In the original chambering, the rifles fired a round-nosed, tapered-head. The British called such weapons ' Pass-made rifles'. The chief manufacturers were the Adam Khel Afridi, who lived around the Khyber Pass. Their weapons were of a poorer quality than those made by Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, but accurately copied down to the proof markings. The Martini–Henry was copied on a large scale by North-West Frontier Province gunsmiths. Early in 20, United States Marines recovered at least three from various Taliban weapons caches in Marjah. It was seen in use by some Afghan tribesmen as late as the Soviet invasion. The Mark IV Martini–Henry rifle ended production in 1889, replaced by the Lee–Metford, but it remained in service throughout the British Empire until the end of the First World War. There was also an 1877 carbine version with variations that included a Garrison Artillery Carbine, an Artillery Carbine (Mark I, Mark II, and Mark III), and smaller versions designed as training rifles for military cadets. There were four main marks of the Martini–Henry rifle produced: Mark I (released in June 1871), Mark II, Mark III, and Mark IV.

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. Peabody (in his Peabody rifle) and improved by the Swiss designer Friedrich von Martini, combined with the polygonal rifling designed by Scotsman Alexander Henry. It combined the dropping-block action first developed by Henry O. Martini–Henry variants were used throughout the British Empire for 47 years. It first entered service in 1871, eventually replacing the Snider–Enfield, a muzzle-loader converted to the cartridge system. The Martini–Henry is a breech-loading single-shot rifle with a lever action that was used by the British Army. Sliding ramp rear sights, fixed-post front sights War in Afghanistan (1978–present)(limited) Ĩ pounds 7 ounces (3.83 kg) (unloaded), 9 pounds 4.75 ounces (4.22 kg) (with sword bayonet) For the Australian racehorse, see Martini-Henry (horse).

Replace henry front sight