WESTLEY RICHARDS
From flintlocks to monkey tails and Majuba Martinis
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 thickskinned 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 caplocks 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 of a percussion cap fitted to the exterior nipple situated above the chamber. An added advantage was that it could also be used as a muzzle-loader – a feature which appealed to the Boers living in desolate places.
Some Monkey Tails were adopted by the British and Portuguese military, but they are rare. However, it has been estimated that more than 20 000 of these rifles reached our shores. The Boers’ love-affair with the Monkey Tail probably started in 1860 when Queen Victoria’s second son Prince Albert was visiting South Africa. A hunt was organised for him on the farm Bainsvlei near Bloemfontein. Some 1 000 Barolongs from Thaba Nchu, mostly on horseback, herded about 30 000 head of game towards the hunters. That day an estimated 5 000 animals were slaughtered. The Boers present were greatly impressed with the Monkey Tail used by the prince, initiating an affinity for this system which lasted many years.
Monkey Tails came in a variety of configurations from the most common plain carbine to beautifully executed sporting models. Those with the Orange Free State (O.F.S.) coat-of-arms engraved on the patch box are most desirable.
Interestingly, only the O.F.S. ordered Monkey Tails officially – just 500 in 1883. However, despite many reports to the contrary, the Monkey Tail was the predominant firearm in the hands of the Boers during the Transvaal War of Independence (1880-1881). It was the firearm responsible for the defeat of the
British forces at the Battles of Bronkhorstspruit, Ingogo, Laings’s Nek and especially Majuba on 28 February 1881 – leading to peace negotiations. So popular was the Monkey Tail that the Boer governments kept supplies of ammunition for it right up to the start of the Anglo-boer War in October 1899.
In 1868, WR patented the Westley Richards Improved Martini (WRIM) also known as the ‘Free State’ or ‘Majuba Martini’. These rifles are similar to the British Martini-henry in that they also have a single-shot, under-lever, tilting-block action. All, however, are fitted with a safety lever on the right side of the action. The 1868 model went through several upgrades namely the 1869, 1870 and 1871 patents. The 1868 model, which is rare in Southern Africa, has a one-piece stock while the other patents have a two-piece stock. Most WRIMS seen in South Africa are the pattern 1869 and 1871 variants. They came in many styles: carbines, long rifles, plain and fancy, and in a variety of calibres. However, most long rifles were chambered for the immensely popular .500/.450 No 2 Musket cartridge and carbines for the scarcer .500/.450 No 1 Carbine round.
The common names for these rifles are difficult to fathom. The O.F.S. officially bought only a small batch in 1872 – yet they are often referred to as ‘Free State Martinis’. The other common name, ‘Majuba Martini’ is somewhat eas1897, ier to comprehend. After the Transvaal War of Independence and Majuba, many Boer officers had their photographs taken in Pretoria. The rifle most featured in these photographs was the WRIM Martini. At the time, each burgher had to buy his own firearm. Officers, usually being financially better off than most ordinary burghers, were more likely to buy the more expensive WRIM which cost about £9 in contrast to £5 for the ordinary Monkey Tail. The photographs of officers with WRIMS thus give the impression that many/most Boers were armed with these rifles at Majuba, hence the name ‘Majuba Martini’. There is no doubt though that the most prevalent firearm in Boer hands at Majuba was the Monkey Tail.
In 1873, WR’S John Deeley (commercial manager) and James Edge (company foreman) patented their single-shot under-lever Deeley Edge rifle. They abandoned most of the ideas used in the Improved Martini, the Deeley Edge design being a true falling block, strong, reliable, simple, and accurate. Although excellent, these rifles were also expensive, a plain example costing £10 at the time. They are not common in Southern Africa.
In 1897, WR brought out the epitome of their single-shot rifles, the Model which was also an under-lever falling block rifle of the highest standard.
ad all the desirable features of this design to compete with the more famous Farquharson. It came in many different calibres, from small rook rifles right up to .600 Nitro Express, in different grades from plain to elaborately engraved, with two take-down styles. Although not common in South Africa, they are highly sought-after.
WR Sherwood rifles also merit mention. Introduced in 1901, they are quite common in South Africa. They have Mini-martini actions chambered mostly for the .300 Sherwood cartridge – many are take-down models.
The majority of WR firearms that found their way to Southern Africa during the 19th century were Martini-Henrys officially purchased by the Boer republics. However, it should be borne in mind that some WR Martinis, of various styles, were sold privately in the Boer republics as well as in the British colonies. All fired the .577/.450 cartridge. The Orange Free State (O.F.S.) was the first of the two republics to purchase Martinis from WR. In 1883, along with the 500 WR Monkey Tails mentioned earlier, 500 WR Martini carbines were delivered. This was a result of a compromise reached by the Volksraad, as members could not decide on which system to order, either the older Monkey Tails or the more modern Martinis.
Thereafter, the O.F.S. purchased several batches of Martinis, of which I’ll mention only the larger consignments made by WR. In 1892, 500 WR long rifles and 500 carbines were delivered by the agent, GA Fichardt, the well-known Free State businessman. These have O.V.S. stamped on the stock and the agent's name engraved on the barrel. In 1894, W Rawborne of Cape Town delivered a further 260 WR Martini long rifles. These too, were marked as the previous batch except that "W. Rawborne" was engraved on the barrel.
The largest consignment of WR Martinis delivered to the O.F.S. was again via GA Fichardt as agent who, in 1895, 1896 and 1897 supplied a total of 1600 long rifles. The agent's name does not appear on these Martinis, but the letters O.V.S. and serial number are on the left receiver wall. On all these batches, the manufacturer’s name, WR, appears somewhere on the firearm.
In early 1896, the O.F.S. Volksraad decided to purchase equal numbers of Martinis and Mausers – again, because consensus could not be reached as to which of the two systems to acquire. However, from 1897 this resolution was overturned, and from then on, the O.F.S. bought only Mausers.
The Zuid-afrikaansche Republiek (Z.A.R.) acquired no major consignment of WR Martinis up until 1896. However, in 1894, a handful of special Martinis had been delivered to the Z.A.R. as samples
and described as “Westley Richards Improved Martini-henry military rifles with indicator in block and side screw for taking out action. Platina lined back sight. Chambered for Martini cartridge.” The Jameson Raid of late 1895/early 1896 came as a shock, making Z.A.R. aware that war with Britain was almost a certainty. Realising they were hopelessly under-armed to face such a mighty adversary they entered a period of rapid rearmament. Soon after the Raid, Commartinis. mandant-general Piet Joubert, who was principally involved in arms procurement, was instructed to buy 10 000 rifles. Unable to acquire that number of Guedes rifles – his favourite – he turned to TW Beckett & Co, the local WR agents, for Martinis.
To fill the contract, Joubert ordered 10 000 ‘Special Martinis’ as per the samples received in 1894. However, WR had to tool up to produce so large a quantity of those rifles. Not knowing how imminent war was, Joubert was hard-pressed to acquire arms for his citizens, so Beckett offered ordinary WR Martinis in the meantime, resulting in the Z.A.R. receiving 1 650 of these British Military type These are difficult to identify as they were not marked for or by the Z.A.R. All we know for certain is that they are British Military Mk. II or Mk. III style Martinis made by WR with 9-groove rifling instead of the usual 7-grooves.
During a Z.A.R. Volksraad meeting on 21 January 1896, when procurement of further arms was discussed, General Joubert was vehemently in favour of arming all his burghers with Martinis. HPN Pretorius ,o fficer commanding the State Artilto lery, and General de la Rey favoured the new Mauser. Eventually President Kruger broke the deadlock by requesting Joubert buy equal quantities of Martinis and Mausers for all eligible burghers, who totalled 37 000 at the time.
As mentioned, the O.F.S. rescinded a similar decision in 1897, but the Z.A.R. continued to buy Martinis right up to the start of hostilities in October 1899. So, we find that some 29 000 of these ‘Special Martinis’ were purchased – of which 2 000 were similar carbines. They are the well-known Martinis inscribed “Made specially for Z.A.R.” on the left side of the receiver wall. For these, WR used actions made by A Francotte of Belgium, giving rise to the myth that they came from that country. They are characterised by an action having a pronounced ‘hump’ at the back and a cocking indicator which protrudes between the receiver wall and the breach block, on the right. Its advantage over the standard British Martini was the easy removal of the action for cleaning.
Joubert’s continued buying of so many Martinis until the end of 1899 remains a mystery. By then the Mauser had become extremely popular with most burghers, being cheaper, and a multi-shot repeater with a more efficient cartridge, compared to the single-shot Martinis’ ballistically inferior black powder round. Already during the Anglozulu War of 1879 the Martini was found to have shortcomings by the British. Was it that Joubert was simply a dyed-in-the wool conservative? Was it that he favoured TW Beckett & Co? I guess we’ll never know.