Martini Cadet, redux

[gnoahhh]

I recently acquired a customized Martini Cadet - .357 Magnum, color case hardened receiver, Parker-Hale sights, 26 " octagon barrel, 6 pounds all-up. It had a cheek piece on the "wrong" side which I rasped off, and then stripped all the wood and finished with ten coats glossy spar varnish blocked out between coats and finally rubbed out dull and then waxed.

Not enchanted with the fit of the lever to the wood, and its big hook. I may (or may not) re-contour it and remove the hook and simply have it end with a ball.

Originally the plan was to re-chamber to .357 Maximum but it shoots awfully well as-is and its 26" barrel yields velocity equal to or surpassing Max velocity in a short barrel, so I'll leave it alone.

https://i.imgur.com/xPqAlrbl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/UxYTtUml.jpg

[Baltimoreed]

Lovely rifle. Nice work. Also had a .357 that was a good shooter but sold it to buy a Cadet in it's original stock. Wouldn’t a 357 max bee too long. I had to dicker with my lever to load .357 mags.

[gnoahhh]

Often too long. Re-shaping the trough on the breechblock a little bit cures it.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

They are lovely little rifles, this is mine in 25/35 Winchester.

https://i.imgur.com/2tDJ9vFl.jpg

[pworley1]

Those are very nice.

[barrabruce]

I think ******Wallace ought to sell or bequeathed me that rifle.
He keeps teasing me with it every time a martini cadet thread comes up.

This one is way more ugly in 30-357 mag
302410

[Bigslug]

Nice! Experiencing some jealousy. If I could wave a magic wand and have mine become a .357, I would.

As it is, "Binky-Roo" shoots very well with the blown out .32-20 conversion it came in, which I've waffled between whether to call the ".32-20 Kinda-Sorta" or the "Actually .32-20" (It gets a custom .320" bullet to fit the OEM .3185" groove diameter)

302411

Glad to see I'm not the only one out there who's opted to attach a Parker Hale 7A:

302412

Crazy-fun little rifles. Enjoy it!

[barrabruce]

Big slug.
Could always call it a 310 magnum and people will think it will blow the stuffing out of things.
Or maybe 310 magnum AI if you like the red mist perception.
8x33R for an exotic European vibe.


Gnoahhha

It is a sweet looking rifle.
Needs a little bit of thorny bush pin striping to add some more character now.
A few dings and some worn away bluing.
But that will come with use.