Translation help, on Afghan- owned Martini-Henry.
 

Jim,
I am afraid at present I am breaking the sticky rule, as I only have photos of the inscription! I had not read your translation sticky until now.....

I will endevour to address the situation and attach overall photos very soon!

I have just recieved a Martini-Henry rifle, that has spent many years in Afghanistan,...after a stint in New Zealand.
It is in need of a fair amount of renovation, and after I had it all pulled apart, I noticed under the rust on the buttplate the inscription shown below.

Please can anyone tell me what language it is written in, and it would be wonderful if Someone knows what it says!!

I hope I have it the correct way up...

Thank you for looking,

Richard.

Picture I wanted to post here came out as the wrong ones!
Bewitched or something. Will try again soon...

New Zealand you say!!
 

I assume that this rifle also bears New Zealand marks? If so could you please post these together with overall pics, and I will see if I can turn up some history of it's life here.
Regards Stuart

Good morning Stewart,

Thanks for the interest!

I actually got two rifles from a chap stationed over there, ..picked them up in a bazaar.
I will try and get some photos up today.

To be going on with though, both are NZ marked.
#1,
On knox form, front to back;
Broad arrow,
NZ
94
____ (transverse line)
then 277.
On reciever behind knox form;
SX.

Reciever marked LSA Co
1886,
111 (mk 111)
and '1'...for ist class.

The other one has had the original mk 3 markings scrubbed off, and is now marked, Crown, VR, Enfield,
Mk 11 and 1877.
It Is a mk 3,...but been brilliantly re-marked as a mk 11 !!

The knox form markings have also been de-faced, but the broad arrow, NZ, 94 and a faint number,...392? can just be discerned, plus the SX (sold out of service?) marks on reciever.
A picture is worth a thousand words, so I hope to get some taken today!

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Inscription chaps!???

Thanks again,

Richard

As I recall, "S. X." stands for "Strengthened Extractor", i.e. fitted with the improved Mk. III extractor which improved cartridge extraction under adverse conditions.

RDGAC,

I am sure you are right on this, as both have the mk3 ectractor.
I don't know what I was thinking, as I know the opposed arrows are the sold out of service mark!
Thank you!
BTW, I see you are from York, I wasn't too far from you,...near Ormesby...Middlesbrough area.
Alberta now...
More pics tomorrow, took some & left camera in workshop...

Richard.

Hi Richard,
you will have to give me pics of those NZ marks, as it is a friend of mine who is the "expert" on these.
Regards Stuart

Hi Stuart,

Pics should be up today sometime.

Thanks for your help!
Richard.

Stuart,
Here's the other pictures,
Better late than never!

Any translation help?????

OK Thanks. I have passed this info on, and will let you know what comes of it.
Stuart

Not forgotten about. Still awaiting info. :(