I was in a pawn shop today was about to leave when I found out that the guy had a "junk box". There was the usual assortment of junk as the name indicates. But, I also saw this:







The topstrap is marked "British Bulldog" and it appears to be approximately .44 caliber. I know many companies in Europe (primarily Belgium) as well as stateside made copies of this Webley design.

The other element here is that now I've shown some interest in this one. I might need to hire a metallurgist to prove to the guy that it is not made of platinum or gold.

The original Webley British Bulldogs were extremely popular in the Old West. Gen Custer had a pair and many others of that era favored them in. 44 Webley due to the power in a concealable package.

He says he will make me a "good price". We'll see!

Best,
Charles

Good deal for whom?

The extractor looks like a Nagant type, not something that Webley may have made. If possible, look for Belgian proofs on it.

I suspect it's Belgian also. I just figured it was interesting enough to display w/ my Sherlock Holmes memorabilia.... at the right price.


Best,
Charles

You never know.

This could be the long-missing Bulldog used by Guiteau to assassinate President Garfield. It disappeared from the Smithsonian around a hundred years ago.

Attached Images

IMG_4192.JPG (49.0 KB, 62 views)

IIRC (?) copies were also turned out by the residents of the northwest frontier in India

I'm guessing Belgian but worse the finish looks like it was in a fire.

__________________
Bill Bates

It's a (US made) Forehand & Wadsworth.
The F&W trademark of a bulldog head with TRADE above and MARK below is stamped on the left side of the frame where the bbl screws in. Hard to see but it's there especially if you enlarge the pic.

While I suspect that it is a Belgian knockoff, in that condition I doubt it makes much difference who made it. It would make a nice curio if cheap enough. I remember that in times past, one like that might sell for $5 at a gun show. I remember seeing tables full of them.

According to Charles, it says "British Bulldog" on the top strap, which matches the F & W's I've seen. However, all had "Forehand & Wadsworth" stamped on the top flat of the barrel, which I think he would have mentioned.

Attached Images

IMG_4196.JPG (32.0 KB, 44 views)

Well, here's a pic of a F&W Bulldog with theie trademark/dog head logo in the same position. I probably mis-spoke calling the caricature a Bull-Dog,,could be Husky!

Look at the OP's pic of the faint marking in the same loc on his revolver and move the cursor over the pic in the link to enlarge it and I think you can easily see the same mark.
But maybe some Belgian maker copied the famous F&W trademark too. Look for Belgian proofs I guess.

F&W was bought out by Hopkins & Allen and H&A continued to assemble from parts and then produce some of F&W designs.
H&A had already been producing most of F&W handguns for them near the end of F&W's mfg/factory around 1900+.
Just what I see.
Forehand and Wadsworth Indian Bull-Dog DA revolver with dog head trade mark on top left side of fr

I wish I'd had all this info some 25 years ago when I got suckered into buying what I thought was a Webley. When i figured it out and confronted the seller he said "Caveat emptor." *sigh* I agree I was responsible for doing my homework, which i did not.

I have an early model Webley 44 marked The British Bull Dog on the top strap, more important it is marked on the right side of the barrel "London & Birmingham". There are British proofs on each chamber, the barrel, and frame. It is a 5 shot. On top of the barrel it is marked "P. WEBLEY & SON". will try to post a couple of photos.

Finally got time to shoot a couple photos of this old Webley. Story is that it was carried by an old guy in AZ back in the 1920s and was handed down to future generations. Bought it from a guy visiting from AZ one summer in AK at the Palmer gun show!

Wow! I hope you bought the Colt.

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Dr. B

WOW! Dr.B you are intuitive, I did buy a Colt 41 Thunder circa 1882, I believe the Webley dates to 1878, I don't think they belonged to Billy.