Product Description
ZULU WAR Antique ENFIELD MARTINI-HENRY “Mark II 2” .577 Falling Block Rifle
British Imperial Legacy Rifle BATTLE of RORKE’S DRIFT
Here we present an antique Enfield Martini-Henry Mark II Single Shot Falling Block Military Rifle with sling made circa 1875 with a production run between 1871 and 1889 for the Mark I through the Mark IV with somewhere between 500,000 and 1,000,000 produced. The P-1871 Martini-Henry rifle first entered service in June of 1871 with the introduction of the Mk I. It fired the new .577/450 bottleneck black powder cartridge which was an improvement over the existing .577 Snider-Enfield cartridge.
The first iteration of the rifle came about in 1871 and was adopted by the British Army to replace the Enfield Snider Breech Loading Rifles that were being phased out. The action is based on the patent by American and Boston native Henry O. Peabody, which was improved by Swiss inventor Friedrich von Martini. The new polygonal barrel rifling was the design of Scotsman Alexander Henry. This is where the rifle derives its name. Martini–Henry variants were used throughout the British Empire for 47 years. Like other British weapons, the Peabody-Martini-Henry saw action all over the world, and most famously in the Zulu Wars in Africa.
The Martini-Henry P-1871 Mk II short lever rifle is best known for its use in the Zulu War at the Battle of Rorke’s Drift on January 22nd, 1879, where a small force of British and colonial troops defeated a much larger attacking Zulu force. A total of 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded that day, most to the 2nd/24th Foot. Earlier in the day another force of about 20,000 Zulus attacked a British column at Isandlwana consisting of about 1800 British and colonial troops as well as several hundred civilians, killing over 1300. These famous battles were immortalized in the movies “Zulu” (1964) and “Zulu Dawn” (1979).
The overall condition is good. The action is strong. The bore is in very good condition, bright with strong rifling. The stock shows much use and some splits and repairs. Cleaning rod is a replacement.
Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.
Barrel is 33-1/4 inches.
Caliber: .577/450
Overall condition as seen in photos.
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$900
#240293