Providence Tool Ottoman Peabody-Martini .45 Turkish Rifle 1874-1876 Antique
SOLD FOR: $1500
LSB#: 210723TS30
Make: Providence Tool Co.
Model: Peabody Martini-Henry, Turkish M1874 Type A
Serial Number: The serial marking is in Turkish.
Year of Manufacture: 1874-1876
Caliber: .45 Turkish (we have seen this cartridge referred to as both 11.43x55R and 11.43x59R)
Action Type: Lever Operated Single Shot Falling Block Rifle
Markings: The left of the receiver is marked “PEABODY’S MARTINI PATENTS / M’F’D BY / PROVIDENCE TOOL CO. / PROV. R.I. U.S.A.”. The left of the barrel at the chamber and the left-front of the receiver have Turkish inspection marks. The rear sight is marked with Turkish graduation markings. The bottom-front of the lever has a Turkish inspection mark. The right of the receiver has a Turkish crest over a Turkish serial marking.
Barrel Length: 33”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade integral to a rectangular base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style sight. The left of the base is marked with graduations in Turkish for use of the “V”-notch presented when folded down. When folded up, the slider has a “V”-notch with the ladder marked in Turkish.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with forend cap, two barrel bands, straight grip, straight comb and checkered steel buttplate. The front barrel band incorporates a sling swivel with another on the front of the trigger guard and a third in the belly. The forend is grooved for a cleaning rod which is present. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs, scratches and scrapes. There are a few small chip losses on the edges of the cleaning rod groove. There are some grain-line cracks at the rear edge of the buttstock. There is rough shaping wear at the rear edge of the forend and the front edge of the wrist. The wood has darkened with age and oil. The LOP measures 13 7/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a moderate dark patina with some surface erosion and well defined checkering. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Some remaining finish may be original, most surfaces show treatment with cold blue.
Bore Condition: The bore is light gray. The Henry-style rifling is well defined. There is light erosion scattered through the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 40% of its current metal finish. Remaining finish is scattered and mottled with wear and light surface oxidation. The worn areas show treatment with cold blue and are going to a light patina. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs, scratches and some areas of light surface erosion. The pin heads are tool marked but not peened. The breech-block’s axis pin is brass and likely a replacement. The markings are generally clear but do show some wear. Overall, this rifle is in about Fair-Good condition as Antique (see Mechanics).
Mechanics: If the safety is engaged and the trigger is then pulled, the striker will sometimes fall when the safety is disengaged. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. There is a cocking indicator on the right receiver flat and a safety to the right of the trigger with a checkered arm which comes up along the right receiver flat. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Martini-Henry served the British Empire from the 1870s to the 1890s as their primary service rifle and saw continued use into World War I. It was one of the most successful single-shot cartridge rifles which bridged the gap between percussion black-powder arms and the later cartridge repeaters. It was selected to arm the Ottoman Empire’s army in 1872. While England declined to supply the rifles, fierce competition erupted between Winchester and Providence Tool Co. to supply the new rifles. Providence eventually won the contract, which would later destroy the company. The Ottomans ordered 600,000 rifles, at the time the largest foreign military contract procured by an American company, and Providence took out massive loans to tool up for production, creating one of the largest armories in the world. A number of issues plagued the contract. The Ottomans were late providing pattern rifles and ammunition to make gauges. The Ottoman inspectors became a nuisance to the city of Providence, one even shooting a woman in a Providence brothel. The Ottomans started falling behind on payments, forcing Providence to take out additional loans and hold back thousands of rifles as collateral. Alexander Henry traveled to the US to sue Providence Tool Co. for royalties on his rifling design. The Ottoman navy accidentally sunk a couple of merchant ships owned by the same company which was to carry a shipment of rifles, delaying that shipment. A later shipment ran aground, losing 25,000 rifles. Oh, and in 1877 the Russian Empire declared war on the Ottomans and began an invasion through Romania and the Caucasus. Despite all of the issues plaguing the contract, Providence completed the 600,000 rifle order only to have to sell off the company’s assets to cover their debts. Providence Tool Co. John Brighton Anthony, who had headed up the efforts to secure the contract and the loans to complete it, would live until 1904, having to burn Peabody Martini stocks to heat his home due to financial strains. This rifle has markings indicating that it was actually delivered to the Turks and has since made its way back here to America. Given the rifle’s history, it is in pretty good shape. The safety needs a little work, but the mechanics are otherwise strong, the bore is strong, and the rifle is still in its original configuration. Many of the rifles which remained in Turkish inventory would have been converted to the 7.65mm Mauser cartridge later, so finding one still chambered for the original cartridge is not too common. The rich history of this rifle will interest military arms collectors and it will make for a nice display for the lucky winner. Please see our photos and good luck!