Summary

British sporting Martini rook rifle, cal. .360in. No.5 Rook, steel rifled (5 groove) round barrel with flat top, 67.50cm long.

Made by The Braendlin Armoury Company, Birmingham, circa 1920.

Nickel silver estcutcheon inlaid on comb of butt engraved 'FROM/ W.E.J.C./ TO/ C.J.M.C./ 14/5/1921.' Presented by William E.J. Cole to his son, Cleveland John Melbourne Cole, who was later killed in a skiing accident near Omeo in 1936. The Cleveland Cole Alpine Hut was built in his memory.

Physical Description

Blued steel Martini's patent breech loading lever action receiver, steel oval triggerguard, lever and butt plate. Bladed foresight, folding leaf rear sight, leaves stamped for 100, 200 and 300 yards. Half walnut stock with chequered wrist and foreend, barrel fastened to stock via a single screw under foreend.

Significance

This is typical of many Martini actioned sporting rook rifles brought into Australian in the decades either side of the turn of the century. The blank frame on the barrel top was often marked, as it is here, with the manufacturer's name, or left blank and engraved upon arrival in Australian with the retailer's name. This is a beautiful example, made all the more relevant to the collection through Cole's association with the museum and its strong local, and personal, themes.

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