Drgong
Member
What in the heck is a martini action? 
Assume you don't shake it with Gin to load the bullets...
Assume you don't shake it with Gin to load the bullets...
Dumb question...
- Thread starter Drgong
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It was a funny looking single shot falling block type rifle used in the British empire in the latter 1800's.
It fired the .577 Martini cartridge, using a paper patched bullet. I cannot remember the weight. If I do remember a point of history, some religous groups, either Muslims or Hindu were offended that either pork fat or beef tallow was used as a bullet lubricant.
It fired the .577 Martini cartridge, using a paper patched bullet. I cannot remember the weight. If I do remember a point of history, some religous groups, either Muslims or Hindu were offended that either pork fat or beef tallow was used as a bullet lubricant.
The Martini action is a single-shot falling block firearm action that was actually invented by an American named Peabody. The US showed no interest in the Peabody action so he offered it to other nations. A demonstration was made in Switzerland, and the Swiss, being who they are, incorporated some improvements to the Peabody design. The Swiss gentleman involved was named Martini and the action became known as the Martini action. The Martini action was adopted by the British Army with great success. It's most public exposure is probably in the movie "Zulu" where it is shown in detailed operation.
The major difference between the Peabody action and the Martini action is that the Peabody action used a manually cocked external hammer whereas the Martini action uses an automatically cocked internal striker mechanism - a tremendous improvement.
The Martini action has been used in pistols, flare guns, marine rope throwers, harpoon guns, shotguns and rifles in all calibers from 22 to 577.
The major difference between the Peabody action and the Martini action is that the Peabody action used a manually cocked external hammer whereas the Martini action uses an automatically cocked internal striker mechanism - a tremendous improvement.
The Martini action has been used in pistols, flare guns, marine rope throwers, harpoon guns, shotguns and rifles in all calibers from 22 to 577.
Larry E
Member
Back in the late 50's and early 60's BSA Martini rifles were being sold for something like $10 or $12 apiece. They were in .22 LR and "rook rifle" calibers and the latter could be made into nice little single shot varmint rifles in Hornet. Saw one in Eddie Bauer in Seattle in the 70's when they still sold guns in .222 Rimmed, that was nice looking. Didn't have any money, and didn't know where I'd find any cases for it if I did have the price for the rifle. 
Speedo66
Member
Pull the under lever down and a block falls down exposing the chamber. Load a single round into the chamber, raise the lever raising the block and you're ready to fire.
There was an army surplus store, Kaufman's, in Manhattan when I was a kid in the area near where the World Trade Center was later built.
They would have 15 or 20 Martinis in a barrel for $10 or so in .310 caliber, which I think was the "cadet", or training round. I wanted one because it was cool looking, but figured I'd never find ammo for it.
Wound up with a .22 bolt action from Modells on Broadway and Chambers St. instead when I was 12. Modells had dump tables strewn with 40 or 50 Carcano carbines on it for $12 but the Italian rifles were considered junk by everyone I talked to at the time. This was in the late '50's. Also the time of cheap 03A3s for NRA members from the DCM.
There was an army surplus store, Kaufman's, in Manhattan when I was a kid in the area near where the World Trade Center was later built.
They would have 15 or 20 Martinis in a barrel for $10 or so in .310 caliber, which I think was the "cadet", or training round. I wanted one because it was cool looking, but figured I'd never find ammo for it.
Wound up with a .22 bolt action from Modells on Broadway and Chambers St. instead when I was 12. Modells had dump tables strewn with 40 or 50 Carcano carbines on it for $12 but the Italian rifles were considered junk by everyone I talked to at the time. This was in the late '50's. Also the time of cheap 03A3s for NRA members from the DCM.
Drgong
Member
Was thinking it would make a good little target rifle. I guess it not cool enough for a major manufacture to put a bunch though the production lines...
Sounds like a neat loading system, I will have to keep a eye out for one of these...
Sounds like a neat loading system, I will have to keep a eye out for one of these...
charadam
Member
I would recommend the BSA International .22RF target rifle.
Here you go:
http://adamsguns.com/0s.htm
PS - the name of the shop is a coincidence - not related, never done business with, usual disclaimer!
Here you go:
http://adamsguns.com/0s.htm
PS - the name of the shop is a coincidence - not related, never done business with, usual disclaimer!
Drgong
Member
Perhaps after I get a EBR and a CCW revolver then I can start looking at saving up for a "Cool" gun
But I will keep those in mind
But I will keep those in mind
Sunray
Member
"...Muslims or Hindu were offended..." Both, but it dates from 1857 and had nothing to do with the Martini. When the Brits came out with the Enfield rifled musket, they originally lubed the bullet with a mixture of cow and pork fat. Hindus didn't like the cow fat. The Muslim troopies the pig fat. It was quickly changed, but the damage was done.
"...fired the .577 Martini cartridge..." And .577-450 and .303 British. The rifles used in the 1879 Zulu Wars were .577-450's.
If you haven't seen 'Zulu', you need to. Greatest movie ever made. Here's a teaser. Crank up the sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1csr0dxalpI
You'll want to wat 'Zulu Dawn' as well.
"...fired the .577 Martini cartridge..." And .577-450 and .303 British. The rifles used in the 1879 Zulu Wars were .577-450's.
If you haven't seen 'Zulu', you need to. Greatest movie ever made. Here's a teaser. Crank up the sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1csr0dxalpI
You'll want to wat 'Zulu Dawn' as well.
It was (the .22 lrs) for a time. Then the design got tweaked some and others, particularly from Germany, started making more accurate guns. If you'll note in the adamsgun.com link, the forearm is directly attached to the barrel and receiver. Nowadays, you'll never see that on precision rifles.
Have a friend I meet at the range every weekend who bought a Martini .22 lr target rifle. It is very picky and you have to hold it (in position shooting) just right to get the most out of it. It is a pretty neat gun, the action just drops right out after removing a screw and the ejection of spent casings is unusual. Instead of a straight front-back groove on the top of the block on the centerfire Martinis, it is curved to the right as it goes back where it ends at a horn at the rear of the ejection port sticking forward as part of the receiver. The case gets shot out the chamber, follows the groove, hits the horn and gets vigorously kicked forward slightly to the right.
FMJMIKE
Member
Martini Action..............Thats when you buy the chicks a Martini or two.....or three................Then you get some action............
.....Then you get some action............alemonkey
Member
Zulu...now that was a great movie. Here's my favorite scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWuaSww3JnA&feature=related
I get chills every time I see it. I know this is just a movie, but the discipline it took to stand up and fight like that is amazing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWuaSww3JnA&feature=related
I get chills every time I see it. I know this is just a movie, but the discipline it took to stand up and fight like that is amazing.
cliffy
member
A Martini action is shaken, not stirred
SEE! no dumb questions, only dumb answers. Martini indicates Italian in origin. Ask me a .243 Winchester question, and my answer will become less dumb. Cliffy
SEE! no dumb questions, only dumb answers. Martini indicates Italian in origin. Ask me a .243 Winchester question, and my answer will become less dumb. Cliffy
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