Westley Richards
ARGUABLY, no private firearm manufacturer supplied more firearms to Southern Africa than the firm of Westley Richards (WR), established in 1812 by the Birmingham gun-maker William Westley Richards (1790-1865). From the early 19th century to the present day, the company gained a reputation for well-made, reliable firearms at affordable prices. This article will trace the more prominent Westley Richards firearms supplied during the 1800s, with a later follow-up by Andrew Tonkin dealing with 20th century firearms.
When venturing into the interior, early 19th century explorers, naturalists and hunters took firearms as vital necessities – many manufactured by WR. Most were big-bore flintlock and later cap-lock muskets adequate for dealing with the thick-skinned dangerous game they would encounter. Likewise, dealers in the Cape Colony sold WR firearms ranging from the early Bobbejaanboud flintlock muskets favoured by the Voortrekkers, to cap-locks and other types such as Cape Guns.
In 1858, WR patented their first successful breech loader, namely their capping breech loader, better known as the ‘Monkey Tail’ due to the shape of its operating lever. Its combustible paper cartridge is ignited by means
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