AR715 - Westley-Richards monkey Tail carbine. No.: 13207
The Monkey Tail was one of the most successful capping breech-loaders (a paper cartridge loaded at the breech but ignited by percussion cap); Obturation was achieved by use of a felt wad at the base of the self-combustible cartridge but which remained in the chamber after firing, being ushed forward by the next round. Based on the original 1858 patent, the Monkey Tail was trialled by the British Army from 1858 onwards over four variants and troop trialled for British mounted units. It was also popular in the colonies and particularly South Africa and by the Boer states of ZAR and OVS, who used them very effectively during the First Anglo-Boer War (aka War of Independence) and again in the Second Anglo-Boer War. The “tail is marked with  “MANUFACTURED BY WESTELY RICHARDS” and has the triangle logo, this repeated on the lock plate with manufacturing date of 1874 within. The Whitworth patent 25” rifled barrel is marked with .450 as nominal bore and .483 indicating bullet size