A Very Rare Westley Richards ‘Trails’ Monkey Tail Percussion Rifle. 52” overall, 36” .451 barrel marked forwards of the rear sight ‘WHITWORTH PATENT’, block & blade fore sight, elevating long range ladder rear sight graduated to 1100 yards, breech with Birmingham Proofs, stamped ‘275’, ‘.451’ & ‘.480’, lift-up trapdoor action engraved 'WESTLEY RICHARDS PATENT 'and numbered 275, plain lockplate signed 'WESTLEY RICHARDS & CO.' & dated 1860, whale shaped nipple bolster, walnut full stock to 1” of the muzzle, iron trigger guard, butt plate with single butt trap for cleaning jag, two iron barrel bands and cleaning rod .
Dated 1860
In excellent condition, retaining nearly all of its bright original blue & case-hardened finish. The stock is excellent with minimal handling & storage wear. A very good example of a scarce high quality experimental British breech loading rifle.
See ‘The Capping Breech Loader in British & Colonial Military Service 1859-1866 Vol 2 by B. Knapp Chapter 16 pages 34-52.