Cleaning/derusting Martini Henry?

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>>32736017
>>32736019
the best way is a bit tedious and labor intensive.

1. get a towel / roll of paper towels
2. get some penetrating oil (like RemOil, CLP works okay as well)
3. apply a shitload of oil to the affected areas
4. use 100% COPPER (do not use steel) wool to scrub the area (you'll notice the oil turn brown)
5. wipe off the oil.
6. repeat until no more rust****(this can take anywhere from 5 mins to 3 hours depending on how much rust)
7. apply a light coat of oil / rub with oily rag --- when you remove the rust the metal is now exposed and you need to keep it oiled to prevent further rust

***if you are going to just store it long term, cover the metal bits in Vasoline -- works just as well as comsoline. but isnt as shitty to get off

>none of these are deac :-)

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>>32736017
>>32736059
oh and for the record

it has to be copper wool (100%, not just plated) so that it doesnt scratch the steel/finish.

back in the day gunsmiths all used 00 steel wool because the strands are like hair thick so you dont really see the scratches it makes, but 100% copper wool is around now and is waaaaay better for the task and it wont harm your guns.

>>32736059
Thanks man, and jealous of your collection! Are they .577/450 or .303? I'm guessing ammo for the former is pricy?

since it's been deactivated I think I'll wall mount it, so a thin layer of Vaseline seems like the best plan.

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>>32736084
no problem. top one is in .22, the MkIV is in 577/450 (expensive to shoot, but AMAZING)
the Greener is an Egyptian Police issue in 12ga
and the MkII carbine is rebarreled for .303

Im thinking of buying an untouched nepalese martini henry to restore to firing condition. From what ive seen people form their own ammo using brass shotshells like IV8888 does. Id probably end up doing that even tho dies are insanely pricey

dont use anything stronger than cloth and oil or you will fuck up the value pretty bad

thats not a gun to take metal wool to, even copper will leave marks that can be detected by collectors.

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>>32736106
the nepalese martinis are not really safe to shoot. and you will have to get the bore slugged and potentially form your own custom rounds.

pay the extra couple hundred and get a british made one so standard .577/450 will work

every now and then amazon will have 50% off sales on LEE dies for the martini

>>32736017
mad jelly of the wood on your forestock btw

>>32736111
>even copper

I've got a few dozen antique firearms, and a my buddy's 'new in box' blued Browning HiPower that got a rust spot on the slide that would disagree with that statement.

copper wool will only leave marks if you get the copper plated steel wool.

>>32736111
The chances of me wanting to sell it are pretty slim since is kind of a heirloom, but I'll go the gentle route to begin with.

>>32736117
It's gorgeous when the light catches it, has an almost iridescent quality to it.

>>32736117
What makes them unsafe to shoot?
I already form my own bullets for muzzleloaders and revolver rounds so that itself isnt a problem.

On a side note, can anyone help me identify what mark this particular weapon is? Looking at photos, it looks most similar to the MkII artillery carbine. The buttstock lacks any strap lugs but it maybe a more modern addition.

>>32736106
>>32736117
Other Anon here,
I'm in Nepal right now. Are these martinis available to buy here? I know it's a long shot that someone would know that but I'm curious to see if I could pick one up

>>32736151
they used weaker steels in the ones made overseas but the main issue was inconsistent bore diameters. so make sure you know what size bullets you need and dont just assume standard .450 martini rounds

>>32736159
you could probably get something if you went 'off the trail' to a mountain village or something with some cash/trade items....but it would likely be a rusty POS and possible hassle to get back to the states.

IMA and Atlanta Cutlery sell them pretty cheap.

>>32736169
Thanks i appreciate it. I'll try looking around and seeing what i can dig up on if anyone really does shoot the gahendra ones. I just dont really want to spend the ~500 on a bong one that might be all fucked.

I hate being in college w no money and liking old guns ;_;

>>32736154
it is a Mk II

would like to see a close of the receiver marking on the left side though

>>32736017
If you are in Britain check to see when it was deactivated, if it was a long time ago there is a chance it can be reactivated (at great expense albeit)

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>>32736221
Thanks, here is the left side. I assume the modification mentioned is for the trigger, since it is extremely sensitive now.

>>32736232
I don't have a certificate for it, is there a registry I can check with?
Don't really have the cash to either be honest, a large slit has been cut into the barrel (see previous pic), which is itself slightly wobbly now.

>>32736233
coooool.

so is the barrel sleeved? it seems that club converted rifles to .22lr and did shoots at 100yr ranges.

also your rifle was converted prior to 1947 when the organization changed its name.

>>32736258
It doesn't have a sleeve. I don't have a set of callipers but using a ruler suggests it's full .458.

>>32736289
thats interesting.

any idea how it was deactivated? did the weld up the firing pin or put a blockage in the barrel?

>>32736169
They're all anitques, no problem clearing customs.

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>>32736323
for the gahendras yes, as long as they were not later rebarreled to a different caliber

but if you start asking mountain folks if they have old rusty guns to sell you never know what they will come back with, and Khyber Pass guns wont count as antique

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>>32736311
Barrel is unblocked, but there is a cut into it close to the breech. I just shone a torch down the barrel and it doesn't look like it has actually made it all the way into the inside, but would still weaken it. I would know how to check the firing pin, but it does look like the ejector is missing? (I'm not too knowledgable about the mechanics of this weapon.)

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>>32736391
the extractor does seem to be missing. but that cut out would be for the extractor nubbins.

I would advise against disassembly. they are simple guns with only a couple pieces, but putting them back together can be a pain in the fucking dick cause you have to line everything up and apply pressure just perfectly.

>>32736391
Martini-Henry Artillery Carbine Mark II (1893-1896)

These Carbines are basically converted Martini-Henry Mark II Infantry Rifles. Barrels were shortened to 21.35 inches
A rifle pattern front site was utilized. The rifle pattern rear sight was removed, its holes filled in, and a carbine pattern sight was soldered to the barrel
Lower sling swivel added
Unit identification disk added to the buttstock
A Mark III extractor was added (sometimes evidneced by an "S.X." marking atop the action body. Weapons made after 1886 incorporated the strengthened Mark III extractor, but the "S.X." marking was often applied by unit armorors to maintain consistent markings with the unit's other weapons
Mark II Infantry markings were removed from the buttstock, and new markings stamped in their place
Some have "MH .45" and "AC II" stamped on the receiver
Cleaning rod is essentially a shortened Mark II Infantry Rifle variety
Easily identified by their large cocking indicators, a holdover from their days as a Mark II Infantry Rifle
Lower front corners of the receiver body NOT rounded off

>>32736391
get a razor blade and shove it into the cut to see how deep really is.
But even if the barrel has been cut half away you could still weld it shut and refinish the rifling - i've seen it done

>>32736419
Aye, I wasn't going to attempt to, knowing my luck I would never get it back together.

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>>32736431
if you ever do, watch and rewatch some youtube videos. theres some helpful tips, but in the end you just have to fiddle with it.

since youre english you'll probably enjoy these pix as well....

>>32736431
It's not that complicated, IraqVeteran8888 has done a video on it and it looks reasonably easy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMSwXZNLj7I
BTW the best way to clean the rust is to wipe it with a rough sponge till it's smoooth, then boil the affected parts in water till the remaining rust goes black and then oil it. Do not try to go bare metal, you'll end up with marks on the metal.

>>32736439
>>32736442
The jealousy is reaching new heights. The Lee-Metford especially.

>>32736428
Cut goes about 7mm in from the top, I just stuck a pin in and it does go all the way to the barrel, but had been gunked up so the torch test didn't work.

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>>32736461
I also have a Remington Lee

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Australian Webley from WW1

>>32736461
It can be welded shut, the cut is small enough- no problem here. It just has to be done by someone who knows what he's doing - and you'll end up with a fully functional rifle.

>>32736471
Stop it! Damn I'm jealous. Are you in the UK?

>>32736478
It'd need some other stuff two, the ejector is missing and I have no idea what else has been done to the internals.

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>>32736481
Nopers. US of A. A glorious land where all our guns are functional and I can have grenade launchers mailed to my house.

>>32736485
But can you get fresh muzzie cock delievered straight to your ass in public?

>>32736496
Only in central michigan, NYC and probably San Francisco. rest of the country is pretty much muzzie free.

>>32736485
Guessed so. I had been thinking about moving recently (not just for shooting obviously), I used to be a cadet back in the day and got a taste for shooting, but the hoops they make you jump through here now is quite off-putting.

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>>32736506
Yea I worked with some Brits when I was in the Army. They'd ship some of them over here for training.

You could always come over on a work visa and then marry an american broad and get your citizenship that way.

Also, the US Army does allow non-citizens from allied nations to serve, and it cuts a lot of the BS out of the naturalization paperwork.

>>32736252
No registry as it doesnt count as a firearm anymore, but you get a certificate given to you, May be a record of deactivation so you could perhaps ask the proof house if they have any records if you have a rough idea of when it was deactivated.