Estimate

£250 - £300

Martini-Enfield Artillery Carbine Mk I .303 underlever service carbine, deactivated to EU standard with moving parts, 20 1/2 in. sighted barrel with various ownership and inspection marks, falling block action with underlever. Left side of receiver crisply marked with crown over 'V.R / ENFIELD / 1897 / lock viewer's mark / M.E. .303 / A. C. I', right side with crown over 'V.R / ENFIELD / 1882 / lock viewer's mark / III / I' (being the details of the original donor Mk III Martini-Henry Rifle), receiver bridge marked 'E' for Enfield rifling, and 'NOT / FOR / BALL', walnut stock, butt carved ' 'L D / 24' to left with faint roundel and brass butt-disc over, disc marked 'V / 8. LCS. A / 12 . 98 / 124', showing the gun was issued to the Royal Lancashire Militia Artillery (a volunteer unit) in December 1898 as gun no.124, the butt has been shortened by approx 1 in. and the bolt and plate screw holes filled by a regimental armourer. The receiver barrel and butt all marked with facing arrows and 'CC', being the 'sold out of service' mark for Cape Colony. Complete with sling swivels and EU Certificate of Deactivation. This gun began as a Martini-Henry Rifle Mk III, was converted to a Martini-Enfield Artillery Carbine Mk I issued to the Royal Lancashire Militia Artillery (incorporated into the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1899), was sent to South Africa for service in the Boer War, then transferred to the government of Cape Colony where it was shortened and stamped 'NOT FOR BALL' (i.e. not to be shot with live rounds) where it was used for cadet training purposes before being sold out of service. An unusual gun with an interesting history.