Product Details
MARTINI GUNMAKERS
AN EXCEPTIONALLY FINE, NEW AND UNUSED SMITH-ENGRAVED .300 H&H HAGN FALLING BLOCK SPORTING RIFLE, serial no. 4108,
26in. octagonal to round nitro barrel with integral matt top quarter sight rib, gold-inlaid with the calibre designation, border engraved top rib gold-inlaid 'MARTINI GUNMAKERS. CANADA.' open sights and folding leaf sight for 100 and 200 yards with gold-inlaid sight lines, ramp-mounted gold bead foresight with fine scroll engraving on the ramp, the breech end mounted with quickly detachable Talley telescopic sight rings, roller safety with gold 'F' detail, spring loaded fore-end hanger system (allows the fore-end to slide approx. 1/16th inch forward and returns under spring tension and allows the rifle to keep the same point of impact under any weather or temperature conditions), fine acanthus scroll engraving, the makers name engraved within a cartouche, the triggerplate signed 'WARREN SMITH', retaining full original colour-hardened finish, 14 1/4in. highly-figured pistolgrip stock with cheekpiece, flat-top chequering, sling eyes, engraved and colour-hardened steel pistolgrip-cap and including 3/4in. leather covered recoil pad, weight 7lb. 5oz.
Provenance: Ralf Martini was born and raised in West Germany where he completed his apprenticeship as a machinist.
Ralf's love of firearms and hunting started at an early age. As a youngster he spent many hours in the woods enjoying nature and worked on whatever firearm he could lay his hands on. He was drafted into the military, serving in an Alpine force where he honed his shooting skills in the sniping division. Whilst there he received a gold medal for marksmanship as a sniper.
Ralf moved to Manitoba, Canada in 1986, working in the guide and outfitting industry for a time. He then returned back to machining/ tool and die making. He worked in machine shops for twelve years. The last three of those years he was the shop foreman for a large firm in Fort St. John, British Columbia. In his off hours he did gunsmithing work. In 1996 Ralf decided to go into business for himself as a full time gunsmith and custom gunmaker, his specialty being highly customized rifles for hunting North American and African big game
In January 2000 he was accepted as a regular member of The American Custom Gunmakers Guild. In the same year he accepted an offer from Master Gunmaker Martin Hagn to work together to build the fine Hagn single shot falling block rifles and bolt actions; and relocated to Cranbrook, British Columbia were they worked as Martini & Hagn, Gunmakers Ltd. During this time the combined efforts of these two men produced many extraordinary examples of single shot rifles and bolt action rifles. Many of these can be viewed on the Martini Gunmakers website today.
In the early part of 2007 Ralf and Martin Hagn made an amicable decision to cease co-sharing a workshop and Martin Hagn moved into his own workshop. Both businesses agreed to continue producing the high quality Hagn single shots and best quality bolt actions. Ralf was well underway making a name for himself as a highly competent gunmaker adopting the classic British look on his bolt action rifles and the single shots, additionally complimenting these with his own innovations in/wood metal design . Ralfs excellency in the craft earned him the privilege of working together with Heym , Germany , to design the "prototype " for the new HEYM (Martini ) bolt action rifle .
Ralfs' dedication to flawlessly completed rifles which display the highest regard to function, design and finish, has made his custom rifles much in demand throughout North America. Ralf is a current member of the American Custom Gunmakers Guild, under the category Metalsmith and stockmaker. Ralf exhibits his work each year at the annual American Custom Gunmakers Guild show in Reno Nevada, USA which is held in conjunction with the Safari Club International event.
Other Notes: Two brass-mounted scope ring release torx turnscrews are supplied with this Lot
Estimate £8,000-10,000
THE ABOVE LOT WILL REQUIRE THE BUYER TO PRODUCE A RELEVANT BRITISH FIREARMS CERTIFICATE OR REGISTERED FIREARMS DEALER LICENCE BEFORE IT MAY BE RELEASED.