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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 60 Likes: 2
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 60 Likes: 2 |
I just picked up a Greener miniature Martini club rifle at the local gun show. I am not very familiar with this style action. It has a lever on the left front of the action that appears to be for the barrel takedown feature. There is another lever on the right side of the action, above where the action lever pivots that I assume is some other type of take down feature - like detachable lockwork. Can anyone provide some information on this action?
Also, the bore looks to be in very good shape. But I suspect that the barrel has been relined in the past. The suspicion is based on the fact the muzzle is counterbored about a 1/4". How can I determine if the barrel has been relined? I bought this assuming I would need to rebarrel the gun, but if the barrel is original I might at least try to use it.
Forester
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,531 Likes: 20
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,531 Likes: 20 |
I can help, since I have one as well. The lever on the left side, as you've already realized, allows removal of the barrel and forearm. The one on the right side allows removal of the lockwork. Unscrew the lever on the right side, remove it from the receiver, lower the breech block completely, pull down on the trigger guard while holding the cocking lever down fully and the action should drop down from the front and out of the receiver. Be careful about the pins (which are true pins, not screws) that hold the various action parts together as they sometimes have a predilection for falling out or at least sliding somewhat, and the action won't go back together if they aren't flush with the parts they hold in place. Does yours have the split frame (the bottom of the receiver forward of the action will be split) or a solid frame?
These are actually pretty simple little mechanisms and all of the various small frame Martini actions I've owned have been excellent shooters.
A fairly large percentage of these rifles were lined. Usually the liner comes to the muzzle and if you look carefully you can see the seam between the liner and the barrel. You'll often find the words "Parker Rifled" on the muzzle end of the liner. Not related to the Parker Brothers of shotgun fame, this Parker seems to have been a manufacturer of sights and other similar things for target rifles of the era.
Before you decide to rebarrel, take it out and shoot it with some good quality ammo. You might just be surprised how well it shoots.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,226 Likes: 3
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,226 Likes: 3 |
The modern brand name of the makers of these liners is "Parker Hale". Not sure if they still exist, but they were around a few years ago. They did lots of low-end conversion work on ex-military guns after WWII, but seem to have supplied liners to "The Trade" for many years, since you find these liners on some fairly high-end rifles. I think they had some relationship with the Midland brand as well.
One common confusion on these relined rifles is that some of them were marked .220". So they sometimes get offered as .220 Swifts.... Gun Fun, as the Celestial menu hath it (or is it just ballistic chop suey?).
I think you'll find your Greener a very classy little .22 once you find out what brand it really likes to eat. They can be picky, even with a great bore.
Last edited by Mike A.; 04/16/12 12:47 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 60 Likes: 2
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 60 Likes: 2 |
The action has a split frame. The barrel has definitely been relined. Before I shoot it with any 22 long rifle ammo I need to make a chamber cast to make sure it is chambered for the long rifle. The barrel is stamped on top as 22 short.
Is it correct to assume that the take-down feature means the rear of the frame does not need to be machined for a cleaning rod? Just take the barrel off for cleaning?
Forester
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,226 Likes: 3
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,226 Likes: 3 |
Unless it's REALLY corroded, a .22 short chamber should not accept a .22 LR. Try one and save yourself a chamber cast. One problem with .22s originally chambered for .22 short is that when some uh, ah, "person" then rechambers them for .22 LR, they often don't shoot well because of a different twist.
So if you find that you do have a .22 LR chamber and it doesn't shoot LRs well, try shorts and longs in it. If it shoots THEM well, then you know that 'ol Bubs has been at work. But you won't care, because you'll still have a neat little rifle.
BTW, I personally wouldn't drill the back of an original Greener Martini for a cleaning rod. Just take it apart and clean it now and then. More .22s are wrecked by overcleaning than by overshooting. (We've had non-corrosive ammo for some time now, they tell me!).
Last edited by Mike A.; 04/16/12 11:22 PM.
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