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HI I think this rifle/carbine is a martini enfield .Can anyone perhaps give me some more detail.Lenght is 95 cm .Thanks Erastus

Erastus
You have illustrated what started life in 1879 at Enfield as a Martini Henry .45" Mk.III 1st class rifle. As that pattern and calibre became obsolete due to the adoption of the .303" Lee Metford, the War Office decided that obsolete Martini Henry rifles could be converted to the new calibre in carbine form and issued to artillery, AS C and the like. Your rifle was converted in 1894 at Enfield to a Martini Metford Artillery Carbine Mark III. Quite a few MHs were converted to .303"calibre rifles as well.
Your AC Mk.III is fitted to accept the P/1888 sword bayonet. The action is marked DP (we have discussed that before) - but some of the other markings on the breech are beyond me. Possibly the marking "C arrow G" could mean Cape Government property.
Regards
IL.

Ja, another cadet carbine. In this case a Martini Metford artillery carbine originally issued to the Cape govt. and later re barrelled. The barrel looks to be longer than the original barrel. The action was made as a Martini Henry rifle in 1879 and converted to.303 in 1894. Probably used by Cape artillery in the ABW then used by cadets.
Again, note my caution about deactivated status.
Is there a brass disc on the butt? If so what does it say? If blank, you might carefully take it out and look on the other side.
Rob

Sorry, my reply simultaneously with Linneyl!

Thanks a lot for the info .So actually a Martini Metford and not a Martini Enfield.As the lenght was already short I suppose this barrel was not cut for drilling purposes?

It's worth recalling the way a battery was armed at the time of the South African War. With the exception of the drivers, all mounted men had the cavalry sword which was fixed to the saddle. Drivers were armed with revolvers only, and gunners with sword bayonets. Two carbines were fixed to the fore part of every gun carriage, in all 12 per battery. The attached photograph shows a Long 12 naval gun being manoeuvered at the battle of Colenso, 15 Dec 1899, the MEACs or MMACs are clearly seen.

Thanks a lot for the info.I suppose it is not easy to obtain an original boer war period rifle without the cut barrrel .Regards