Westley Richards With Henry Rifling, Period Removeable Steel Foresight Cover & 1 Inert Deactivated Round Single Shot .577/450 Martini-Henry Rifle

*MATCHING NUMBERS*MINT BORE*1897 Boer War Era, South African Republic (ZAR) Contract British Westley Richards & Co, Martini Henry 577x 450 Obsolete Calibre Rifle With Henry Rifling, Period Removeable Steel Foresight Cover & 1 Inert Deactivated Round. - 23006

Prior to the Boer War, The British gun makers Westley Richards & Co, sold a private contract shipment of their Martini Action 577 x 450 Calibre Rifles to the Boer, South African Republic (ZAR or Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek). The stopping Power of the large Martini 577x 450 round, simplicity of the Martini Action were favoured by the Dutch farmers. During the Boer War the weapons were used by South African Republic (ZAR) and Orange free State (OVS) forces against the British Army in most of the Major Battles. This is an excellent original example of a Westley Richards Rifle sold to the ZAR in 1897. It has all original metalwork and wood furniture which has even patina throughout. The wood is excellent with just light bumps and bruises to be expected of a weapon of this age. It is complete with block and blade fore sight, flip up ladder rear sight, sling swivels & bayonet lug. The right side of the frame is stamped ‘Made Specially For ZAR’. The left side is crisply stamped 'WESTLEY RICHARDS & CO' with the correct triangular stamp. The top of the breech is also stamped with a triangle and 1897 date. The barrel is clearly stamped 'WESTLEY RICHARDS & CO' & ‘HENRY RIFLING’. The bore of its 32 ½” barrel is near mint clean & bright with crisp rifling (illustrated but the image doesn’t do it justice, best we could do with the camera we have). The barrel has proof / inspection marks. The inside of the action and underside of the barrel have matching numbers ‘15459’ and the underside of the barrel has an ‘8’ inspection mark. The loading and firing actions work crisply. The rifle comes with a period removable steel fore sight cover (very tight fit) and 1 inert deactivated round of brass cased Kynoch 577x 450 obsolete calibre ammunition. The price for this rare historic Boer War era piece includes UK delivery. NB As an obsolete calibre antique firearm no licence is required to own this item in the UK if retained as part of a collection or display. Sn 23006