Westly Richards Monkey Tail Pistol

[diopter]

Pictures from a friend's collection:

https://ibb.co/album/fyQkRF

Sample

 

[crooked barrel jed]

OK, I'll bite. What does the uppy downy thing do?

 

[jpc]

Nice and thanks for sharing ☺

 

[mooncoon]

OK, I'll bite. What does the uppy downy thing do?

I think you could compare it with a trapdoor springfield. The gun takes a paper cartridge which had a felt disc at the back to seal the breach. The primer flashes part way forward on the powder charge and they had to use a special primer because the then available standard ones were not hot enough to dependably burn through the paper cartridge. I have shot one of the rifles using loose powder and a base wad cut from a muzzle loading shotgun wad. In that configuration it shot well and the breach did not leak.

cheers mooncoon

 

[Wildey]

Wow...that looks to be in amazing condition...very cool. Feel free to share more photos from the collection!!

 

[diopter]

How about a 1849 Colt Revolver? Many more to come.

 

[sail32]

Nice, I was unaware that Westley Richards made a Monkey Tail Pistol !

I have seen pictures of the rifles and carbines and one auction offered a Westley Richards Monkey rifle with Whitworth rifling.

https://www.collegehillarsenal.com/shop/product.php?printable=Y&productid=1861

https://www.collegehillarsenal.com/shop/product.php?productid=1226

 

[diopter]

Loading and firing a Monkey Tail Rifle:

 

[mooncoon]

The video clip says the gun was made in 1810 but the patent was actually 1858

cheers mooncoon