The bizarre thumb-trigger Martini-Henry, with firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson

The Martini-Henry is one of Britain's best recognised and well-known historical firearms. This week's episode features a super-rare variant.
Searching for a way of improving the breechloader, trials were laid out for a thumb-trigger configuration, popular with target shooters and hunters at the time. An order for 40 of these 'Watkin-Patent' Martini-Henrys were produced but the idea ultimately went nowhere, as Jonathan Ferguson explains.
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[@Moredread25]

Zulu is such a great film, the Martini-Henry plays a great part in it. I've never noticed the inaccurate rifles. Congratulations to Michael Caine on finally retiring!

[@philhawley1219]

According to Geoffrey Boothroyd .450 ammunition was still available in the Eley Kynoch sales brochure as recently as 1968. In 1994 I worked in Oman and quite a lot of the older Bedu still carried Martinis. Most of the forend woodwork was removed to save weight and often very intricate silverwork adorned the barrel and stock. Many of these rifles were still in working order but I don't think I would take one to the Proof House. However I was surprised to see some of the original foil cartridge cases looking a bit creased but unused. How old would those be? The solid brass case ammunition was still fairly available and I did see empty case s with the primer knocked out being filled with tobacco and used as a smoking pipe.

[@danielhurst8863]

Thumb triggers have some advantages.

[@buhrdt]

I could imagine that the thumb trigger would have use in cold weather situations. Wearing mittens or gloves and operating a trigger in a trigger guard is cumbersome. This was a time of great exploration, including the arctic and antarctic regions.

[@ashleysmith3106]

I still occasionally use my Winchester Thumb Trigger model .22 cal. rifle inherited from my Grandfather, and find it a very pleasant and accurate gun to use !

[@robertmansfield7656]

Great job Johnathan. Martini actions were in use in the second ww with Australian,Volunteer Defense Corps (Dad's army) being issued martini cadet (.310) as a stop gap post the bombing of Darwin in 42. They designed a bayonet for it and produced a copper nickel jacketed bullet to comply with the hauge convention... I think.. anyway the V.D.F were pretty pissed of at being issued essentially a 9mm powered ish, single shot rifle. Australia did have 110 000 cadet rifles at the time. So it's better than throwing stones.

[@derekp2674]

Thanks Jonathan and team.

[@michaelamos4651]

Outstanding video Jonathan. Informative and also very amusing. Thanks 👍

[@yt.602]

A very interesting variant on the rifle explained in detail.

[@greigmcarthur3821]

Jonathan I wonder if the thumb trigger was a reaction to the army trying to eliminate poor drills whereby soldiers were possibly not using the thumb rest and suffering injuries and it then makes sense to force the issue by making the thumb rest become the trigger and eliminating the urge to wrap the thumb around the stock?

[@peterbell9915]

Great video thank you as always Jonathan

[@F1ghteR41]

6:15

[@Duke_de_Plata]

thank you for showing off these beautiful weapons

[@matthewcarle5970]

There is a very interesting video from Iraq Verteran 8888 where they fire a Martini Henry at 600yds to show its accuracy capabilities at range.

[@grrman]

Great video, as always Jonathon!

[@nirfz]

👍Very interesting video!

[@albertroth5618]

Cool, full stop.

[@Richard0292]

This was excellent. Thank you.

[@dardarfisher]

Great vid! Love the channel.

[@dksdg]

Glad you brought up Zulu, I have watched both many times and anytime I see a Martini-Henry video it makes me want to watch them. Also the man who would be King. But Zulu is gold!