Martini Henry rifle, possibly named to soldier??

[pneps]

I picked up this rifle today for the second time, as I had originally owned it a couple of years ago. I regretted selling it, and eventually the owner lusted after something I had that I wanted less than this Martini.

It appears to be a MkIII, dated 1879 which would make it an early one. Good bore, nice amount of bluing left, but has areas of widely scatteredlight pitting. Nice butt roundel, and a surprise on removing the buttplate. Please see pics.

http://enfielditis.net/martini/martini006.jpg[/pic]

http://enfielditis.net/martini/martini011.jpg[/pic]

Here is where it gets interesting. Definately a name, Kerley, date of 1907, and a placename of Ft. Williams.

http://enfielditis.net/martini/martini013.jpg[/pic]

Now, would this rifle still be on issue at such a late date? What do ya'll think?

[stripperclip]

I don't know about it being on issue but it's a good looking rifle.

[dromia]

There is a Fort William in Scotland, one of the 3 forts built by Wade after the first Jacobite rebellion to try and pacify the Highlands.

Fort George, a classic pentagonal fort designed and built after the '45 by Skinner and Adams respectively and is well worth a vist if you are ever in Scotland, on Ardesier point at the north eastern end of the Great Glen, Fort Augustus at the south western end of the Great Glen and Fort William at the north Western end of Glencoe and the passes to Lochaber at the foot of Ben Nevis.

The rifle could possibly have been in the Fort William Arsenal in reserve at that time. Then agian I'm sure there is more than one Fort William.

My Uncle Alick who was killed on the Somme in 1916 was at the muster of the Seaforths at Fort George in 1916, being the garrison fort for the regiment.

[Aughnanure]

Anything is possible. 1901 was during the Boer War so it could be that Lee-Enfields were withdrawn for use elsewhere.

My theory is that, if it was the Fort William that Adam mentioned, then .450 M-H may have been on issue to the native troops. Give 'em obsolete arms in case they rebelled.

Eoin.

[belgmart]

Seems quite a lot of those forts got identical names... But it seems more likely that a M-H was stil in service in India, rather than in Europe.

[Aughnanure]

Interesting. That could be the reason.

"Kerley" is a southern English name (afaik). I know it occurs in Dorset and surrounding counties.. My G-G-G-Grandmother Sarah Kerley was from Stourpaine, Dorset. She married William Seager on the 8th Feb. 1802.

Pneps,

What's the last word, below the bottom screw hole?

Eoin.

[Tom-May]

I know that it's a fair time after the introduction of .303", but, if the rifle IS from the Scottish Fort William, could it be for a volunteer batallion?(remember this is pre-Haldane).

Otherwise, the Indian Fort William sounds quite feasable. As to the name, might it not be the soldier who had the rifle issued, but, perhaps the armourer who refurbished it? (last of a batch - or perhaps the last of an issue - privately marking the job finished).

Tom

[Aughnanure]

Sorry, I read that date as1901 when it is clearly 1907. Maybe the locals were restless in '07?

Eoin.