Author Topic: The new Martini is here..... (Read 999 times)

dz86 · « **on:** April 01, 2004, 06:38:50 PM »

This is the first time I've ever purchased a firearm from Thad Scott Fine Guns in Mississippi. I got fast service and the rifle arrived well packed and intact. It was also filthy dirty and covered with rust. He had advertized this one as "excellent" with a "mint bore". When I talked to him on the phone he mentioned that it had a little surface rust and that the buttpad was a little squished but that it was the best one he had and one of the nicer ones of these around.
A better discription of the buttpad would have been "trashed". It looks far better in the pictures after I've treated it with Armor All and reblued the screws, which had hairy gunk and rust all over them. I don't know how he could have seen the bore (which did clean up to mint), it was so filthy. The entire action was so full of gunk that I just could not believe anyone could own such a fine rifle and let it get that way.
At any rate, it clenaed up beautifully as you can see in the pictures. I managed to strip it completely, clean it, and reassemble it in one evening with no instructions. A testament to the simplicity of the design. The action now "snicks" open and shut and looks beautiful. The quality of the machine work is excellent. I really enjoyed looking at the massive, over-engineered lockwork while I had it apart. You could fire a million rounds through this rifle and not wear it out. I'm thinking about rechambering it in .50 BMG.....
Oh well, you get the idea. Can't wait to shoot it but it'll probably late next week before we get it out.

Dave

marlinman93 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 04, 2004, 05:22:56 PM »

A beauty! I am a new Martini owner also! I recently bought a Cadet in .32-20, but traded it for a #12 before I ever shot it.
I took my #12 out today, and with my Win. 52B Heavy Target as a comparison, I was quite surprised! The #12 will hold it's own against what I had always believed was the finest shooting .22LR I owned! At 50 yds, with the Parker Hale rear sight, with adjustable aperture, and globe front sight, the Martini shot groups of about .75"! The Winchester has the Marbles Goss rear sight, and Lyman 17a front sight, and I could not outshoot myself against the Martini.
Hope your's shoots as good as it looks! Mine is not nearly as nice looking. Someone has bead blasted my gun, and refinished it flat black. I assume it was rusty or poor finish, which lead to the matte finish. Doesn't affect the shooting, but I envy your good looking gun! Mine is also straight grip stock.

dz86 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 04, 2004, 06:52:56 PM »

Thanks for the kind words.
I've been looking for a Cadet for my son but when you can actually find one they want too much for them.

Dave

marlinman93 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 05, 2004, 02:05:50 PM »

Cadets seem to run about $300-$350 around here, unless they're really special, as a custom rifle, or a pristine gun. I gave $250 for the converted one I bought, and it was original in appearance, except for the caliber. Overall a nice looking gun.
The guy I traded the Cadet to, has 5 other Martini Cadets for sale. They are in .32-20, .310, .218, .32 Special, .225 Win. He also had a Martini Rook rifle chambered for the .300 Extra Long, but sold it at the same time I was trading for my .22 LR.

Double D · « **Reply #4 on:** April 05, 2004, 05:53:23 PM »

You guys looking for Cadets...try here http://users.erols.com/apple1co/ John Appleton has them.

Marty · « **Reply #5 on:** April 08, 2004, 03:53:28 PM »

Your BSA looks real nice.
I just acquired two on an auction. One has been rechambered into a K Hornet ( model 12/15, I think; the other ( a Cadet) is a.22. They look well used now, but I hope to work on them and make them look like new. I haven't test fired them yet; hope the K Hornet shoots well. I was thinking of converting it to a 218Bee actually. Any comments from others? Anyone seen sight for parts like butt plate, front sights? Thanks for looking

Marty

Slash5 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 08, 2004, 03:59:55 PM »

dz86
The model number of your new BSA can be determined from the length of the barrel and diameter at the receiver and muzzle.
Measure them and let us know.

dz86 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2004, 10:54:54 AM »

Barrel length is 29" (measured from the face of the chamber).
Diameter at receiver is: 1.01" (measured from the round "sides", ignoring the knox form).
Diameter at muzzle is: 0.76"
Thanks!

Dave