[Nailcreek]

I recently bought a Martini sporter in what appears to be 577/450. It started out as a beautiful rifle, engraved, etc ... I would really like to consider the following work ... suggestions?

1. Cleaned up and the dings, etc ... fixed.
2. Not lose the subtle engraving.
3. Change the caliber to something easier to work with? ... I would love this rifle in 38/55.

 

[DoubleD]

Well the first two lines are encouraging.

I can under stand the desire to change calibers. Depending on what you have doing so may degrade the value of the rifle as is. That will realy be determined by the condition of the rifle and who made it.

How about posting some pictures of what you have. I think I have an idea for you.

 

[Nailcreek]

Photo uploaded ... your thoughts?

 

[[email protected]]

That is a good honest Martini sporter which should be left as found.

 

[Nailcreek]

Joel, I agree. I'll likely leave it as is ... make sure it's safe to shoot (suggestions on Martini smith in WI?) and figure out how to load for it. I really do want something very similar in 38/55 though!

 

[Fushigi Ojisan]

Another alternative would be to go with a chamber insert, so you could use something like .45 Long Colt. Unfortunately my Google-fu is bad tonight and I could not find anything.

 

[DoubleD]

You will find Chamber adpaters for Martini's listed in the link list at www.martinihenry.com/links.htm.

Chamber adapters have a bad history in the Martini because of the wide variation of chamber measurements. They tend to get stuck in chambers.

 

[swedeM63]

A little more research needed....

... as while I don't know much about sporting rifles from this era the photo seems to show a beautifully smithed Martini. What are all the markings? I am sure they would tell an interesting story.

Is there a way to (temporarily) use the rifle in 38-55 while preserving the complete originality of what would seem to be a rare English sporting rifle?

 

[Calgacus]

Yes, it looks far too good to alter. But there is unlikely to be any really good way of using it with .38-55 cartridges. Adapters are very likely to allow gas escape in any high-pressure cartridge.

About the best would be to see if you can get the original barrel out without toolmarks, and temporarily replace it with a newly-made barrel and foreend.

This is one of the sporters which have an action almost identical to the Greener GP shotgun, which was made until fairly recently. Some have the same 1in. - 14 threads as the military rifle, but others have a wider breechblock and threads of about 1.08in. diameter. This is important if you are trying to get a smaller diameter extractor, which I don't think there is any way of impermanently altering.

 

[John Sukey In Memoriam]

If you must, you could have the barrel relined to .38-55, and the extactor would have to be reworked as well. possibly having a bar tig welded across the original extractor and then machined out to the dimensions of the smaller case diameter. I would certainly not replace the original barrel

 

[Nailcreek]

Given that the cost of rebarreling with a similarly contoured barrel would be very expensive, as would relining and rechambering, I'm leaning heavily towards cleaning it up, making sure it's safe to shoot and going from there. At some point, I really do want something very similar in 38/55 for deer.

 

[ktr]

Leave that beautiful rifle in it's original state. If a similar one in 38-55 is what you want to hunt with, then start looking around for a suitable martini action to build one on and pattern your new sporter after this one. The stock and forend from the original as well as the barrel can be used as patterns for your custom build. You can finish it up as close to the original as you want or make subtle changes to suit you like length of pull and drop in the stock, barrel length and contour, sights, etc.
That original is just too nice to tamper with.
>
Or build a Lee Speed sporter bolt action and chamber for 38-55. The action works well with that caliber and the rifle is a classic for sure.

 

[John Sukey In Memoriam]

Sporting wood can be had from www.treebonecarving.com

 

[rudybolla]

Badger barrels can make you a new barrel to the same specifications as the old one. Have a replacement extractor made and you have two rifles: one for whitetails and one for dangerous game - like squirrels!