She has great bore and cylinders, and the grips are intact. So, I took a chance. Those are standard Federal HS .45acps in the pic. Is this thing in .455 Webley, or does it need/take moon clips? THanks!

Attached Images

	20250418_181146.jpg (121.7 KB, 149 views)
	20250418_181153.jpg (107.4 KB, 115 views)
	20250418_181219.jpg (29.7 KB, 153 views)
	20250418_181254.jpg (42.4 KB, 102 views)
	20250418_181329.jpg (86.9 KB, 95 views)

In the third picture, if that is an arrowhead proof mark on the back of the cylinder, that means it is still in .455 caliber as the cylinder did not get put in a lathe and "shaved."

It “may” be a Mk IV. Usually the serial number missing from the rear cylinder face is a sign of a chambering conversion, and given the length of it I suspect it has been altered to use .45 ACP in clips. (Too short for .45 Colt.) Target load pressure would be best.

Edit to add: the distance from the cylinder to recoil shield is pretty small, so as noted above it may still in .455.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

It is still 455. Neat gun!

__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett

I used to collect Webleys, and I'm "pretty sure" it is a Mk II. Unshaved, which as indicated above imeans that it is still in its highly desirable original chambering (.455 Webley). Ten years that was a $2,000 revolver. Congratulations--you have a real special piece there. DO NOT attempt to fire .45 ACP in. If it was mine, I would not shoot it at all, even with factory .455 Webley such as Fiocchi, which uses smokeless powder. You can see on the picture the difference between .455 Webley & .45 ACP

Webley Mk2 | GunLab (KnownHost)

Attached Images

Part-10-Webley-5~2.jpg (28.3 KB, 41 views)

Webley Revolvers - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games

looks like good link for id

VictorLouis, look at these two pictures. If I'm right, your revolver's (on the right) should say the same thing as the one on the left picture.

Attached Images

	Screenshot_20250418-224245.jpg (25.2 KB, 76 views)
	Screenshot_20250418-223138~2.jpg (25.3 KB, 75 views)

I had one exactly like it way back in the late 60s when Webleys were dirt cheap. Don't remember what I paid for but it wasn't much. Ben Shostle, who would become known for his engraving later, had a gun shop in a city about 20 miles from where I lived back then. He had a machine shop with a gunsmith that could do anything you wanted. I took the Webley over to him to get the cyl shaved for .45 ACP or AR. I mentioned that I had an offer from a guy who wanted it for $60. Ben told me to grab the money before the guy changed his mind. I did and have regretted that foolish move ever since.

It appears to be an un-shaved Mark IV, which are a bit harder to find. here is mine.




I really like these revolvers and enjoy shooting and reloading for them. I prefer the un-shaved ones.

__________________
OGCA Member.

I have a Mk IV Webley .455 that has been "Shaved" for .45acp.
I used .45 AR Brass with a .454 LSWC bullet and 4.5 grains Bullseye.
I have never gotton use to the curved grip.

In 1958 I ordered two Mk IVs from mail order (Ye Old Hunter Guns) for $9.95 each which came with a leather holster for each, a bottle of 44/40 Gun Blue and 50 military cartridges each (GI). Shipped to me via Railway Express.

Please, see difference on the pictures below between Mk II and a Mk IV

Attached Images

	paintastic20250419_101251.jpg (21.9 KB, 53 views)
	paintastic20250419_101907.jpg (25.5 KB, 60 views)
	paintastic20250419_102357.jpg (25.3 KB, 59 views)
	paintastic20250419_102818.jpg (28.6 KB, 58 views)

You are correct, and I stand corrected.

__________________
OGCA Member.

It's not easy to tell, Muddyboot. It took me years of collecting them to learn many (not all!) the idiosyncracies of these boogers.

The MkII was a BP proofed revolver.

I don't think they 'Nitro' proofed the Webley .455's till the MkIV.
They did change the quality of the steel used in the mfg with the MkIV mfg'r.
Even then the IV was actually designed while BP was the standard .455 loading.

The MkV was the first to actually use an increased dia cylinder expressly for smokeless powder cartridges. MkV variation came approved in 1913 IIRC.

Go easy on these oldsters!

The MkII came approved for use/issue in Jan 1894. Stayed until replaced by the MkIII variation in mid yr,1897.

The old Mk's continued in reserve use for many yrs after the MkVI was issued.

An unaltered MkII in great shape is a very valuable revolver

First three are on the left side of the revo. The brand, and up-closer to the brand marking.
Those proof/s(?) are above the flash-gap on the side of the top-strap. That last one is of the rear of the grip-frame... N 24.

Is there a way to tell if the cylinder is 'shaved'?
Or, is that self-evident by how deeply the ACP rounds are seated?

Thanks, guys!

Attached Images

	20250419_180804.jpg (58.5 KB, 20 views)
	20250419_180808.jpg (48.5 KB, 20 views)
	20250419_180939.jpg (41.0 KB, 21 views)
	20250419_180841.jpg (41.1 KB, 19 views)

A shaved cylinder will not have the proof marks on the rear face and the serial number on the outside edge will be partially removed. See pic below. Every one I have found locally has been shaved. I hope to find an unshaved one some day.

Attached Images

webley.jpg (87.0 KB, 166 views)

The 4 pics of the OP's revolver show the standard Webley mfg's marking w/ MkII marking.

The second pic is a RSAF (Royal Small Arms Factory) inspectors marking.
I believe this one is from the Sparkbrook RSAF . They used the Block letter B in the marking(s),,Where Birmingham used the script letter B in their markings.

Sparkbrook Arsenal was closed around 1906 and it's workers and machinery, etc taken in by BSA.


Pic 3 is a standard Brit Military Proofing mark.
Crown/VR/crossed pennants

VR would Victoria Regina (Queen Victoria).
SHe died in 1901,,so that would be the latest this Webley would this military proof was applied.
The Crown style (Kings or Queens) would change with the Monarch on the Throne at the time as would the name below it in the 2 letter designation
ie: GR would be George Rex (King George),,etc)
The Broad Arrow mark is the standard British Armed Forces Property marking.
..and an other Inspectors mark for the bbl assembly. Block letter 'B'
The number is the individual inspector.



The back strap 'N' is a Royal Navy property marking.
Pretty plain,,but that's what they used both on rifles and handguns.

The '24' would likely be a Rack Number for the weapon.

The OP's revolver is not shaved.
The orig BroadArrow property marking is still in tact on the rear face of the cylinder. That would have been gone in a conversion. Plus simply look at the first pic/side view of the revolver and see how little space there is betw the rear of the cyl and the breech face.
That is all the room needed for the very thin .455 Webley cart rim,,and no more.

The fact that 45acp rds drop down in doesn't signify anything, They do that in a .455 chamber and that's why the 1/2moon clips are needed for use in the revolvers.
The 'shaved cyl' is also needed to use them so as to hold the 45acp rds from slipping down deep. Shaved for additional room for those moon clips.

You may be missing the top lever spring.

I've owned a couple of the MKI and MKII Webley revolvers. Had one MKI that was not shaved for 45ACP. It had Naval property marks, the "sold out of service" marks and commercial proof marks. Interestingly it had Nitro Proof marks indicating the proof house had tested it with smokeless ammunition. I mainly shot mild smokeless handloads in it and the equivalent in 45AR cases for the ones that had been shaved. They are interesting guns with a lot of history.

unfortunately it was shaved. only shot it once

Attached Images

IMG_0833.jpg (92.8 KB, 20 views)

I found an unshaved Mark VI Webley after years of searching. To me it was a matter of finding a Webley in its original configuration or nothing. I let a fellow club member who is a better shot than me fire it. At 25 yards offhand he could put 5 shots in the target that would probably be covered by a playing card.

Attached Images

	DSCN0629 (1).jpg (97.0 KB, 22 views)
	DSCN0629.jpg (97.0 KB, 13 views)
	DSCN0632.jpg (64.0 KB, 13 views)

Here is a bit of trivia for fellow forum members not familiar with British military articles like British Commando (Fairbairn Sykes) knives and firearms. The proper name for the "broad arrow" mark indicating British government ownership is "pheon." It used to be really easy to tell if the pheon was real or hand-scratched, but as we develop; so do the crooks. There are shops that specialize in military replicas where you can buy a broad arrow stamp that you can use to deceit. Buyers Beware!

Attached Images

british-broad-arrow-stamp.jpg (33.2 KB, 11 views)

Not surprised to see fake Broad Arrow stamps make an appearance. They've been faking WWII German marks for years and faking the Mums on Japanese rifles. You can buy fake stamps for US WWII guns as well to make that "all correct" M1 Carbine or Garand. They've even been selling reproductions of early Carbine parts to "restore" all those post war updated guns to wartime specs.

I have a couple MK VI examples and a commercial MK III- all still in .455. The earlier MK III was sold by the Army Navy Cooperative Society to whom I suspect was a new junior officer headed to Africa or India in the Omdurman or Boer War timeframe. I had the cylinder throats on my 1918 MK VI opened to match the barrel groove diameter since we are no longer trying to get fussy charges of cordite to ignite. As my user name suggests, I have much appreciation for the platform.

I would think it would be a little tough to restore the half of the serial number that got shaved off the cylinder.

Yeah, that would be a bit harder to manage. I doubt a faker would use one on a shaved revolver, the majority of which are already stamped on the frame and/or barrel. Would have to bring the cylinder back to original specs or find an uncut replacement (not easy, I've looked for one before). More likely the stamp is being sold (as the fake US ones have been) to "restore" worn stamps on a firearm. Which calls originality into question as well as being an issue when people use them to mark other items such as rifle stocks, accessories, field gear, etc. to pass them off as original military issue.

IT DOES NOT LOOK SHAVED TO ME.
I owned a couple of shaved .45acp MKVI's, & a distressed shaved MKIV, That had been sold off by British Police to a USA dealer. Someone had cut & bent the frames grip strap to make it easier to conceal before confiscation. A wad of Electricians tape passed as grips. Mechanically function was excellent. I took the time & TLC to weld the frame strap & make walnut grips to fit. I was rewarded with the worlds heaviest pocket revolver, which worked well with FULL MOON CLIPS. However; the same previous owner - filed down the front sight. making it useful only as a Belly Gun. For all its faults, It was the last of my Webley's I sold, when I could afford more practical ordinance.

They did cause me to buy 3 H&R Top Break Revolvers, that are more practical & Keepers.

Attached Images

MY Webley-Mark-IV-45-ACP_101544881_85483_FA8CC42C4D2FEC5A.jpg (103.6 KB, 7 views)

It always makes me sad to see a shaved Webley. Right off the bat you've cut the value by at least 50%; much more depending on condition and rarity.


I have a Mk V and MK VI uncut; both have 4" barrels, which is unusual for the MK VI. I also have a MK VI with a 22 cal insert kit, which is pretty cool. I've been looking for a WWI-era MK VI uncut, but the prices have risen considerably.


I'd also like a Webley-Fosbery Auromatic Revolver, which are fascinating. The barrel/cylinder slides in the frame to advance the cyl and cock the hammer. It has a safety and has to be carried cocked and locked to be useful. They're remarkably accurate and quick to reload if you can find one of the old cartridge carriers made for the gun. Not likely to be able to afford it, though.

My MkVI is unaltered and I picked it up at a gun show yrs ago.
A young State Trooper was walking around with it for sale. I knew him casually from the shows and he brought it over. He said it was left to him by his Gfather who was in WW1 in a "Scottish Group of some kind" (his words).
Great sense of family history there. Selling the revolver for Beer & Pizza money I guess.
It wasn't a HiCap 9mm, so it was of no interest to him.
I get that,,kind of,,maybe.

I offered him $65 for it. Then he did the I'll shop it around thing on me.
Well, he did come back about 2 hrs later and asked if I still wanted it.
He said he didn't get any offers on it,,none.

I took it at the price I offered which even at the time was a decent deal.
Still have it.
1918 dated revolver w/a Brit holster, maker marked London 1912.

I thought it was odd that no one else in the rather large show had snagged it,,but I was happy. Still am.

I've had a couple shaved MkII and a MkIV,
Shot them with BP sub loads. Great shooters and fun for sure.
Wish I had kept one of those along with a 1930's mfg Enfield No2MkI 38.

I loaded some of those BP sub .45acp rounds into a 1914 mfg Colt 1911.
They worked just fine in there too.
Not a big deal with cleaning,,just water a bit of soap in it, dry and oil.

I'll add my 2 cents, as someone who looked hard and found an uncut Webley Mk VI, that revolver has definitely *not* been "cut" for .45 ACP. The whole-serial-number on the cylinder is the verification.

I bought a mold from a guy in Slovenia for the original .455 265 gr RN Eley. Then I found New Service refurb in .455. I love the caliber, shoot the home-cast bullet over 4.6 gr Unique. You might be able to use the .455 from MP Molds with Starline .455 brass.

455 Webley (Mk2), HB, 4 cavity mold - MP-molds