Above:   Martini-Henry Mk III, short lever.
Below:  Martini-Henry Mk IV, long lever.

(I am indebted to Ken Hallock for the yellow background photos)
 
 
 

Left:  A Mk III, last of the short lever Martinis.
Right:  A Mk IV.  Note the difference in shape of the rear of the receiver.
 
 

    The business end of a Mk III
    (Photo courtesy Jean Plamondon, Military Guns Photo Gallery)
 

    The markings in the buttstock 'III' over '1'. The first marking refers to
    the Mark of the weapon.  The second marking refer to the class, and
    is sometimes amended in use. ie a Class one weapon ('I') might be
    downgraded to a second class ('II').
 
 

    Proof markings from the left receiver and barrel of a Mk IV; however
    these markings changed very little from the Mk Is to the Mk IVs.
 
 

    Above:    Mk IV cartouch is faint, but foreign service marks are readily apparent.
    Large numbers of Mark IVs were issued to Indian Army units and carry
    Indian markings on the right buttstock. This rifle's excellent buttstock
    markings clearly demonstrates such farflung assignments! Note also
    this rifle's honorable discharge from the service ... the mark which looks
    like an X or an astrick above the 12 over F.  This is the British "opposing
    broad arrows" denoting that the rifle was released as surplus from military
    stores and made available for civilian sale or distribution.
 

    Below:  Lively markings on the earlier Mk I-II rifle's buttstock that also
    show that this rifle started life as a Mk I.

 

    N E P. = Nepal     N S = Native Service (info per Warren Wheatfield)
    Hence, Nepalese Native Service issued rifles.   I am not sure whether these rifles
    would have pre or post dated the indiginous Nepalese Peabody-Wesseleys.

    (One thing is certain, these Martini-Henrys had a LOT of history!!)
 
 

Page re-built  October 5, 1999
Revised October 11, 1999
Revised December 29, 2001