Questions about a... Martini Target Rifle by W.W. Greener?

[louthepou]

Hi fellows,

I know this is a bit outside the usual milsurp category but I think it still fits here... I hope

A CGN member tasked me with some TLC on a Martini of his. Believed to be a military trainer at first, upon closer inspection I started thinking that it could be something slightly different. It was prepared "For the NRA by W.W. Greener".

And there's a peep sight at the rear:

That peep sight doesn't look like an original one (I may be wrong) and I can't find any markings on it (and there seems to be a nail holding it in place...).

I wonder how much I can learn about this one, anyone has info?

Thanks, and have a jolly good Sunday morning

Lou

 

[wheaty]

Greener never made them, they just converted them. The rifle is a military rifle and they were made up in .22 for the miniature rifle association in the UK. Most are well beat up as they were used as club rifles. They were a cheap rifle for the clubs to use for applicants before they got their own firearms certificate that allowed them to buy firearms. Most got sold off about 30 years ago via UK auction houses.

 

[englishman_ca]

Martini Enfield converted

Around the turn of the 20th century, the British Empire stretched around the globe. She had one of the top military establishments and encouraged marksmanship back on home soil and in the provinces. It was thought wise to teach its citizens how to shoot as this was the pool from which its future servicemen would be drawn.

Rifle clubs were very popular and actually supported and encouraged by the government. Many well equipped private and public schools had a target range. My Grammar school had a 25 yard range built right in a basement running under the main corridor. Drill halls had them as did many municipal buildings.

To meet the demand for small bore rifles, companies such as Greener converted military service rifles, in this case a 303 Mk.II Martini Enfield, to small bore. There were a couple of different calibers, but .22 rim fire was probably the most popular.

The rear peep sight is an accessory item, not military.

So you have an ex military rifle converted to a range or target rifle.

Usually great shooters with that stiff barrel fitted with a .22 liner.

Nice thing is you can practice with the Martini, fire 100 rounds and still have a shoulder. Cheap to shoot too.

These rifles are often overlooked, they are fast becoming a collectible as witnessed by their steadily rising price tag.

I have a Martini cavalry carbine that is converted to 22 by an unknown, it is an absolute tack driver right out to 100 yards, but limited by its service sights. Hence the need for peep sights.

Nice gun. Clean her gently, fix her up, but try to leave the patina intact. A gun this old is allowed to look this old.

P.S.
'SX' is a military mark denoting that the rifle was at one time retrofitted and upgraded during its service with a Strengthened eXtractor

 

[louthepou]

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

Nice gun. Clean her gently, fix her up, but try to leave the patina intact. A gun this old is allowed to look this old.

Rest assured, the plan was never to camo-spray-paint her with krylon

Actually I'm about to test on a hidden area, I believe someone varnished the wood in the past. If so, I'm planning on stripping the varnish and re-oiling the stock with linseed oil - so I want to confirm this would have been the right finish? Unless a varnish of some sort was the norm when conversion work was done? I doubt it but... I prefer asking rather than assuming before acting

Other than that, the rest of the work will only involve cleaning the grime off some metal bits with gun oil.

 

[englishman_ca]

Finishing counts

Yup, raw linseed oil is what would have been used originally as a finish on the wood.

At the factory, the woodset would have been soaked in a bath of warm oil and then applied in service by the soldier as needed as part of the cleaning regime.

Greener might have applied varnish at coversion, but all the specimens that I have seen appear to have the oil finish.

 

[cantom]

Yup, raw linseed oil is what would have been used originally as a finish on the wood.

At the factory, the woodset would have been soaked in a bath of warm oil and then applied in service by the soldier as needed as part of the cleaning regime.

Greener might have applied varnish at coversion, but all the specimens that I have seen appear to have the oil finish.

Speaking of linseed oil...I have some Boiled Linseed Oil I think I bought at CTC or Home Hardware. But I think I'd like to find some Raw Linseed Oil, the Right Stuff.

Where to buy it?

 

[desporterizer]

Its usually right beside the boiled stuff.

 

[smellie]

I find the commercial "Boiled" Linseed Oil has been chemically treated to mimic real BLO as an additive for PAINT. It has not been actually boiled, but, rather, chemically altered and it does not make a good finish without some Japan Dryer added. In the case of some brands, you need a LOT of the Japan Dryer; if the oil is actually properly boiled, only a few drops are necessary for an excellent finish.

You can get "artists' grade" BLO at an art store and that makes a nice finish when rubbed in and polished. Add a small amount of Japan Dryer for best results.

My hardwares (Home and McLeod's both) stock THREE grades of linseed oil: Raw, "Boiled" and "Double Boiled" which appears actually to have been BOILED. There is very little price difference. The "Double Boiled" has instructions on the bottle for doing a rubbed French Polish finish, so this would be the stuff to get.

They ALL stink and they ALL will spontaneously combust if given the chance, so you want a sealed metal can to put your rags into afterwards..... either that or into the house of that neighbours' dog that keeps you awake at night with its barking..... and hope for the best!

Hope this helps someone.
.

 

[smellie]

Lou, you are right about that rear sight. It is an American-made Lyman.

Believe it or not, I have the identical rear sight..... on my ARMAGUERRA MODEL 39!!!!!! Some CLOWN removed and tossed the original rear sight and substituted one of these! Ever try finding a proper rearsight for a rifle of which there were less than 100 built?
.

 

[Mk VII]

These converted Martinis were fairly common here and most clubs had one or two at one time. Often the barrels are bored out and lined.
Often they will say things like 'converted by C.G. Bonehill for the S.M.R.C.' on the side. It is common for the military forend to be cut down somewhat. Parker-Hale sold one which they called the C.M.T. (Converted Martini Target) with final clear-up of parts on hand just after WW2.
The sight is fairly similar to the BSA types that were commercially available.

http://www.rifleman.org.uk/W.W.Greener_martini_target_rifles.htm