Original Combo Tool For Martini Henry.

Subject: Original Combo Tool For Martini Henry. Thu Dec 09, 2010 8:46 pm

But I don't know what doe's what..
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Posts : 53 Join date : 2010-09-24

Littlehand,

You have there the combination tool or “Implement Action Martini-Henry B.L Arms.” I’ve also heard it referred to un-officially as the “Armourer Sergeants Stripping Tool”

It was officially approved on the 26th of August 1874 for Martini Henry B.L Arms.

Looking at your picture lets label the items in a clockwise fashion as A,B,C,D, E.

A & B - are two general purpose screwdrivers

C - is a special wide nut screwdriver for the screw at the rear of the breach block.

The slider portion along C is the “pricker”; it is used for clearing dirt from the open slit in the breach block axis pin.

D -is a “drift” or “punch” that could be used a number of ways but designed for removing the split block axis pin.

E - at the top or (under the finger). If photographed the other way you could see this is a “calm” or “hook and jaw.” It is used to compress the split block axis pin when the weapon is re-assembled.

There were two versions of the tool. The first approved in 1872 did not have the “pricker” or the “calm.” This was because the early Martini Rifles from 1871-1874 had the solid Brass breach-block axis pin, not the split pin. The MK I went through some pattern changes and in 1874 the split pin was added and the old tools modified to include the “pricker” and “calm.”

Hope this helps, Jeff

Posts : 2308 Join date : 2010-07-02 Age : 44

Nice one DundeeBoer. So its sort of a Swiss army knife for the M.H. Would all the troops have been issued with this. Or just the Armourer Sergeants.

Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

There was one supplied per five rifles, Here is a picture showing two from my collection, it shows the clam, (breech block split pin inserted) and the "Pricker" extended, this removed dirt from the split pin slot.

In the period C1900-1910 copies of these were made at the Rifle factory Ishapore, alot eminated from Nepal with the huge arsenal find. Whilst being good workable tools, the quality varies hugely from the Ordnance issue, they can be aqquired for around £35, a full ordnance expect to pay anywhere £85-135.

Look for Ordnace stamps, Enfield, Broad arrow and BR (Birmigham Repair) stamps, they are grey in appearance. The Indian made are dark blued, have no marks and are far cruder in make. Somebody posted on ebay the indian made with a crude arrow and EFD stamped on it, completely designed to fool the buyer, 1) EFD is a post 1897 Enfield mark and well beyond the actual date of these things and the broad arrow was a bodge job, @ £75 a rip off.,

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Posts : 2 Join date : 2010-10-29 Location : Warwickshire

Hi,

It looks like the tools advertised at IMA as original British issue are in fact the crude copies then? Disappointing.

Posts : 553 Join date : 2009-10-14 Location : Loughborough

Not British issue, must likely Indian Arsenal, the tooling marks are very similar to RFI made accessories. They are circa 1900,

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