The breech-loading, single-shot .458in Martini-Henry rifle has become a symbol of both the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 and the numerous battles in Egypt and the Sudan in 1884–85, but continued to be used by both British and colonial troops well into the 20th century. Its invention and introduction into British service were in direct response to the success of the Prussian Dreyse needle gun, which demonstrated that the breech-loading rifle offered faster loading, improved accuracy and superior range; significantly, the weapon could be loaded and fired from a prone position, thus offering the rifleman greater security on the battlefield. Due to the longevity of service, many Martini-Henry rifles survive today, both in museums and in private collections, and the weapon is highly prized by shooting enthusiasts. Featuring specially commissioned full-colour artwork and an array of arresting first-hand accounts and written by an authority on warfare in the Victorian era, this engaging study tells the story of the powerful Martini-Henry and its impact on the battlefield, from the Anglo-Zulu War to the opening months of World War I.

When the Martini Henry rifle was formally introduced into the British Army in October 1874 after five years of evaluation, It was hailed as the most perfect rifle of its time. Never before was a rifle to be subjected to such a baptism of fire that the Martini rifle was to endure; battling not the European enemy it had primarily been designed to fight, but foes whos methods and tactics were to test the ability of the British infantryman and Sailor to the limit.This long awaited book is a complete History of the British Military Martini Henry rifles and Carbines, in all its Calibers from 1869 to 1903. It covers the Bayonets, the Ammunition, the jamming, the failed projects, the manufacturers, the politics, the battles and the men that were to be forever linked in its story.In 256 luxurious full color pages, embellished with 260 photographs and 156,000 words, Author Neil Aspinshaw's8 year study into The Weapon that forged an Empire, reaches new heights in hitherto unpublished research, information and understanding into one of the most talked about and lauded rifles of Queen Victoria's reign.

The Martini-Henry was a breech-loading single-shot lever-actuated rifle used by the British Army. It first entered service in 1871, eventually replacing the Snider-Enfield, a muzzle-loader conversion to the cartridge system. Martini-Henry variants were used throughout the British Empire for 30 years. It combined the dropping-block action first developed by Henry O. Peabody (in his Peabody rifle) and improved by the Swiss designer Friedrich von Martini, combined with the polygonal barrel rifling designed by Scotsman Alexander Henry. Though the Snider was the first breechloader firing a metallic cartridge in regular British service, the Martini was designed from the outset as a breechloader and was both faster firing and had a longer range. Find out the details on exactly how these rifles work and who was Martini and who was Henry.

The latter third of the nineteenth century was one of great power and responsibility for the British Empire and with that power came wars that necessitated the design of a new breechloading rifle. Martini-Henry .450 Rifles and Carbines is the story of the numerous version of the rifles and carbines that were the mainstay of the British soldier though a series of Victorian wars. The book provides a general history of the series, with chapters on all the various marks of rifles and carbines, as well as information on commercial models, ammunition and bayonets. Separate listings of specifications for the rifles and carbines also are provided. 52 photographs and 6 illustrations complement the text. Contact Excalibur Publications, PO Box 35369, Tucson, AZ 85740-5369. Voice: (502) 575-9057. Fax: (520) 575-0968.

Get genuine Martini-Henry gunsmithing techniques from the primary source, the British Army, circa 1897. This armourer's text tells exactly how to maintain and care for your rifle, from assembly and disassembly to simple fixes to the breech block and trigger.

The Lee-Enfield is one of the 20th century's most recognisable and longest-serving military rifles. It was adopted by the British Army in 1895 and only replaced by the L1A1 SLR in 1957. It saw combat from the Boer War onwards, and thousands are still in use today; it is estimated that 17 million have been produced. Soldier's recollections of the rifle are overwhelmingly affectionate (it was known as the Smellie); today it remains a very popular target rifle for competitive shooting, and modern copies are being manufactured to meet demand. Featuring first-hand accounts, brand-new full-colour artwork and close-up photographs, this is the story of the Lee-Enfield, the innovative, reliable and long-lived rifle that equipped British and other forces through the world wars and beyond.

From Musket to Metallic Cartridge is an historical introduction to the use of black powder firearms, from the primitive smooth-bore musket to breech-loading cartridge guns, as well as a primer on their practical use for today's black powder shooters. Drawing on his experience of countless hours on the shooting range, backed up by meticulous research, Oyvind Flatnes relates over 500 years of development and covers the huge range of different ignition systems, models and patents. He describes the use of antique firearms and replicas, discussing their historical and safe modern use. The book is profusely illustrated throughout, with both photographs and diagrams, showing a range of guns and their ammunition, with some live firing shots showing them in action. Aimed at shooters, collectors and general gun and weapons enthusiasts, this book will inspire the reader to learn more about how firearms work, and to take them onto the range too. Superbly illustrated with 265 colour photographs and diagrams.

A description of military helmets from around the world.

This chronicle of the first battle in the Anglo-Zulu War is “the most powerful and moving modern account of the great Zulu epic that I have ever read” (Richard Holmes, historian and author of The Age of Wonder). On January 22, 1879, a massive Zulu host attacked the British Army’s 24th Regiment in its encampment at the foot of the mountain of Isandlwana. It was the first major encounter in the Anglo-Zulu War and a disastrous defeat for the colonial power. Later that afternoon the victorious Zulus would strike the tiny British garrison at Rorke’s Drift. How Can Man Die Better is a unique analysis of the Battle of Isandlwana, covering the weapons, tactics, terrain, and the intriguing characters who made key military decisions. While much is still unknown about the battle, this work eschews the commonly held perception that the British collapse was sudden and that the 24th Regiment was quickly overwhelmed. Rather, historian Mike Snook argues that there was a protracted and heroic defense against a determined and equally heroic foe. A British Army colonel who served in South Africa, Snook reconstructs the final phase of the battle in a way that has never been attempted before.

Firearms have been studied by imperial historians mainly as means of human destruction and material production. Yet firearms have always been invested with a whole array of additional social and symbolical meanings. By placing these meanings at the centre of analysis, the essays presented in this volume extend the study of the gun beyond the confines of military history and the examination of its impact on specific colonial encounters. By bringing cultural perspectives to bear on this most pervasive of technological artefacts, the contributors explore the densely interwoven relationships between firearms and broad processes of social change. In so doing, they contribute to a fuller understanding of some of the most significant consequences of British and American imperial expansions. Not the least original feature of the book is its global frame of reference. Bringing together historians of different periods and regions, A Cultural History of Firearms in the Age of Empire overcomes traditional compartmentalisations of historical knowledge and encourages the drawing of novel and illuminating comparisons across time and space.