Zulu

[Garry Shipton (RIP)]

About 25 yrs ago I went with a friend of mine to his parents' house on some errand.He knew I was interested in militaria,and asked if I knew anything about a rifle that his father had acquired many years before.Lo and behold he presents me with a Martini-Henry,A heavy sucker.He goes on to tell me that his dad thinks there should be a bayonet for it,but could not find one for this particular rifle.Two weeks later I was at an arms show,and asked a distributor of bayonets if he had any for a Martini,which he had,I called my friend Mr. Palmer to come immediately to the show,whereeby he bought the bayonet which fit the Martini like a glove,and which he presented to his dad on Fathers' Day.Every time afterward when I met his dad,he'd say,"Oh you're the bayonet guy".Up to three years ago,that rifle and bayonet hung proudly over the fireplace in their home.