Peter Quantrill
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Paul: Did your father serve in the Gurkhas? If so, perhaps you may like to contact me privately.
As ever, Peter |
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Adrian Whiting
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When the Martini Henry Rifle MkI was introduced (List of Changes 2659 of 17-7-1874), it was simply named "Rifle, Breech-Loading, Martini-Henry". The attendant ammunition however was listed as "Cartridge, Small Arm, Boxer Henry, for 0.45 inch Martini Henry Short Chamber 85 grain, Mark I".
I would thus concur with the above assertion by Sawubona that C/Sgt Bourne is effectively referring to the ammunition, at least that is from where I anticipate the script writer drew the text. The Henry barrel was indeed 0.450", save for the first 4" of the barrel ahead of the chamber. On introduction I anticipate that defining the calibre to 1/1000th of an inch was not considered necessary since it was to be used in one arm, however as the round was swiftly adopted for other types of rifle the 1/1000" designation was necessary, and again as Sawubona indicates, the cartridge was properly named as 577/450". |
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_________________ Hope this assists, Adrian |
Neil Aspinshaw
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Adrian
Interestingly to back up your post about the Martini being a .450" calibre, the .577" bit doesn't appear to be a military listing, but a commerical designation of the calibre. As with the .402 E-M round and the Gatling they did not follow on with the secondary wider case designation either. Just worth a note. |
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_________________ Neil |
The Boxer Henry rifle ? |
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