech block and on the side of the butt. Full martial markings and cypher on the side of the receiver. 255 is the only number visible on the exterior. However, the actual factory serial number of this rifle is marked on the front face of the receiver and also on the barrel's lower knox form flat. The forewood has to be removed to see it.

Take yours off and have a look.
 
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