Anyone know what model number this 22 Martini is?

[Buckshot]

http://www.fototime.com/0D9C2F993D188A9/standard.jpg

The above is a Martini 22Rf I've had for a number of years. I've been calling it a model 12/15 but really have no idea if it's a M12, M15 or M12/15 or something else entirely. Has a nice heavy 28" barrel.

Below are some other photo's:

http://www.fototime.com/D6A6951083C897D/standard.jpg

On this side of the action it says British Miniature Rifle Shooting Assoc, something or other Arundal St, London. The round knurled brass doohicky there on the forend is the cap for a compartment to hold all the other front sight inserts.

http://www.fototime.com/5C6112DA9EE1770/standard.jpg

Rear sight is a Parker-Hale #8. A very fine sight indeed.

http://www.fototime.com/F17FA8B5ADF90FC/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/C43AB3E5AF07838/standard.jpg

Front sight is also a Parker-Hale. The insert that's in there is one I made. It's the clear plastic top out of some pump spray cleaner bottle cap. I saw it sitting on the kitchen counter. It looked to be about the right OD so I stole it :-). I cut the top out and used the Dremel to reduce the OD all around, but leaving 2 ears to fit into the front sight slots. Then I bored a hole in it, beveled it and then made the bevel black using a magic marker. The plastic is amazingly distorton free, and the black ring truly does appear to float.

I did try to use this thing for shooting ground squirrels when I lived out in the country. It does have a nifty sling that came with it but the thing isn't a hunting rifle! The words, trim, handy, quick to shoulder just can't be used. As a sniping outfit it would work. As a target rifle it's great. The long heavy barrel hangs very well. It likes Winchester Dyna-Points very well, producing 50 yard groups of sub inch for 10 rounds. Well, to be entirely honest you might get a leaker or 2, but at $9.83/500 I sure like'm.

I've never bought real target ammo on purpose, but was gifted a partial box of Eley Tenex once. After firing 5 into the dirt I was able to stack 10 into 3/8" at 50 yards once.

..................Buckshot

[Frank46]

Rick, Mine has the beaver tail or target forend that your's has but the buttstock is somewhat like a 310 cadet buttstock except that its checkered. Mine has the regular unbent finger lever. I was told that it was a model 12/15 but never really found any definite info. I have the same backsight as yours but with a different parker hale eye piece. And the same 28" heavy bbl. A couple years ago I shot four targets about 30 rounds apiece. I used
rem target, win t22, green tag, and russian brass cased junior ammo. After firing off the 120 rounds the russian brass cased junior outshot all of the others by a wide margin. Still have a couple bricks left. Try finding some today. I have heard that the sellier and bellot surplus 22 ammo is a sleeper. A buddy has a friend that shoots 22rf benchrest, he was told buy all you can afford as it is very accurate ammo. in fact he knows a few shooters who use it for matches. Long story short, we bought a case of about 6500 rounds and split it. I think the 12/15 has what one would call a thick wall action. That is the walls of the action are noticeably thicker than the cadet action. You can get a light trigger on these by shimming the screw that holds the trigger spring in place. Mine is fine as it is. Frank

[Dale53]

I just LOVE BSA Martinis. I have three BSA Int'l.s (a Mark II, a Mk IV, and a Mk V) and a Cadet. Here is a site that should answer most of your questions:

http://rifleman.org.uk/index-24.html

Enjoy!
Dale53

[Buckshot]

................So I may continue to call it a M12/15 without appear too much like an idiot amongst the cognosenti :-)?

Edited to add:

I went to the URL shown and it appears that form what I can tell it seems 'more like' a M12/15 then a M12. However the rear sight still eludes me unless I disremember what I recall being stamped on it. It appears very much like the #7A but is IS different. I recall it being engraved P-H #8 but looking at the #8's shown it's not like them at all. Still closer to the #7.

I'll ahev to get the rifle and sit down with it at the computer. It does have a sling exactly like that shown with the M12/15 but does putting on a WW2 kahki canvas Grand sling on a 1903 make it a Garand?

..................Buckshot

[Frank46]

Rick, both the parker hale 7a and the #8 are correct for your rifle. I have both and while your rifle shows a lot of blueing mine is turning brown. Sure wish someone had the serial numbers for these rifles and when they were made. Frank

[Kermit1945]

This thread has been around a while, but it appears to me that what you have is a 12 that's been restocked and the lever reshaped. The smooth curve at the back of the receiver ahead of the rear sight is the giveaway. The 12/15 is a little different, with a curve that makes a sharp transition to a straight line down to where the sight is mounted. A 15 is very noticeably different. On a 12 the correct rear sight is a PH7, not a 7a, and the front sight should be a PH Mod 2, IIRC.

[W.R.Buchanan]

BUckshot: I had one once a long time ago and it was essentially the same gun as you have. It was called a "310 Cadet" Parker-Hale sights, however mine did not have the brass knob storage place for the sight inserts. My buttstock was not as elaborate as your's is either. it was more just a plain buttstock but made of walnut. Your's looks "aftermarket" as I have never seen one like that.

Mine had headspace problems and would separate the case rim about every 3-5 shots. I had bought it for $100 and sold it, headspace problem and all, for $150 so I was happy.

I liked the gun but never got to shoot it much due to the case separation problem.

Randy