Not a Giffard, suspiciously like a Greener though

[Clank]

So, now that I have had time to think about this, a Martini action it is. Almost certainly 577/.450 cal as it is unlikely to have been .303. They were Lee Enfields in the main.
I have taken some more pictures and first off, it is definitely .22 cal, the loading tap measures out at a little over as you can see in this picture below and the picture below that:




These next pictures, apart from showing the beautiful brown patina, also show how the action has been modified. It is clear, now that I have looked at pictures and diagrams of the Martini actions, that the CO2 cylinder attaches where the barrel would have been and the barrel and new breech block are on the top:




I have seen something like this and it was by Leslie Westley, it was a single barrel shotgun (I have a pic somewhere but it is from back in the day when we used Instamatic cameras and sent the films off at the Chemist!) I will dig it out and get the scanner out.

This is the barrel business end and it is a full tapered barrel, purpose built for the job:



Here is a view from the "underneath" with the for-end clipped off, nicely done and you can see how the barrel has been machined to accommodate the CO2 cylinder:



And yes, it is one of my collection. Only the weird and wonderful here

[le frelon]

Just wondering if this might not be an example of Martin Herrick's work. On here several years ago, 2014 and possibly later, posted as the 'Stockmaker' I think.
Any one else remember him?
This is exactly the sort of thing he makes. Usually a rimfire/centre fire converted to C02. The barrel repositioning and the Giffard mechanism, (he bought lots of Giffard bits at an antiques market, very cheaply, in Hungary. As you do!) have his name all over them.
Will try to dig out some photos that he sent me of one he made if I can remember which computer and where I left them!
A particularly well made pistol conversion also springs to mind with amazing finishes to the metal work.

There were several threads on the legality of what these would be classed as when he offered one for sale.

Or I could be wrong of course!!

Carl

[le frelon]

Addendum - look at vintageairguns.co.uk under 'mystery rifle' that is one of his based on the Paul Betts pneumatic/ butt reservoir and also search for 'Bittner', the pistol I was going on about.

Carl

[chieffool]

Just wondering if this might not be an example of Martin Herrick's work. On here several years ago, 2014 and possibly later, posted as the 'Stockmaker' I think.
Any one else remember him?
This is exactly the sort of thing he makes. Usually a rimfire/centre fire converted to C02. The barrel repositioning and the Giffard mechanism, (he bought lots of Giffard bits at an antiques market, very cheaply, in Hungary. As you do!) have his name all over them.
Will try to dig out some photos that he sent me of one he made if I can remember which computer and where I left them!
A particularly well made pistol conversion also springs to mind with amazing finishes to the metal work.

There were several threads on the legality of what these would be classed as when he offered one for sale.

Or I could be wrong of course!!

Carl

Carl - I have to admit to being really intrigued as to what some of Mr Herrick's conversions look like. Did you manage to find any of the photos you were referring to?

I love the whole concept of conversion, and repurposing. That's why this beautiful rifle kindly shared by clank has got me thinking about how or where i would even begin to build something like this.

If you don't know Theo Hegman's work - a man whose rifles are all 'ONE-OFF' unique builds - then check out the link below. His are all quite extraordinary:
http://www.hegmans.de/theo/luft.htm

He also very kindly includes expanded details on each of the examples here (the expanded links are usually 'blue text')....
....with outline design drawings to show you how they work. I really like his work which is mostly pcp, although he does include one called The CHIPMUNK which is one of the few 'springers' he has shown here. Two springs... innovative design... just gorgeous:
http://www.hegmans.de/theo/munk.htm

[chieffool]

I really like his work which is mostly pcp, although he does include one called The CHIPMUNK which is one of the few 'springers' he has shown here. Two springs... innovative design... just gorgeous:
http://www.hegmans.de/theo/munk.htm

Whoops.... correction: NOT a springer.

[Geezer]

Carl - I have to admit to being really intrigued as to what some of Mr Herrick's conversions look like. Did you manage to find any of the photos you were referring to?

I love the whole concept of conversion, and repurposing. That's why this beautiful rifle kindly shared by clank has got me thinking about how or where i would even begin to build something like this.

If you don't know Theo Hegman's work - a man whose rifles are all 'ONE-OFF' unique builds - then check out the link below. His are all quite extraordinary:
http://www.hegmans.de/theo/luft.htm

He also very kindly includes expanded details on each of the examples here (the expanded links are usually 'blue text')....
....with outline design drawings to show you how they work. I really like his work which is mostly pcp, although he does include one called The CHIPMUNK which is one of the few 'springers' he has shown here. Two springs... innovative design... just gorgeous:
http://www.hegmans.de/theo/munk.htm

That guy's stuff is great, isn't it? I even like the ones that I don't like, if that makes sense. Amazing some of the craftsmen working in this little world.

[Shed tuner]

That guy's stuff is great, isn't it? I even like the ones that I don't like, if that makes sense. Amazing some of the craftsmen working in this little world.

This is amazing:
http://www.hegmans.de/theo/flycatcher.htm

The design is just something else...

[j_potter]

Martin Herrick is a very clever man as well as being a very nice chap. He found an original Giffard barrel for me, cleaned it up and sleeved it to .22 which i can now use in place of my Giffard's original 8mm barrel. Shooting with the .22 gives a consistent 10.5 ft/lbs with Gamo lead balls. He also modified a period aperture sight to fit on a modified stock bolt. There are some pictures of this under Giffard on the vintage airgun website. My lasting regret is that i did not buy some of his specials when they were offered to me at a very reasonable price years ago. He used to be on here as customstocker but i have now lost touch with him. Perhaps he could be pursuaded to knock out a batch of converted Martini Henrys. I'am sure there are a few of us on here who are drooling over this one.

[chieffool]

Martin Herrick is a very clever man as well as being a very nice chap....

... Perhaps he could be pursuaded to knock out a batch of converted Martini Henrys. I'am sure there are a few of us on here who are drooling over this one.

Just in case there is ANY chance at all of this being a possibility, I would very much like to confirm my hand is seriously raised to register my sincerest interest. And more than willing to travel just about anywhere to discuss.

[chieffool]

This is amazing:
http://www.hegmans.de/theo/flycatcher.htm

The design is just something else...

Lovely ... isn't it? I really like the approach he took to 'reverse' the use of the apparent 'barrel' and 'ejector' so that the former is the tank, and the under barrel ejector becomes the actual pellet barrel.

He uses the same approach in some of the 'Winchester' and 'Henry' rifles as well as own evolutionary designs along the same theme, with the actual pellet barrel hidden into the equivalent tube magazine the original namesakes would have had. As a gunsmith, he is an absolute artist. Its hard enough making a 'replica' ....
...but then to adapt the whole approach in this way is bordering on the extraordinary.

Of course 'replica' is the wrong term to use. Homage? Inspirational concept? Can't think of any term to apply to his work other than just extraordinarily beautiful.

I also like all the ballistic data he supplies along with his engineering drawings to illustrate and explain. Clearly every one he produces is produced and functioning to the highest standards.

[ccdjg]

[QUOTE although he does include one called The CHIPMUNK which is one of the few 'springers' he has shown here. Two springs... innovative design... just gorgeous:
http://www.hegmans.de/theo/munk.htm[/QUOTE]


Can it really be a springer? His cross section is not very informative, and I just can't see how you can get 50 joules energy from a springer with such a short cocking lever and cocking stroke.

[chieffool]

My bad... it is NOT a Springer, and if you scroll back you can see I corrected myself immediately after stating it was, at #23. His drawings are very clear... I think I was just a bit 'bleary' from Winter Olympics jetlag.

His power output on that particular rifle is 50+ joules on a .22.
But that's peanuts compared to some of his designs.
Check out this one:
http://www.hegmans.de/theo/donnerbuechse.htm

He's chucking out a 250 grain 12mm slug at 220+ m/s, generating an insane 431 joules!!!!!!

That's c.320 ft lbs from a hand engineered air rifle with a finish worthy of Purdey.

[ccdjg]

Sorry, didn't notice your follow up post. He really is amazing. The wood on that stock is to die for.

[Geezer]

So, now that I have had time to think about this, a Martini action it is. Almost certainly 577/.450 cal as it is unlikely to have been .303. They were Lee Enfields in the main.

Minor point of gunspotter trivia.

There were a lot more Martini-Enfields than most people think. At least a couple of hundred thousand, probably more, mostly converted from M-Hs. They did unglamorous duty in non-infantry roles, reserve units, Cadet forces, etc. Some bits of the Indian armed forces were still issued them in WW2.

The Martini-Enfield (and its rarer first iteration, the Martini-Metford) is Britain's forgotten service rifle.

Of course, everyone wants the M-H, not the Enfield variant. No licence now required, and if you are like me you watched Zulu on TV every Boxing Day growing up. "Front rank, FIRE! ......"

[Hsing-ee]

Minor point of gunspotter trivia.

There were a lot more Martini-Enfields than most people think. At least a couple of hundred thousand, probably more, mostly converted from M-Hs. They did unglamorous duty in non-infantry roles, reserve units, Cadet forces, etc. Some bits of the Indian armed forces were still issued them in WW2.

The Martini-Enfield (and its rarer first iteration, the Martini-Metford) is Britain's forgotten service rifle.

Of course, everyone wants the M-H, not the Enfield variant. No licence now required, and if you are like me you watched Zulu on TV every Boxing Day growing up. "Front rank, FIRE! ......"

The Martini is a brilliant design for a military rifle for raw recruits. Single shot, so deliberate fire only, and so much safer than a semi-auto, a simple mechanism for jam-free firing, and takes about 5 minutes to train in its basic use. Strong and sturdy for use in hand-to-hand.

If there is an 'emergency' and the population must be quickly armed to drive off invading hordes this rifle would be the best thing, not a modern assault rifle, to issue to the local militias. I think it would be great in 7.62x39 for cheapness, knockdown power and the tapered case would make extraction certain. Grannies and schoolboys could wield it to great effect.