Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert.Although the British never embraced this European improvement, these "Improved System Rifles" saw much service on frontiers all over the World. 303 cal Lee Metford bolt action Rifle's introduction into the British Military System. Revolutionary at the time by compartmentalizing the mechanism for quick disassembly, it only lasted 10 years as the latest technology. In 1878 the Francotte patent Martini System was granted utilizing a detachable mechanism fitted without the Cocking Indicator. This rifle is perhaps the only surviving example on earth of this unique improvement, making it extremely rare and important. By adding a cocking indicator, that does not penetrate the rest of the action, to this experimental Francotte the Nepalese improved on both designs, yes, they were very accomplished gun makers. As a safety precaution the British added a cocking indicator to their design but this didn’t allow for the action to withdraw from the receiver in one piece. The standard Francotte system allowed the entire action to drop out the receiver for cleaning and repair but it lacked a cocking indicator that made it difficult for soldiers to tell if their gun was loaded and ready to fire.
We believe this was an attempt to improve on both the standard Francotte system and the British Martini-Henry. The cocking indicator was an integral component of the British Martini-Henry rifle.
It is an experimental design built by the Gurkha master gun makers of Nepal and deviates from the standard Neaplese 1878 pattern Francotte martini rifle in that it has a cocking indicator. This is perhaps the only rifle of its kind on earth.
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