Cyprus-Forum.com

[Novus]

Purdey, I was wondering, when did Greener stop making Martini Henry action shotguns?
Can you fire modern 12 gage in them?

[Nikitas]

OK let me take the questions one at a time

Cyprus had no arms industry to speak of because one way or another it was a colony till 1960 and even then the manufacture of guns was expressly forbidden after 1960. There is some gunsmithing but that is about it.

Oddly enough the Cypriot iron and tin mongers in the 50s managed to makes some very impressive versions of Stenguns during the 1950 uprising. Which should remind those that want to forbid guns that they are basically products of 19th century technology and easy to make.

Webley MkIII was an air rifle, the same model designation probably was used for one of their revolvers.

Purdey, the Martini actioned shotguns were Greeners. They were handed over by the departing British to the Cyprus Police force along with a quantity of ammo. Former W&C Scott director Pat Whatley had told me that they were probably 14 gauge, a ploy used to prevent interchangeability with civilian 12 gauge ammo, but they could be easily rebored and reproofed. Anyway, I missed the chance, a firm in New Jersey got them.

I now have a Martini made in 1868, converted from 450 to 20 gauge with my own walnut stock on it. It is my nostalgia gun, it reminds me of those times in Cyprus we were curfewed and kept under control by Greener toting auxiliary policemen.

Kafene- that is a fine looking sidelock you got there.

I have shot enough of all kinds of guns and these days I am drawn more and more to accurate air rifles and pistols. They are just as difficult to shoot as the big ones but with much less noise and with no need to travel far to the range. And inevitably I am drawn to the older vintage air riifles like the old BSAs, BSF (German), Dianas etc.

The air rifle Kafene has posted looks like an old BSA, which is a good example of the elegance of the vintage airguns.

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This is an engraved single barrel Baikal. Mine is almost as nice!
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[purdey]

I am not sure when Greener stopped making the GP. I know they still fiddle about with them (they recently supplied me with some new pins). My GP still has outings on the saltmarsh and I put through Hevi shot 3 inch 36gm shells, kicks like a mule but it brings down the geese.

[Novus]

I am not sure when Greener stopped making the GP. I know they still fiddle about with them (they recently supplied me with some new pins). My GP still has outings on the saltmarsh and I put through Hevi shot 3 inch 36gm shells, kicks like a mule but it brings down the geese.

Hevi Shot, eh? Are you using it because of the better performance, or because it is less toxic than lead? HOw does it compare to perfomance of lead shot?

[purdey]

It is illegal to use lead on marshland in parts of the UK. I started out using Tungsten and then moved to Bismuth, unfortunately I was never happy with the performane with either and my clean kill rate was down 15%. I went over to the Russia ( with a American friend) for some goose shooting and tried Hevi Shot and it performed very well, so I started selling it in the UK with mixed results. At the moment it is very expensive (works out a £2.90 per shell) but it kills with the same penetration as lead.
The most popular load for wildfowl in the UK is steel, cheap but lacks killing power, hence I have never used it and I never will.

[Novus]

Yeah, it is real expensive here in the US too. I guess it would be less expensive if you could buy the shot and reload your own shells.

Speaking of which, are you allowed to reload in Cyprus? Can you buy primers and powder?

[purdey]

Not sure about re-loading in Cyprus, I know cartridges are cheaper than the UK though, and of excellent quality.
I made a big mistake a few years ago with Olympia cartridges who export from Cyprus. I looked at importing to the UK but never went down the road of doing a deal, big mistake as now the guy who imports is doing fantastic business, and claims it is the finest business deal he has made.

[Nikitas]

Did a test with hevi shot thei other day. Used damp telephone books and the Hevi shot penetrated fractionally more pages than lead. So I would rate the performace as marginally better. The interest was purely academic, you will not catch me on a march at any time, let alone winter. I am strictly an uplands man.

Not to mention that wildfowl are foul to eat! Give me woodcock and wild rabbit any time!

[purdey]

I am a fan of woodcock myself Nikitas, the trick with wildfowl is to eat early season (September) after that soak the meat in a bucket of water for 24-48 hrs it takes away the gamey taste.
I am still trying for that elusive left & right at woodcock, last chance this weekend (last shoot of the season).

[Novus]

Not sure about re-loading in Cyprus, I know cartridges are cheaper than the UK though, and of excellent quality.
I made a big mistake a few years ago with Olympia cartridges who export from Cyprus. I looked at importing to the UK but never went down the road of doing a deal, big mistake as now the guy who imports is doing fantastic business, and claims it is the finest business deal he has made.

Olympia makes them in Cyprus too, or just uses Cyprus as an export spot?

What is the largest shot size allowed in Cyprus by the way?