AR476 -  Boer War Guedes rifle.
Boer Republics 8x60R OEWG/Steyr made M.1885 Guedes rifle No.: 5526. Single shot dropping block rifle made by Steyr in Austria, initially for Portugal, but taken into service by the Boer republics and used to very good effect in the Second Anglo-Boer War. Bright, shiny and quite crisp bore. Metalwork clean and blacked (looks all original colour), matching numbers. Wood generally dinged and scuffed, much of which could steam out. Well marked throughout.  The Guedes (known to the Boers as the Giddy rifle) was named after its designer, Capt. Guedes (pronounced Gwedesh) of the Portuguese army. Only manufactured by OEWG Steyr, production was small at variously reported 8000 to 12000 only. Many were destroyed by the British army after the Boer surrender. A reliable source for detail of these rare rifles can be found in Ron Bester’s book on the arms of the Anglo Boer war.