British, .303 Martini-Enfield Lever Action Artillery Carbine Mark 111 (ME .303 A.C. III), Marked D.P., Dated 1874, Converted by Enfield 1899, Regimental Badge 1897, Deactivated

This rifle started as an Enfield-manufactured Martini-Henry 1874 Mk II, originally chambered in the obsolete .450/577 calibre. The Martini-Henry, introduced in 1871, saw extensive use during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, including its famed deployment at Rourke’s Drift, and it bears a regimental badge dated 1897. The manufacturers’ details were stamped on the right side of the action, while conversion information was engraved on the left.  In 1899, the rifle was reconfigured into a carbine by Enfield and converted to the .303 calibre as an M.E. (Martini-Enfield) A.C. (Artillery Carbine) Mk III. A new purpose made Enfield rifled barrel was fitted a capital “E” stamped upon the knocksform to denote that form of rifling. Subsequently, it was likely relegated to training and parade purposes, eventually being stamped as “D.P.” (Drill Purpose). This designation often allowed regimental armorers to retire a weapon and apply for a replacement.

From 1889, Martini-Henry rifles were converted with Metford rifled barrels (designated as Martini-Metford rifles). These barrels performed well with the early .303 cartridges using black powder propellant, but they wore out rapidly with the introduction of cordite/nitrocellulose cartridges in 1895. This issue led to the adoption of the more durable Enfield rifled barrel, suitable for “modern” smokeless ammunition, which significantly extended the rifle’s utility. The Martini-Enfield remained in service from 1895 to 1918 and continued as a Reserve Arm in regions such as India and New Zealand, even into World War II.