**Originally Listed At $800**

Northern Europe, United Kingdom, England, ca. 1877 to 1918 CE. A handsome breech-loading single-shot rifle presenting a lengthy steel barrel, a hefty wooden stock engraved with the letters "MM," and a lever action. The elongated barrel is held in place by a wooden forestock and steel receiver with an ovoid trigger and projecting underlever that extends to balance the rifle when placed on the ground. Incised, geometric and linear designs adorn the handguard, while a fabric strap connects the stock and muzzle, and a yellow resin cap sits at the end of the grip. The butt of the gun features a brass covering. Note how the stock is wrapped with animal ligament to serve as an old repair done in the field and indicating that the pieces of this gun may have been pieced together from more than 1 original model. Size: 48.7" L x 6.7" W (123.7 cm x 17 cm)

Parts of this gun may have come from a Martini-Henry rifle. Used by the British Army, the Martini-Henry first entered service in 1871 and continued to be employed throughout the British Empire for 47 years. This remarkable firearm combined the dropping-block action first developed by Henry O. Peabody and improved by Friedrich von Martini with the polygonal rifling designed by Alexander Henry - hence the name "Martini-Henry." After being used by the British in the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878 to 1880), these guns were recovered and used by Afghan tribesmen in the Soviet Invasion and employed by the Taliban in early 2010 and 2011.

Provenance: private Glorieta, New Mexico, USA collection

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#168756

Not functional; trigger does not move. Nicks, scratches, and abrasions, commensurate with age and use. Old repair to stock wrapped with animal ligament. Loss to top of forestock. Remains of modern stickers. Lovely patina throughout.