Deactivated Rare Martini Henry Carbine marked to Hong Kong Native Infantry.

This is a rare Martini Henry carbine that was issued to the Hong Kong Native Infantry. This carbine was originally a MKI chambered in .577 before being upgraded in 1893 at the Enfield factory when it was converted to .303 and designated as an "M M 303 III" (Martini Metford .303 Calibre, MKIII ). The brass disc reads "4 1897 HKNI 884" = April 1897, Hong Kong Native Infantry, weapon number 884th. The HKNI regiment was recruited by the British Indian Army from native Indians from Upper India who first arrived in Hong Kong in 1892. These soldiers received high praise on their standards of drilling and soldiering. The first recruits were apparently so good at firing that the Commandant of the School of Musketry said there was "little we could teach them". The regiment saw action during the Boxer Rebellion (1899 to 1901) and was a main part of the relief of Peking. The regiment was disbanded in 1897.

This item is available for purchase and is currently at the proof house being certificated.