Dr Stephen Manning ( Martini-Henry rifle) help required.

Post on behalf of forum member Bromhead1.

"'My name is Dr Stephen Manning and I have just been commissioned by Osprey
Publishing to write a history of the Martini-Henry rifle. I am looking for
contemporary photos of the weapon, and the troops who used it, to include in
the book. All four marks and the carbine. Examples of colonial troops with
the rifle would be especially helpful. I f anyone can help please contact me
on s.manning@eclipse.co.uk
Thanks'"

Regards
Stephen

Hi Stephen, Scanning you a couple of great cabinet photos via private message of colonials with Martini-Henrys. Isandula

I can offer as much help as needed, I just hope that in the opportunity the Author has fired plenty of rounds to understand the 'teenie in its raw unadulterated form, live, with 85 grains of RFG 2.

Neil Aspinshaw wrote:

I can offer as much help as needed, I just hope that in the opportunity the Author has fired plenty of rounds to understand the 'teenie in its raw unadulterated form, live, with 85 grains of RFG 2.

Neil, have you thought about writing a book yourself?

Cisco
Yes, I am collating information for it, background evidence with historical fact. I don't want to do a maintenance manual on it, Skennerton has done that. I just fear that this Author re-gurgitates the old myths and has fired many rounds in one to understand it. without that understanding, it's like I could write a book on Rolls Royce, but not having driven one......well.......

Neil, i think you should indeed write a manual type book, on not only the MH, but all the muskets and rifles through history that you have in your collection and have fired.
How they feel, how they feel when they are fired, their weight, ease of use, fire rate, reliability, ammo used, accuracy and their effects on water mellons, railway sleepers, flesh and bone etc etc at 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000yards.
That is what you know about, are good at, experienced in and it would be a book that not a lot of other authors could write. I can't think of ever seeing or hearing about a book like that. Correct me if I am wrong and can recommend one.
I for one would be extremely interested in reading a book like that. Particularly as I have only fired shotguns in the game season, the odd range practise on the old Civil Servant and the improved HK upgrade and brief play with a GPMG and Minimi.
I am less interested in reading about the different conflicts and battles in which the MH has been used and besides, that info is all out there already for anyone who is interested.

I would say Neil is already a house hold name when it comes to the knowledge of the M.H

Tasker
I have a copy of the report made by the British Medical Association in 1878 which records the effect of MH against a horse carcas , quite staggering.

Ian Skennertons treatise on the British Military Martini Vol 1-3 remans THE specific work on the piece, and to be honest it doesn't need putting into a blender and re-writing, its not necessary. Malcolm Cobbs highly enjoyable Martini Henry Notebook is a very jonty read, however, his research is what he had gleaned from a South African perspective, it does lack researched evidence, in particular the way historical fact often can "play down" pre-conceived notion. I do not mean this from a critical eye, he simply has not got access to the wealth of research that can be carried out at the Pattern rooms, and the Museums up and down the Uk.

What Cobb does do, and very well put too, is his slant on Isandlwana, in particular ammo distribution etc, he backs up what have been preaching for a long time, and for that it is a worthy addition to the library.

I try not to sound "big headed" but I have fired many 1000's of rounds in Martinis' and I cringe when I see the old hoary myths re-gurgitated, at Brecon this year I demo'd how to extract a heavily jammed solid case in seconds, it did surprise a few people, I know how to do it because it does happen on the range, and on the display ground with the DHC, so it was right to show what a soldier would do.

This is where I wait in trepidation for the same old myths, maybe because people want to hear it?
1) Does the rifle get that hot you can't touch it after 20 rounds as the telly programme intimated. No it doesn't.
2) Does it hurt your shoulder. Not if you hold it right, yes you know you've done it, but if you know a SLR or SMLE of a previous age its really no different.
3) Does it foul up and become a beast? No, the lube pad and paper patch have cleansing properties
4) Is its effective range 400 yards, no its at least double that, Hector MacDonalds Sudanese at Ondourman dispelled that.

I took Mike Snook for a go with the teenie, the snider carbine and the Swinburn Henry Mike was free to agree pre-conceived ideas went south.

What is a pleasure to do it compare the marks as they progressed by shooting and evaluating them,people ask me my favourites, well, I do enjoy the Mk4 of 1887, the smooth extraction afforded by the long lever is nice, and the ramped barleycorn makes sighting a doddle, on the flip, the trigger action of the 1873 Mk1, with the original 2 part tumbler is great, why? because the trigger pull is smooth, unlike the later marks, the one part tumbler makes the trigger pull somewhat "jarry", and can effect aim unless the trigger spring is adjusted. I love the half cock of the Swinburn, but the extractor is just s**t. Buller complained about this, but unless you know what he refers to, it remains guesswork as to what causes that.

So, I do await this publication, only because these little vices, you find with shooting these original pieces is not to be found in historical notes, but it does form the historical reason for change, and why the weapon evolved, just as the Lee Enfield, the No4, and the SA80 did in the hands of Tommy Atkins over the next century.

"these little vices, you find with shooting these original pieces is not to be found in historical notes"

Exactly!

Thanks for that reply, Mr Aspinshaw. Again, from the first Napoleonic rifles, to the SA80...write the book Neil!

Neil Aspinshaw wrote:

Cisco
Yes, I am collating information for it, background evidence with historical fact. I don't want to do a maintenance manual on it, Skennerton has done that. I just fear that this Author re-gurgitates the old myths and has fired many rounds in one to understand it. without that understanding, it's like I could write a book on Rolls Royce, but not having driven one......well.......

Neil, would be happy to discuss my forthcoming book...can honestly say I have not driven a Rolls-Royce. I am keen to include photos in the book of folk firing a M-H and really need help with photos of the various Marks, along with images of troops, British and colonial with the M-H. Can you help? If so, please do contact me on s.manning@eclipse.co.uk
Regards
Stephen Manning