Martini Enfield Carbine ID?

The Crover

The Crover

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Good afternoon,

https://imgur.com/a/RO2zc93

I came across this rifle and I'm wondering if this is a British gun, an Indian conversion of a British gun, or a Khyber Pass special?

I've been told it is a Greener Martini Enfield Carbine chambered in 303 Brit.

From talking to an acquaintance with an extensive Martini rifle collection, he is suspicious. His first impression from the proofmarks was that this was an Indian conversion of a British gun with seemingly better-than-usual bore/rifling condition. Then he noticed the style of numbering used in the rear sight was the kind seen East, like in India. Last thing he said was there should be markings on the receiver (even if was an Indian conversion) and the open grain of the wood was not "right".

He suspects it is a Khyber Pass product, and I'm inclined to go with his instinct.

However, in this post there is talk of commercial guns having no markings on the receivers:

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/for...nfield-info?highlight=Martini+Enfield+carbine

And this ad says the right side of the receiver can be bare if the gun was manufactured as a .303 gun and not a conversion of .577/450.

https://www.ima-usa.com/products/or...w-w-greener-of-birmingham?variant=26169875845

What do y'all think?

Love,

The Crover
 
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IMHO it is a commercial arm made as a .303" ME Artillery Carbine style made in Britain c1900-14.
 
I'd post some better pictures on the British Militaria Forum and ask there. Lack of receiver markings is a big red flag. Commercial receivers were marked, military ones were marked profusely. If you got it from an outfit called SOG it's most assuredly a Khyber Pass special.
 
The rifle is a commercial carbine. Nice find. It looks to be legit. British proof marked, if I gambled I would bet on it being British made. We need to see the barrel under the wood to check out any markings.

I do however note that the rear sight bed wears a British Govt broad arrow acceptance marking. Looking at the sight and comparing it to one on a similar carbine, the sight ramps are a wee bit too high and the sight leaf cap too tall for a carbine unit. That and the range of calibration to 1800yds suggests to me that the whole sight assembly (certainly the base) is a replacement taken from a Brit service long rifle (eg. long Lee).

Nothing to worry about as an arm of this age has no doubt been maintained and repaired over the years, it looks to be in good condition. Military surplus parts are the ones most likely to be at hand and are very common to find on civilian owned arms.
 
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