Francotte Martini Rook Rifle in 297/230 calibre.

This is an interesting Francotte Martini rook rifle in .297"/230 Morris obsolete calibre circa 1890.
The rifle is clean and mechanically perfect with a good bore.

Rook rifles were very popular in the 19th century and 297/230 calibre effected with a Morris tube was not unusual. The .297/230 Morris cartridges were produced for use in the Morris Aiming Tube, a commercial sub-calibre barrel inserted into the barrel of a large bore rifle or pistol for training or short range target practice. The Morris Aiming Tube worked well enough for it to be adopted for service in August 1883 by both the British Army and the Royal Navy for use in the Martini-Henry rifle.
The Morris Aiming Tube was later adapted for use in the .303 British Martini-Metford rifle, the Lee–Metford rifle in 1891 and the Webley Revolver, with both the .297/230 Morris Short and the .297/230 Morris Long being fired through the tubes.

It would not surprise me that the original owner of this rifle had access to military ammunition, hence the calibre.

An attractive little rook rifle.

Code: 50557