I recently acquired a customized Martini Cadet - .357 magnum, 26" octagon barrel, color case hardened receiver, Parker-Hale target sights, 6 pounds even. The gun came with a cheek piece on the "wrong" side so I rasped it off, and then refinished both pieces of wood with 10 coats glossy spar varnish rubbed out and waxed. Not enchanted with the lever treatment so that may (or may not) get re-curved for a closer fit to the wrist and the hook replaced with a ball.

Original intent was to re-chamber to .357 Maximum but doggonit it shoots darned nicely as-is, and the 26" barrel yields velocities that equal or surpass .357 Max velocities out of short barrels, so I think I'll leave it alone.

Nice Gary, hope you take a Buck with it!

What cheek piece?

Nice work.

I've owned about 15 of the small frame Martinis in various calibers, including a .357 (which couldn't hold a candle to yours, by the way) and I've yet to own one that wouldn't shoot well. If the .357 cartridge shoots well and the range at which you're looking to be able to take a deer is within the .357's capacity, I'd leave it alone, shoot it a bunch to get comfortable with it and go hunting with it in the fall.

Feed it heavier bullets with Alliant 300-MP and watch it zing. I set me son up with this powder and 180 gr XTP's for his Henry lever gun.

Wow!

Nice Gnoahhh,

Neat piece! Nice job on reworking the wood (as always!!). Is the base for Your rear sight different than standard issue?

I'll throw my 2 cents in the wishing well, and offer a thought on re-working the lever into a full loop, a'la American leverschuetzen-ish, (.., and make two!, sell me one!!)




(..anybody still remember that Bill Cosby gave You Your handle?)

Thanks, Jeff, and everybody else. The closed loop suggestion bears some thought. It is a delightful little bugger to carry - shooting a deer with it would almost, almost, be anti-climatic!

Nah, Jeff, my handle originated long ago when I was a Hasher (google it - a drinking club with a running problem).

Beautiful 357!!


Here is a 17 Ackley Hornet Martini with a closed loop.



I do prefer the open hook on this 204X223 Improved.

That sure is a nice little rifle. Great job on the stock.

A bunch of nice Cadets above!

I'm in the middle of a restocking project myself, and could use a lever latch from the stock of a Martini Cadet. Anybody have one I could pay you for?

GC
Montana

Are you doing a straight-wristed stock and employing the original lever?

Evnin, all of the ones I had shot well, 218 bee, 22 hornet imp., 22 hornet. If I had one now it would end up a 17 fireball. Cool little actions. Up here you won't find any them then all of a sudden there everywhere usually when I have no money. Can find them still in 22 rf though. I'd love that 17 above!! 🐾👣🐾👣🇨🇦 GWP

Gnoahhh,

Impeccable!
That is what my grandpa, who taught me to shoot, would call a rifleman’s rifle

I dont know which side you’ve bargained with, the man upstairs or down, to find your incredible deals … I have always been searching for a full size Martini in 45/70🦊
Please keeps us posted on your refinements … a guy can always dream!