Rifle - Westley Richards & Co, Birmingham, 1859

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Summary:: British Service percussion rifle, Westley Richards, cal. .450 in., steel rifled (eight groove) round barrel, 83.90cm long. Dinstinctive Westley Richards breech loading mechanism with hinged 'monkey tail' operating lever and breech bolt for self-consuming paper cartridges.

Made by Westley Richards & Co, , Birmingham, serial number 34, 1859.
Description:: Dinstinctive Westley Richards breech loading mechanism with hinged 'monkey tail' operating lever and breech bolt for self-consuming paper cartridges. Steel lock and hammer on right hand side, steel oval triggerguard with small front spur, no sideplate, steel butt plate, one sling swivel. Bedded bladed front sight, graduated rear sight to 800 yards, barrel fastened to stock via two steel barrel bands, steel cleaning rod.
Acquisition Information:: Donation from Mr William Cole, 1943

Tagged with:	rifles muskets british, rifles muskets military
Themes this item is part of:	William Edwin James Cole, Gun Collector (1864-1952), Arms Collection, William Cole Arms Collection
Primary Classification:	ARMS & ARMOUR
Secondary Classification:	Firearms
Tertiary Classification:	longarms
Inscriptions:	Stamped on barrel breech top: WESTLEY RICHARDS & Co/ PATENT Stamped on barrel L.H.side: Birmingham proofmarks (crown over BP); 52; 34 Stamped on barrel breech bolt L.H.side: 34 Stamped on barrel breech bolt head: 34 Stamped on stock underside: 34 Stamped on lockplate: WESTLEY RICHARDS & Co/ 1859 [denoting year of manufacture]
Model Name/Number:	Whitworth Patent British Service Rifle
Manufacturer:	Westley Richards & Co., Birmingham, England, Great Britain, 1859
Collector:	Mr William Cole, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia