The Martini–Henry is a breech-loading single-shot lever-actuated rifle that was used by the British Army. It first entered service in 1871, eventually replacing the Snider–Enfield, a muzzle-loader converted to the cartridge system. Martini–Henry variants were used throughout the British Empire for 47 years. It combined the dropping-block action first developed by Henry O. Peabody (in his Peabody rifle) and improved by the Swiss designer Friedrich von Martini, combined with the polygonal rifling designed by Scotsman Alexander Henry. Though the Snider was the first breechloader firing a metallic cartridge in regular British service, the Martini was designed from the outset as a breechloader and was both faster firing and had a longer range.[3] There were four main marks of the Martini–Henry rifle produced: Mark I (released in June 1871), Mark II, Mark III, and Mark IV. There was also an 1877 carbine version with variations that included a Garrison Artillery Carbine, an Artillery Carbine (Mark I, Mark II, and Mark III), and smaller versions designed as training rifles for military cadets. The Mark IV Martini–Henry rifle ended production in 1889, replaced by the Lee–Metford, but it remained in service throughout the British Empire until the end of the First World War. It was seen in use by some Afghan tribesmen as late as the Soviet invasion. Early in 2010 and 2011, United States Marines recovered at least three from various Taliban weapons caches in Marjah.[4] The Martini–Henry was copied on a large scale by North-West Frontier Province gunsmiths. Their weapons were of a poorer quality than those made by Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, but accurately copied down to the proof markings. The chief manufacturers were the Adam Khel Afridi, who lived around the Khyber Pass. The British called such weapons "Pass-made rifles".
Type Service rifle or Shotgun (Greener Prison Variant) Place of origin United Kingdom Service history In service 1871–1918 Used by United Kingdom & Colonies, Emirate of Afghanistan, Ottoman Empire, Kingdom of Romania, North-West Mounted Police, Kingdom of Greece, Chile, Peru, Wars British colonial wars Perak War Second Anglo-Afghan War Herzegovina Uprising (1875–1878) Russo-Turkish War War of the Pacific Anglo-Zulu War First Italo-Ethiopian War North West Rebellion[1] Greco-Turkish War (1897) First Boer War Second Boer War Balkan Wars World War I Greco-Turkish War (1919–22) War in Afghanistan (1978–present)(limited)[2] Production history Designer Friedrich von Martini Designed 1870 Manufacturer Various Produced 1871–1889 No. built approx. 500,000–1,000,000 Variants Martini–Henry Carbine Greener Prison Shotgun Gahendra rifle Specifications Mass 8 pounds 7 ounces (3.83 kg) (unloaded), 9 pounds 4.75 ounces (4.22 kg) (with sword bayonet) Length 49 inches (1,245 mm) Barrel length 33.22 inches (844 mm) Cartridge .577/450 Boxer-Henry .577/450 Martini–Henry .303 British 11.43×55R (Ottoman) 11.43×59R (Romanian) 7.65×53 (Ottoman) Action Martini Falling Block Rate of fire 12 rounds/minute Muzzle velocity 1,300 ft/s (400 m/s)[3] Effective firing range 400 yd (370 m) Maximum firing range 1,900 yd (1,700 m) Feed system Single shot Sights Sliding ramp rear sights, fixed-post front sights
