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Thread: Martini Zeller rook rifle

  1. #1
    Boolit Master Bad Ass Wallace's Avatar
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    Martini Zeller rook rifle

    Went to the local gunshop today and was shown a very old British Martini rook rifle from a deceased estate. Very unusual with an external hammer that rises and falls with the breech block. That it was chambered in my favourite cartridge 44WCF, sealed the purchase. Barrel is 28" and in perfect condition.





    Hold Still Varmint; while I plugs Yer!

  2. #2
    Boolit Buddy
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    Awesome find!!!!

  3. #3
    Boolit Master Shawlerbrook's Avatar
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    That is a beauty!!!! Congratulations!

  4. #4
    Boolit Master

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    I need a drool proof keyboard.

    762
    Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
    My amendment can beat up your amendment.

  5. #5
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    Texas by God's Avatar
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    Y'all sure have neat old guns Down Under.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    Where’s this local gun shop?

    I have to travel @100 kms and they never have anything remotely enticingly interesting.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
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    Quote Originally Posted by barrabruce View Post
    Where’s this local gun shop?

    I have to travel @100 kms and they never have anything remotely enticingly interesting.
    I feel your pain

  8. #8
    Boolit Master



    skeettx's Avatar
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    Good on ya !
    Well done
    Thank you for sharing
    Mike
    NRA Benefactor 2004 USAF RET 1971-95

  9. #9
    Boolit Master Jack Stanley's Avatar
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    What a classy rifle !!

    Jack
    Buy it cheap and stack it deep , you may need it !

    Black Rifles Matter

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy blackbahart's Avatar
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    nice one

  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    I note from the markings that its original caliber was .360, so expect it was rebored and rechambered to .44-40 after importation. A good move for a more useful cartridge. The old .360 Rook cartridge was strictly a small game number resembling the .38 Short Colt or .38 S&W.
    The ENEMY is listening.
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  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    Beautiful rifle, wish I could stumble on one like that! That would be a perfect walking around rifle
    “You don’t practice until you get it right. You practice until you can’t get it wrong.” Jason Elam, All-Pro kicker, Denver Broncos

  13. #13
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Very nice find. I would cut the barrel back 10” and mount a peep sight with a large aperture.

    Let us know how the old girl shoots!
    Don Verna


  14. #14
    Boolit Master

    Eddie Southgate's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dverna View Post
    very nice find. I would cut the barrel back 10”
    Why ! It's perfect as it is , just needs shooting .
    Grumpy Old Man With A Gun....... Do Not Touch !!

  15. #15
    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dverna View Post
    Very nice find. I would cut the barrel back 10” and mount a peep sight with a large aperture.

    Let us know how the old girl shoots!
    Cutting off the barrel would reduce its value by about $100 per inch. That is a valuable piece.
    The ENEMY is listening.
    HE wants to know what YOU know.
    Keep it to yourself.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    Those long slim lines along with the Long sight radius and “quiet” factor are a big part of the appeal, speaking for myself of course.
    “You don’t practice until you get it right. You practice until you can’t get it wrong.” Jason Elam, All-Pro kicker, Denver Broncos

  17. #17
    Boolit Master BigEyeBob's Avatar
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    Nice ,unusual in that the action has an external hammer .The action being encased in wood was a feature of the Vickers Martini actioned rifles .Notice the number above the Martini -Zeller name stamp it says 380 or 360 . Is that the serial number or the chambering ? I ask because it could be 360No5Rook or 380Rook.
    I have a TAndrews Martini marked 380Rook , but the bore and groove Diameter ssay that its a 360No5 I have loaded cartridges for it and it shoots well .
    Any way you are an experienced Martini owner and I know you will provide a good home for the Zeller.


    Kev.
    Last edited by BigEyeBob; 10-29-2019 at 06:25 AM.

  18. #18
    Banned



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    Very nice. The older I get, the more I seem to enjoy hunting and poking around with an interesting, vintage rifle or shotgun than a practical, newer one.

    Please post some results when you get around to shooting it.

  19. #19
    Boolit Master



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    When you get tired of that dang ugly gun, pm me, and I take it off you hands!

    Jealous I am, mighty fine looking rifle, hopefully it shoot as good as it looks.

    762, get a tablet, it was easy for me to wipe the drool off.

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    The majority of "interesting, vintage" rifles and shotguns are also just as practical. They just ain't new.
    "In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'

    The common virtue of capitalism is the sharing of equal opportunity. The common vice of socialism is the equal sharing of misery

    NRA Benefactor 2008

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