Summary

British Service percussion rifle, Westley Richards carbine, cal. .451 in., steel rifled (eight groove) round barrel, 636 mm long. Manufactured by Westley Richards, Birmingham, 1863.

Buttplate tang stamped 'P63/ 22/ V.V' denoting use by the Victorian Volunteer forces.

Physical Description

BSteel lock and hammer on R.H. side, steel oval triggerguard with small front spur, no sideplate, steel butt plate with hinged trap, non-standard sling swivel mounted off front barrel band, middle barrel band missing, rear swivel in butt missing. Dinstinctive Westley Richards breech loading mechanism with 'monkey tail' operating lever. Barleycorn foresight that has been largely removed, graduated rear sight with leather cover, 400 yards on the bed and 800 yards on the leaf, barrel fastened to stock via a steel barrel band and barrel key, missing middle half barrel band specific to Victorian models and from which the front sling swivel was typically mounted. Steel ramrod fastened in stock and unable to be removed. Westley Richards carbines issued to Victoria had an additional middle barrel band minus its top strap across the barrel from which the front sling swivel was attached. This feature is specific to the Victorian issue models and often therefore these firearms carry the 'V.V' stamping on the butt tang to denote use by Victorian Volunteer units. The middle band is missing on this example..

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