Martini henry 577-450 carbine with Liege proofs

[Kelsey Cooter]

Hey guys I got this martini henry home this week, and I'm wondering if anyone can tell me anything about it.

The only stamps visable without removing the timber are the stamps on top of the breech block and top of the barrel.

On the barrel is MARTINI DF1901, would it have been common for a Liege gunmaker to be chambering a Martini in 577-450 in 1901?

Under the forend timber the receiver, barrel, the metal that hooks into the receiver and the nose cap are all stamped 477 HD

The forend timber has been replaced at some point, it doesn't match the stock and fits fairly poorly.

Looking around on the net I found this info on Belgium proof stamps.
I also info a small amount of info talking about Liege Martinis and the Muscat markets.

So what do you blokes think of this old girl?

[Kelsey Cooter]

Proof marks

[No1Mk3]

G'day Kelsey Cooter,
As you have already discovered you have an example of the "Muscat Martini" made by various Liege gunmakers for the Sultanate of Oman as well as for Persia, which all shipped via Oman. These are not common here, and were made in several variants of carbine and short rifle having elements of Garrison, Cavalry & Artillery carbine form, most had a makers name but some did not and are also to be found in 303. They seem to date from about 1897 through to 1914 when Belgium fell to German forces and are still seen and used around Oman even today, Cheers

[Kelsey Cooter]

G'day Kelsey Cooter,
As you have already discovered you have an example of the "Muscat Martini" made by various Liege gunmakers for the Sultanate of Oman as well as for Persia, which all shipped via Oman. These are not common here, and were made in several variants of carbine and short rifle having elements of Garrison, Cavalry & Artillery carbine form, most had a makers name but some did not and are also to be found in 303. They seem to date from about 1897 through to 1914 when Belgium fell to German forces and are still seen and used around Oman even today, Cheers

Thanks No1, I was expecting you would know what it was.
Which type of carbine is this one?
And what tells you it is a Muscat Martini?
Is there anywhere else I should look for more stamps? All I've done is removed the front timber so far.

[No1Mk3]

francotte fusil contrat perse hallantique-07.jpg (97.29 KiB) Viewed 2071 times

G'day Kelsey Cooter,
First off the decorative brass sleeve around the grip is very common to these Oman carbines, the main use of which was for mounted troops so rifles were almost non-existant in these contracts. Then the fact it is Belgian made and late date fits the guns shipped to the Sultanate and Persia, as well as a large number that went to Afghanistan, add to that the very unique front sling swivel common to nearly all of these carbines. There is no actual type, with each maker free to supply a carbine in the form, so yours has elements of a Cavalry type in the front band having bo bayonet lug, but Artillery action not having the Cavalry shoulders. Where you looked for markings is most common for Belgian guns, where yours is marked "Martini, DP 1901" on the Nocks form they are commonly marked "Martini Muscat". Some of these can be very decorative as this Persian model shows, Cheers

[Kelsey Cooter]

That's awesome thank you for the information.
Is the photo you posted one you own?
When you say mounted troops, was the brass decorations added while in military service or was that only something that was done to personally owned carbines?

[No1Mk3]

No, it is not mine sadly but I would dearly love to own it! The decorations were sometimes added during service but mostly after, a soldier was given his rifle by the Sultan and would carry it all his life as after formal military service he was at the Sultans call. Surplus arms were also sold cheaply to civilians, who were also expected to support the Sultan (but often rebelled also!) and were common among rural tribesmen for stock protection and home defence, all of these arms were decorated, Arabia has a very long tradition of decorating weapons, like the highly ornate metalwork of so many jezails that still exist. You have an uncommon rifle here in Australia, it would be the envy of many collectors, Cheers.

[Kelsey Cooter]

Thanks no1, yeah it's a pretty cool addition to my carbine collection. Thanks for all the info, you've told me more than any write ups I could find on the Muscat Martinis