Help identifying this MH/WR

[DHJoubert]

Can anyone help me identify this weapon and get some information about it?



"For W.R. No. 2 Musket Brand Cartridge"


"Sklaar & Slesing . Van Reyns Dorp" engraved on barrel.

[driepootx]

A genuine Westley Richards Musket no. 2 as used by the Boer forces in the First Boer war. Your rifle looks like a Martini action in the same caliber.

[Daan]

Mnr. Joubert, yours is a commercial Martini.
The "Sklaar & Slesing" would be the local general trader in Van Reynsdorp who ordered a consignment of these rifles from an agent in the Cape, who would then place all his orders with yet another agent in probably Birmingham, who would then farm out the orders to various smaller 'manufacturers'. These 'manufacturers' would buy surplus military actions, barrels from a barrel-maker, assemble the rifle, and have a stock fitted by another stock-maker. These were called 'Trade Rifles', and was typically shipped off to the colonies. Slightly better finished than military rifles, but not to the quality of the established 'brand names' in the gun industry at the time. The established 'Gun Houses' of the time made their rifles in much the same way, but of course paid more attention to the quality of final product, and it would bear their name.

See if you can post a pic of the proof marks on the barrel and/or action. This will say weather it was made in Birmingham or London.
As Driepoot said, the rifle was built on a standard Martini action. A safety catch was added, and the cocking lever modified.
I cannot tell you anything about the caliber, apart form the fact that it is a black-powder loaded round.

My guess would be the rifle dates from the late 1880's, mid 1890's.