Westley Richards ZAR Martini Henry

A lovely Boer War, Westley Richards Martini Henry Rifle, dated 1897. These were made specially under contract for the Boers, using the Martini tilting block design of action but had an improved Francotte patent breech mechanism. This design feature enabled the complete action to be removed by unscrewing the large screw at the bottom front edge of the receiver. This feature is unique to the ZAR Martini's. 
The initials ZAR stand for 'The South African Republic' or in Dutch: Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek. The Boer's used them in numerous battles against the British during Second Boer war, 1899 to 1902.
The republic, under the premiership of Paul Kruger, defeated British forces in the First Boer War and remained independent until the end of the Second Boer War on 31 May 1902, when it was forced to surrender to the British. The territory of the South African Republic became known after this war as the Transvaal Colony.
The example is chambered in 'number 1 musket' and is an obsolete calibre, with an excellent condition bore with strong rifling throughout.
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Baker's pattern pistol was introduced in 1819 and was still in service in the early 1850s.