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1881 Martini-Henry Artillery Carbine Mark I action with cut-down barrel.
This 1881 Martini-Henry Artillery Carbine Mark I action was part of a rifle that was issued to the South Australia Permanent Artillery who first manned the Princess Royal Fortress at Albany, Western Australia. The rifle was brought out to Western Australia in 1893 and was still present in the state in 1904, later being sold out of service. It was owned by a Bunbury gunsmith, later a museum in Dardanup then by the donor
Barrel markings - 1st Proof, London with Inspectors View Mark. 2nd Proof, London with Inspectors View Mark. War Department (Finished View Mark, London) and F8054 4/81.
Receiver markings - The right side of the action is marked “crown (royal cypher) / V.R. (Victoria Regina) / ENFIELD (Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield) / 1881 (date of manufacture) / crown arrow (lock viewer’s mark) “broad arrow / SA / 608” (South Australian markings). The left side of the action The left side of the barrel shank is marked with a “crown / V.R. / 1. P.” proof, with two “crowned” inspection stamps, with a “crown / VR / 2 flags / 2P” proof and marked with “two arrow heads that meet at the point” (a sold out of service marking)
This action is one of only three (3) known to exist that came to Western Australia in 1893 as part of the establishment of the Princess Royal Fortress and the defence of Australia.
Abstract - A number of South Australian marked specimens of artillery pattern firearms and bayonets are examined and described. Evidence linking them to the South Australian volunteers who initially manned the Albany harbour defence artillery site in 1893 is discussed.
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