item details
Name"Henry's Patent" Breechloading rifle, .45 calibre, 1871.
ProductionWestley Richards; gunsmith; 1871; Birmingham
Classificationrifles, firearms
Materialssteel, wood
DimensionsOverall: 60mm (width), 190mm (height), 1270mm (length)
Registration NumberDM000364
Credit lineGift of Peter Read, date unknown
Overview
"Henry's Patent" breechloading rifle, .45 calibre, made by Westley Richards Company, Birmingham, England, 1871.
Alexander Henry, an Edinburgh gunsmith patented his falling block breechloading action which competed unsuccessfully with the Martini action in Ordnance Board trials for British service rifles.
The New South Wales Government ordered 2500 Henry rifles. As an order of this size was far beyond the capacity of Henry's factory, the rifles were produced under licence by Westley Richards Company. This rifle has "N.S.W. 2"' inscribed on its stock, indicating that is is Number 27 of the New South Wales order.