Sturgy's recent posting on the Neethling family, tracing their struggles from the Great Trek to the ABW, prompted me to compare two examples of Boer firepower during this period. Here are a typical Boer flintlock known as a "bobbejaanboud"(Baboon's Thigh) because of the swell in underside of the wood of the butt; and an ordinary Boer Mauser.
The flintlock rifled musket, approx. .75"calibre, is of superior quality and was made by Levicks & Sherman, Cape Town, in the 1830's. It was thought likely to have been on the Great Trek and hence possibly at Blood River, Vegkop, etc. Bobbejaanbouds were made this large so they could be loaded either on foot or from horseback, the butt resting on the ground. Effective range of 100 m.
The 7 x 57 mm calibre Mauser is made by Loewe, Berlin, 1896. Effective range of 2,000 m.