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Thread: Flea market, auctions and yard sale finds

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
    labradigger1's Avatar
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    Flea market, auctions and yard sale finds

    Bought 3 large frame martini actions from a flea market in OH this weekend. 2 are mk IV Enfields and I’m guessing the engraved one is as well.
    Pricey sum of $110 for all 3.
    All 3 don’t seem to have ever been 303’s, no markings for such and all have regular extractors. One has the small cocking indicator.
    None appear to be Khyber Pass variety’s to me. Not many markings left on the engraved action.
    The two blued actions took about 3 hrs ea to uncrud who knows how many years of hardened grease, still not clean but are much better than when I received them.
    Now for calibers, I’m thinking 218 bee, 219 zipper and 38-55 or 357 super mag.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 19143571-7325-4C98-BDD6-F498BA3AC990.jpg   5435A785-DEE1-4279-BFFA-92EF3ED9FE79.jpg   E503BD52-CCF8-41DB-BA41-75A732CF5C14.jpg   19963DFC-3CA2-4326-A8A0-6880F885E664.jpg   AC443FE5-3566-4349-91A3-F6335888A7DC.jpg  

    45C7D0F3-9CA6-4B84-8A54-AD3D832F5041.jpg   4DBE1C36-CA95-4197-90C2-A9B0FE23FE4F.jpg  
    Life is so much better with dogs!

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

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    Nice find. Keep us updated on your projects with these.
    NRA Benefactor Member NRA Golden Eagle

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    Very few,virtually none of the Mk 1V s were converted to 303.......looks to me like someone bought them to practice engraving on......For conversion to HP rounds,a 303 would save you the work of bushing the block and reducing the firing pin dia.

  4. #4
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    Lucky, Lucky, Lucky!

    Those will make for nice projects. I’m biased, but would build a nice 30-40 Krag on the engraved action!!

  5. #5
    Boolit Master marlinman93's Avatar
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    What a great find, and price! That engraved one will be fun to inlet the stocks to!

  6. #6
    Boolit Master pertnear's Avatar
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    Build a .219 Zipper for sure!
    Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master


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    By chance was that Ohio swap meet anywhere near Lima: did they also have coon dog trials? If so I was there also and found a long wanted item for a price I could live with; it was a great weekend!
    Last edited by nagantguy; 09-03-2018 at 01:23 PM.

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master pietro's Avatar
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    .

    The scalloped rear edges of that engraved Martini is very unusual...…….

    It smacks of Scheutzen rifles made in a very small European (Germany, Austria, Bavaria, etc) shop, and might had even been built from scratch by the gunsmith - which would explain the lack of markings.

    Although YMMV, if it were mine, for conversion, I would first have a good engraver chase the worn engraved scrolls & scenic panels.

    Stocking with the scalloping will prove to be interesting...………………………………



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  9. #9
    Boolit Master marlinman93's Avatar
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    It wouldn't be unusual for an engraved action to be polished smooth first before doing custom engraving. So the lack of markings may only denote an old action that was later customized and engraved.
    Had it been done for a factory, all markings would have been retained.

  10. #10
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    Guys, please don't make offers to buy or sell on this thread!

    Thank you.
    Steve,

    Life Member NRA
    Colorado Rifle Club member
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  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by nagantguy View Post
    By chance was that Ohio swap meet anywhere near Lima: did they also have coon dog trials? If so I was there also and found a long wanted item for a price I could live with; it was a great weekend!
    Rogers OH. Flea market
    Life is so much better with dogs!

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by pietro View Post
    .

    The scalloped rear edges of that engraved Martini is very unusual...…….

    It smacks of Scheutzen rifles made in a very small European (Germany, Austria, Bavaria, etc) shop, and might had even been built from scratch by the gunsmith - which would explain the lack of markings.

    Although YMMV, if it were mine, for conversion, I would first have a good engraver chase the worn engraved scrolls & scenic panels.

    Stocking with the scalloping will prove to be interesting...………………………………



    .
    I’m pretty good with wood. Looking forward to this one.
    Engraving looks to be amateur done, left side of action has what appears to be a HF, more than likely the engravers initials. Just to the rear of the lever pin screw in the pics.
    Life is so much better with dogs!

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Minerat View Post
    Guys, please don't make offers to buy or sell on this thread!

    Thank you.
    I read back through the responses and I am not aware of any offers to buy or sell in this thread. Btw, none are for sale if that is the question.
    Life is so much better with dogs!

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by pertnear View Post
    Build a .219 Zipper for sure!
    More than likely zipper will be one built. I also bought a lot of loaded zipper cartridges when I bought the actions. You know how it is, have the brass, might as well have a gun for it too.
    Life is so much better with dogs!

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by eck0313 View Post
    Lucky, Lucky, Lucky!

    Those will make for nice projects. I’m biased, but would build a nice 30-40 Krag on the engraved action!!
    I do enjoy krags but already have a couple now.
    Life is so much better with dogs!

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy jugulater's Avatar
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    Looks like the cocking indicator on the engraved action has either been installed incorrectly or been modified, definitely strange.

    I could think of DOZENS of calibers i'd love in a Martini. Keep us posted on how the projects go.

  17. #17
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    labradigger,

    NICE.

    I would certainly like to find a late Martini action in decent condition to rebuild into a .303 stalking rifle AND an Aussie Cadet receiver to rebuild into a squirrel rifle.
    (A friend is planning to cut me a beautiful plank from a large "blown down" native cherry tree that fell on his farm, to make the furniture for my projects.)

    yours, tex
    Last edited by texasnative46; 09-03-2018 at 03:48 PM. Reason: typos

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
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    A big Martini is very easily converted to take a SMLE barrel.....the threads are the same,1"x14tpi,and a SMLE barrel or a No 4 barrel only needs a an extractor groove cut,extractor modified,and the chamber deepend by .072"......if you are happy with a short chamber ,a rim groove can be machined in a lathe,so no reamer is needed.....303 conversion parts were once plentiful,far more common than 450 parts,and still are in England.You wont find a good Martini Enfield barrel though.

  19. #19
    Boolit Master Jedman's Avatar
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    I was at Swappers Day in Johnstown, OH this weekend and didn't find much in the way of guns I was interested in this year. Last year there I bought 3 rifles and if it weren't for having to carry them around all day I would have bought others. This is a large yearly event and suppose to have 700 + vendors.

    Jedman

  20. #20
    Boolit Master marlinman93's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Minerat View Post
    Guys, please don't make offers to buy or sell on this thread!

    Thank you.
    Where did you see an offer to buy or sell? I can't find that either?

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
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LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check