December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/12/2024
This .450/.577 Martini-Henry is marked “Mk II” on its butt stock, but has no other markings on its receiver. Although it started life as a rifle, it was later bored out and issued to the Royal Irish Constabulary for use as a prison or riot gun, using a special buckshot brass cartridge. The brass disc in its butt stock reads “R.I.C. 8601” but there are no further RIC markings on the firearm. Its butt stock has a BSA 1895 stamp on it, but there are no other markings on the receiver, save a “P 95” stamp. The converted rifle is complete, but with a simple open notch rear sight. PROVENANCE: Kenneth Smith-Christmas collection. CONDITION: Good. With pitting along the stockline, and a period reapplied brown finish, probably done when converted to smoothbore. Its barrel pin appears to have been replaced. The cocking indicator is a period replacement and its retaining screw is damaged. The bore is dark, but with no pitting and, of course, with no evidence of rifling. There is a small chip out of the grip, where the stock meets the receiver and at butt. This firearm was found at the Maryland Arms Collector's show in 1977, and it was featured in a 2004 Shooter's Bible article on Irish Nationalist guns. It has been displayed at numerous exhibits for antique arms collecting clubs in the Mid-Atlantic region.