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Winning Bid US $840 First bid $300 Quantity 1 # of bids 13 Time left Auction has ended   Started 2025-07-28 00:00:00 Ended 2025-11-21 22:35:25

Westley Richards & Co., Model: ZAR Type 2 Martini-Henry, Francotte improved Breech, Cal: .577.450 Martini-Henry, MFG: 1897, S/N: 16282, Lever action single shot breech loading rifle, 33 1/4'' barrel.



HISTORY: These rifles are a result from orders by the South African Republic (ZAR, 'Zuid Afikaansche Republiek') placed with the Westly Richards firm while their relation ship with Britain was still good in 1895. A large order was placed before the Jamison Raid of 1896, a botch raid against the ZAR that was a large contributor to the 2nd Anglo-Boer war.. This would shift the ZARs focus for modern smokeless powder repeating rifles & they would start buying Mausers over Martinis. Many of these rifles would be used during the war as not everyone got or bought a newer Mauser. While these are stocked & look like their British Military cousins, these were Commercial rifles through & through & never had a formal military adopted nor any military proofs. They featured the improved Francotte patent breech mechanism. Designed by the famous Liege Belgium Gunsmith at the time, Auguste Francotte in 1878. It used a internal frame for the various internal components of the action. This enabled the complete action to be removed from the receiver by unscrewing the large screw at the bottom of the receiver. It also allowed the introduction of other advances such as a safety on some models. The Boers preferred this model of the Martini over the British military pattern as it was easier to clean & keep functioning in the dusty African climate. Rifles made for the ZAR will be marked as such on the side of the receiver. Experts suggest no more than 10,000 Martini Rifles were delivered to the ZAR due to political unrest and the anticipated delivery of more modern Mausers.



CONDITION: The two-piece wood stock is good as being lightly sanded to clean & oiled. Stock still has some minor nicks, dings, dents, & scratches from use/age. Metal is proud to the wood around the buttplate & where the wrist meets the receiver. Oil staining around buttplate & were the wood meets the receiver. 1/2'' tight crack on left side of forend & a 1 1/2'' crack on the bottom, both emanating from the receiver. The metal has toned to a mix of gun metal gray & brown patina with some thinned remains of blue on the barrel around the rear sight, & the right side of the receiver. Speckled roughness/rust on the receiver. The left side of the receiver is marked with a triangle over ''WESTLEY RICHARDS & CO.''. The right side of receiver is marked ''MADE SPECIALLY FOR'', ''ZAR''. S/N is marked on the bottom right edge of receiver. The left side of the receiver is marked with three small British proofs & ''52''. Knox form is marked ''1897'' in triangle. The top of the barrel, behind the rear sight is marked ''WESTLEY RICHARDS & CO'', Infront of the rear sight is marked ''HENRY RIFLING''. The bore is good. Its bright with some roughness in the grooves. Bulge in barrel under the rear sight. The barrel holds a barleycorn front sight. Notch cut into base. with a stepped base/ladder. V-notch rear sight. The base is marked 1 to 4, & the ladder is marked 5 to 12. The stock carries a steel buttplate, toned brown. Rifle has both bottom sling loops & has the cleaning/clearing rod. Antique no FFL Req - Value: 600 to 1200

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Payment Details See Payment Instructions and item description, or contact seller for more information.

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Price

Westley Richards & Co., Model: ZAR Type 2 Martini-Henry, Franco... Item # 4473 This auction is over. No new bids can be placed. Price: US $840

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