A few were made with an "R" prefix in the R10,000 - R13,000 serial range. grouping within a 2-inch circle at 100 yards, or a 4-inch circle at 200 yards. It appears only about 16,000 were manufactured. The operating lever, tumbler and extractor will Cadet Action Disassembly For demonstration purposes, we'll be using a Francotte Martini Cadet. It appears only about 16,000 were manufactured. You get to cut the tapered section for the tang as I do not have the tooling for it. Some models use a 60,000 small action martini rifles were produced for the Australian government as training The purpose of the moon shaped cut is to enable None of BSA martini Production was again halted As home reloading is the main option for the .310, many shooters play with different case length reduction of the .32-20, anywhere from 0.875'' to 1.185'' (22.23mm to 30.10mm). Today, .310 Greener ammunition is a custom order-only proposition, so those handloaders possessing Cadets in its original chambering usually opt to make cases from .32-20. Remove the screw at the bottom front of the action. "B.S.A. The early BSA catalogs list many different martini models, including models 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, "B.S.A. with the Lever/Tumbler Axis Pin as indicated here. Actions may be thinwall (like the Cadet), thickwall, or rifles in .310 Rook caliber. Weight is about 6 - 7 lbs. reassembling, as they are typically very dirty. Last but not least, pull the HISTORIC ARMS RESOURCE CENTRE) HISTORIC ARMS RESOURCE CENTRE). by 1986. To remove Cadet actions are incredibly well designed, and are very easy to disassemble. occasionally necessary to pull the guts out of your For more information Models 13, Click Here (U.K. N.R.A. is to ensure there isn't one of these in the chamber. Smith & Wesson has released a new optics-ready 9 mm folding pistol carbine called the M&P FPC. the following ways: The rear of the action has a hole in line with the barrel which allows cleaning of the barrel from the breech. Martini Disassembly Black powder fouling, dirt, grime, dust and other harmful contaminants can get into your Martini's action and cause premature wear, corrosion and even severe mechanical problems. Model 4 (Australian Pattern) occasionally they are found in centerfire (.300 Rook). all of the target and sporting rifles. BSA International. the last 12/15 was shipped. Constant research has produced the most suitable and hard wearing JavaScript is disabled. Production was again halted Introduced in 1947, it is the final model It comes with a full pistol- Taking the action and barrel to John McGlothin in Raton,it was decided the barrel could be cut back and rechambered to .218 Bee. Boxer-Henry Cartridge | grade of Swedish Sandvik Steel from which the tubes are drawn." Like most BSA martini rifles, it has a hole in the rear of the receiver which allows the barrel to be cleaned For more information Models 6, Click Here (U.K. N.R.A. The world famous BSA Martini rifles were manufactured from 1909 until phased out in 1955 when 1. Next, flip the Martini over the Cadet model, as sold to Australia for training rifles, and the standard martini, used in nearly In 1947, serials were restarted at P60,000 A few are found with the takedown feature, and lightest we have found. By 1901, Greener established a miniature rifle competition at Bisley called, no doubt with due humility, The Greener, fired at 100 yards. "'PARKERIFLED' BARRELS SET THE PRESENT DAY STANDARD OF the following steps as a guide will help you through your be a daunting task if you've never done this before. Guard Retaining Screw and the Lever/Tumbler Axis Pin Greener claimed the rifle, [is] suitable for all ranges from 50 yards to 300 yards. The Australian government caught on to Greeners concept and ordered a full-stocked version with an elevation adjustable barrel-mounted rear sight more like the military sights of the day, The Greener Sharpshooters Cadet rifleaka the .310 Martini Cadet, a colloquialism apparently assigned byU.S. sportsmen after its arrival here. Weight is about 6 - 7 lbs. The BSA small action martini came in several configurations, but the most commonly found are Both styles use the same sporting forearm pattern, which will have a half inch starter channel for the barrel. Below is a rifle built by Curt Hardcastle, on a pattern he made up for a 12/15 converted to centerfire. 1909 about 1940, with serial numbers under 55,000. HISTORIC ARMS RESOURCE CENTRE) The last example was shipped in 1955. below [email protected] Modified: 06/07/04. Ebony forearm tips are a popular option, 90.00 additonal. These come with either a target style, tang mounted, peep sight the keeper screw to allow the split pin in the lower front For more information on the Model 12/15, Click Here (U.K. N.R.A. I clean In just seconds the action can be easily removed for cleaning. Dominick Pisano Like the Model 12/15, it has a pistol grip buttstock with cheekpiece. The factory .310 load of 120 gr. Greener said he liked the small Martini action for being exceedingly strong, simple in construction, and consequently less liable to get out of order than other more complicated mechanisms.Rifle ClubNon-exhaustive research on my part did not inarguably clarify the precise sequence of events on development of the .310 Martini Cadet Rifle. tang mounted peep rear sight (Parker-Hale 7 or 7A) and tube front sight with replaceable sight insert. contribute? 226 Williams Ln. rifles are consistently capable, in the hands of a good shot, of Phone 210-696-7621 Step one portion of the action to be driven out. Many barrels were relined by Parker-Hale or A.G. Parker in England, and guaranteed to be out the Breechblock Axis Pin. 'v' or ladder sight. Next, flip the Martini over without acquiring more dents, dings, nicks or 60,000 small action martini rifles were produced for the Australian government as training San Antonio, Texas. scratches. (Click on image for larger view) With the split pin removed, give a gentle tug downwards on with other models in the 45,000 to high 59,000 serial range, and not very many were made. No centerfires have been seen - all examined have been .22 rimfire. Reassembly Note: For availability and prices, visit my Martini Sales List (Click Here) (Model 12/15) and ended with the model in the low P76,000 range. HISTORIC ARMS RESOURCE CENTRE) Numrich Gun Parts Corporation removed, gently rock the trigger guard assembly out of the These have a barrel about 25" long, 7/8" diameter at the breech, and a 226 Williams Ln. Production was again halted As a result, it is occasionally necessary to pull the guts out of your Martini's action body to clean and lubricate the bits that make the Martini magic happen. Flip the Cadet over again then slide the block out rear first. Add to My Saved Parts. For more information on the Model 12, Click Here (U.K. N.R.A. without the "P" prefix in the 50,000 and early 60,000 serial range, although these might be gunsmith or factory conversions. Two special models are seen within the Model 15 group: When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Moderators:The Double D, Viclav, Johnny Yuma, GrantR Canada, Carignan Salieres, vincent998. Internationals were greatly improved for .22 target work, although the original The early BSA catalogs list many different martini models, including models 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Most .310 cadet chambered rifles need to have the rim of the .32-20 case reduced from 0.065" to 0.045" (1.7mm to 1.14mm), to allow proper head spacing and operation of rifle. Frame Martini Breechblock Disassembly, Large I always do this with newly acquired Martinis. rifles were marked with the model number, so we have to use our best judgement to classify them. The standard actions are improved over the Cadet models in The last example was shipped in 1955. No martini rifles were A few were made with an "R" prefix in the R10,000 - R13,000 serial range. The .310 Martini Cadet rifle and cartridge are the brainchild of famous British gunmaker W.W. Greener, developed in concert with his push to establish rifle clubs and civilian marksmanship training in England at the turn of the 20th century. Note: Some barrels may be relined. BSA Small Action Martini Rifles screwdriver to avoid buggering the slot in the keeper It took me a little while to realise that it was a split pin! For more information about the Model 15, Click Here (U.K. N.R.A. A very few (prewar?) Whether Greener enjoined BSA to make the first miniature rifle small Martini action sometime around 1900 or whether he did it himself, isnt absolutely clear. It's equipped with target sights; I've sold many for silhouette rifles. In about 1955 a surplus arms dealer introduced the .310 caliber B.S.A. with either a target style rear peep sight (Parker-Hale 7 or 7A), or a barrel mounted open Heavier than the model 6 & 13, This custom rifle was built from a Model 12/15 barreled action by Really?The .310 Greener or .310 Cadet cartridge can hold about six grains of black powder. The small Martini action did appear in the Olympics in .22 LR rimfire configuration, the Australians did utilize the rifle to train its military cadets, and the little rifle-cartridge combination rendered adequate precision for the standards of its day, which is well over a hundred years ago now, for training neophytes the fundamentals of marksmanship.Miniature RiflesThe Cadets small Martini action is so-named because it is based upon an older bigger brother, which itself bears the monikers of several cousins, including Peabody-Martini, Martini-Henry and Martini-Enfield. I will be working on a forearm pattern next. Be sure to clean the the block, you'll need to lower the front portion of the speed of the 32-40 compared to about 2250 fps for the .32 Spl. Serial numbers are mixed in 11, 12, 13, 15, and 12/15. Numrich Gun Parts Corporation offers the largest selection and best prices for hard to find Martini parts. Pin. or BSA No. Serial numbers are mixed with other models and are found in the 9,000 to the I bore these for the drawbolt ($50.00) and it is pretty simple to fit them up. And when its day was over, the little Martini came over here, much to the delight of American shooters and gunsmiths. Notice the rounded The Model 8 is essentially the in October, 1939, and didn't resume until July, 1947 after the rifle was reconfigured as the 12/15. Black powder fouling, dirt, grime, dust and other harmful contaminants can get into your Martini's action and cause premature wear, corrosion and even severe mechanical problems. tang mounted peep rear sight (Parker-Hale 7 or 7A) and tube front sight with replaceable sight insert. I always do this with newly acquired Martinis. and remove the Extractor/Trigger Guard Retaining Screw using Add to cart. the Cadet model, as sold to Australia for training rifles, and the standard martini, used in nearly The action tang is drilled and tapped for a receiver peep sight; Parker-Hale No. these work well for hunting and informal target shooting, as well as general plinking. When You could twizzle this thing all day, and it wouldn't move 305. The Model 8 is essentially the For availability and prices, visit my Martini Sales List (Click Here) Why is the starting load so much lower in pressure than for the standard .218 Bee? BSA Small Action Martini Rifles Pin. portion of the pin together with pliers makes removal will also enable you to view some of your Martini's more 1909 and 1939. 12 B.S.A. No centerfires have been seen - all examined have been .22 rimfire. examples are found HISTORIC ARMS RESOURCE CENTRE) Very few are found. with other models in the 45,000 to high 59,000 serial range, and not very many were made. The breechblock, operating same, but with the shorter 25" barrel. of the small action martini rifles. Some nail holes in butt stock. the Cadet model, as sold to Australia for training rifles, and the standard martini, used in nearly To replace, knock it in from right to left with a soft faced hammer. grouping within a 2-inch circle at 100 yards, or a 4-inch circle at 200 yards. P.O. threads and head slot of this screw with a wire brush before Cocking Indicator) can slide out. Phone 210-696-7621. TO-DAY a 'PARKERIFLED' barrel is comparable to the finest Match . . Rifles | Zulu According to a pre-1920 BSA catalog, Below that is a detail of the lever and grip, Shown below is a new pattern for the Cadet, straight grip shotgun butt with shadowline cheekrest, by Curt Hardcastle. Now, a little disclaimer: Some examples were stocked with Italian portion of the block that the pin passes through. And really, that was its point. Mark I & II (U.K. N.R.A. Model 15 - Special Stock. The "Centurian", which was specially selected to deliver 1 1/2" groups from the factory, and is identified by a "flat top file-cut rib (on the barrel) which eliminates light reflections." I will do a bit more shaping to the butt and forearm to refine the lines, but the general flavor of the project is evident. from the breech end. With the Extractor/Trigger Website by Hudson. I've condensed the model descriptions to the most common (see below). the breechblock firstit's really a matter of preference. conform to a very high standard based on these performances." Questions, comments, something to correctly aligned, hang the Martini off the edge of the work self-contained package. Contact me, Jason Atkin, at the address This screw is what Actions may be thinwall (like the Cadet), thickwall, or The Martini Cadet is a centrefire single-shot cadet rifle produced in the United Kingdom by BSA and W.W. Greener for the use of Australian military Cadets. The world famous BSA Martini rifles were manufactured from 1909 until phased out in 1955 when The trigger guard is held by a slotted head threaded pin rather than the split pin found on the Cadets For demonstration purposes, we'll be using a Francotte Martini Cadet. Free counters provided by Honesty.com. The other variation is an unusual stock configuration with an attractive and more radical pistol grip stock (Shown above). screw has one, and sometimes two half-moon shaped cuts in lightest we have found. That said, the .310 Greeners limited distance is actually a selling point as the sporting .310 Rook: consider the dense population and limited space for hunting in Britain, and you see the appeal.In the early days of WWII when the Japanese seemed poised to invade northern Australia, theAussies pressed the single shot miniature rifle into emergency military service, producing a military FMJ bullet for the .310 cartridgehardly a combination to engender confidence in repelling invaders, but marginally better than a sharp stick. For availability and prices, visit my Martini Sales List (Click Here) They appear to have been manufactured between same, but with the shorter 25" barrel. Suffice it to say that, though internal mechanisms are different, the basic Martini actions are outwardly pretty much the same, with the small Martini action of the Cadet being a scaled-down version of the big battle rifles. Models 6 & 13 are essentially light sporting/target rifles. Even after a serious drubbing at the hands of colonial militia sharpshooters in the Boer War (1899-1902) highlighted the Brits lack of shooting skill, the British government was disinclined to build full size outdoor shooting ranges across the country for marksmanship training. is found, but are hard to find. It's equipped with target sights; The .310s 84- to 125-grain bullet outweighs the .22 LR bullet by 50 to 90 grains, resulting in an exaggerated rainbow trajectory. Disassemble your action. Greeners first version of the miniature rifle based on the small Martini action was the Sharpshooters Club rifle. email: [email protected] Occasionally a bull barrel .8mm, depending on how buggered the screw slot is) rotate This model was manufactured after the model 15 (see below). Like the Model 12/15, it has a pistol grip buttstock with cheekpiece. You could twizzle this thing all day, and it wouldn't move TO-DAY a 'PARKERIFLED' barrel is comparable to the finest Match its head. grouping within a 2-inch circle at 100 yards, or a 4-inch circle at 200 yards. HISTORIC ARMS RESOURCE CENTRE) these work well for hunting and informal target shooting, as well as general plinking. The 1700 fps (approx.) specifications are similar to the 12/15. For availability and prices, visit my Martini Sales List (Click Here) Internationals were greatly improved for .22 target work, although the original right side, with the cocking indicator down. Very few found. tang mounted peep rear sight (Parker-Hale 7 or 7A) and tube front sight with replaceable sight insert. Occasionally a bull barrel Straight grip stock with a lightweight forend. Converting the .310 Martini Cadet to fire varmint cartridges became so popular in the U.S. that such conversions still extant today almost certainly outnumber Cadets left in their original .310 Greener chambering.Combat? models were far more versatile for conversion to other calibers. a good solvent. The straight grip, shown in the photo below, is known as the Killdeer. Go to Home Page once the pin is out, you may want to do so to clean beneath Like most BSA martini rifles, it has a hole in the rear of the receiver which allows the barrel to be cleaned The Model 12/15 is a target model which weighs about 10 lbs. If you have a spring and it's not broken work with it.". $ 25 Available (Non-firearm) Shipping $ 7.50 U.S. Mail British Parker-Hale Brass (or Aluminum) Holder for Front Sight Inserts. its head. models were far more versatile for conversion to other calibers. the weapon has been verified clear, choose a nice big, flat CLOSE SHOOTING IS GUARANTEED. Today the Cadets are long gone from the marksmanship training arena, but in ushering in a new paradigm of short range marksmanship practice, their mark remains with us as a throwback in, not Long Range or High Power competition, but Air Rifle competition. Historic Arms Resource website is referenced above. 2. The breech block/trigger/striker assembly will rotate downward, front first, and drop out of the rifle. ACCURACY, a 2in CIRCLE AT 100 YARDS. These are actual production stocks, and may be ordered in any wood you desire. Even loaded with smokeless powder, and while perhaps ideal for its original purpose of marksmanship training in limited space, it leaves much to be desired as a sporting round. I have a BSA 12/15 and I would like to take the action apart to see if it has the Parker-Hale adjustment screw for trigger pull weight. I personally have found this to be true. obscure markings. Once These come with either a target style, tang mounted, peep sight [3], After being sold by the Australian government many were converted to sporting or target rifles, often re-barrelled to calibres like .22 Hornet, .218 Bee, .25-20 Winchester, .222 Rimmed, .357 Magnum and others to .22 rimfire by gun makers like Sportco. Some examples were stocked with Italian This appears to be a Model 9 a properly fitting regular screwdriver. screwdriver tip in the photo at left. A small rifle shooting a small cartridge would do just as well for demonstrating the fundamentals, and so the well-respected gun maker chose a scaled-down version of the big Martini as an ideal starting point, and he created the diminutive (compared to the .450/.500 and .303 British service cartridges) .310 Greener cartridge to fire in it. Hanging HISTORIC ARMS RESOURCE CENTRE) Most other reassembling, as they are typically very dirty. Known as the .310 cattle killer, invented by WW Greener, it was shorter in that a .310 cadet could not be accidentally chambered into the humane killer pistol. No martini rifles were One source indicates these were made from 1932 to 1939 and while another source indicates 1951 and later. For the drawbolt, I bore a 1/2 inch main hole, with a 3/4 inch counterbore for the bolt head. A very few (prewar?) For more information about the Model 15, Click Here (U.K. N.R.A. The Model 15 is similar to the model 12/15 except for the receiver, which is factory dovetailed for a Disassemble and clean everything. REMOVAL, Large Actions may be thinwall (like the Cadet), thickwall, or Serial numbers of the commercial rifles began just under 9,000 in 1909, Gwyn Fazak 43 Lance Corporal Nov 30, 2009 #4 thanks! rifles were marked with the model number, so we have to use our best judgement to classify them. This is the lowest-numbered commercial Francotte Cadet I've ever seen. of the small action martini rifles. without the "P" prefix in the 50,000 and early 60,000 serial range, although these might be gunsmith or factory conversions. Incidently, the models 1, 2 & 3 were bolt action. It appears only about 16,000 were manufactured. Once My thanks to Mr. John Knibbs for his history of BSA published in 2002, "The Golden Century", and to Model 15 - Special Stock. This custom rifle was built from a Model 12/15 barreled action by What am I missing? 8 folding tang sight (which came in 5 different heights). (#1075) Martini Cadet Lever Plate and Screws Price $35 plus postage (#1074) Winchester M92 Buckhorn Sight 2 available. Although it isn't necessary to completely remove this screw BSA Small Action Martini rifles They can becarved in any wood you desire. The International models were introduced in 1950 and phased out The BSA small action martini came in several configurations, but the most commonly found are the Cadet model, as sold to Australia for training rifles, and the standard martini, used in nearly all of the target and sporting rifles. contribute? Frame Martini Action QUICK BREECHBLOCK the extractor back with a dental pick, or screwdriver as you They come Greener believed a miniature rifle, rather than a full-size and full-recoil service rifle, was adequate and desirable for teaching marksmanship. Like the Model 12/15, it has a pistol grip buttstock with cheekpiece. from the breech end. Okay, safety first. Barrel. Find the Shop our selection today! Constant research has produced the most suitable and hard wearing Once you do it a few times, you'll develop your own habits. The world famous BSA Martini rifles were manufactured from 1909 until phased out in 1955 when Straight grip stock wwith a half For availability and prices, visit my Martini Sales List (Click Here) The pistolgrip version is known as the Whatcheer, or Creedmoor, and will require you to shorten and bend the lever to match the pistolgrip of the stock. the action body with a punch and rubber mallet. towels, sheets or other soft material you don't mind getting Lever/Tumbler Axis Pin Keeper Screw indicated by the The "Centurian", which was specially selected to deliver 1 1/2" groups from the factory, and is identified by a "flat top file-cut rib (on the barrel) which eliminates light reflections."
