Summary

British Service rifle, Martini Henry Mk III, cal. .450in., steel Henry rifled (seven groove) round barrel, 844 mm long, bayonet mount on R.H.side. Made by Birmingham Small Arms Co Ltd, 1885.

This Martini Henry rifle was used by Fred Mills of the Hastings Battery Royal Victorian Volunteer Artillery. The rifle was given to the donor in 1942 by a then elderly Fred Mills, a farmer at Tyabb, Victoria, who stated that he has used it when a member of the pre-federation Hastings Battery.

Physical Description

Martini falling block single shot breech loading action, steel triggerguard, loading lever, foreend and butt plate. Barleycorn foresight, graduated rear sight, barrel fastened to stock via two steel barrel bands, the rear one being a baddely band with a recessed screw head, missing screw, two sling swivels, rear mounted from triggerguard and front from forward barrel band, steel cleaning rod.

Significance

Statement of Signicicance:

This Martini Henry rifle was used by Fred Mills of the Hastings Battery Royal Victorian Volunteer Artillery. The rifle was given to the donor in 1942 by a then elderly Fred Mills, a farmer at Tyabb, Victoria. Mills stated that he has used it when a member of the pre-federation Hastings Battery.

Using a combination of the Martini falling block action and the Henry rifling from where the models takes its name, the Martini Henry was first introduced in 1871, replacing the short-lived British Snider service rifle which had been introduced only a few years previous as the replacement to the Pattern 1853 Rifle in 1866. The Mk III Martini Henry was introduced in 1879. Of the three principal variants of the Martini Henry rifle, it is the Mk III which is most commonly found carrying Australian Colonial markings, as the model was used in all Australian colonies.

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