.455 Webley!!?

[Cyrano]

In his book "Feet Wet" retired Navy fighter pilot Paul Gillchrist recalls returning from a flight over North Vietnam and being diverted from his carrier to Danang. He went to relax at the DOOM Club (Danang Officer's Open Mess), where there was a sign just beyond the entrance "Leave guns here" with a bunch of pegs below it. He hung up his .455 Webley revolver, and a 38 revolver, but kept what he described as a 32 caliber five shot palm gun in the pocket of his flight suit. I can't imagine why he was carrying a Webley revolver (he even puts the period before '455' in the description) instead of a Smith or Colt, for which he could get 45 ACP ammo and I wonder if the description of the 'palm gun' might even refer to a Chicago palm pistol. The 38 revolver was probably a Victory. I had to read this a couple of times before I believed what I was seeing. I guess our guys carried just about one of everything over there.

 

[29aholic]

Could possibly be one that was converted to 45acp.

 

[Alpo]

In his book "Feet Wet" retired Navy fighter pilot Paul Gillchrist recalls returning from a flight over North Vietnam and being diverted from his carrier to Danang. He went to relax at the DOOM Club (Danang Officer's Open Mess), where there was a sign just beyond the entrance "Leave guns here" with a bunch of pegs below it. He hung up his .455 Webley revolver, and a 38 revolver, but kept what he described as a 32 caliber five shot palm gun in the pocket of his flight suit. I can't imagine why he was carrying a Webley revolver (he even puts the period before '455' in the description) instead of a Smith or Colt, for which he could get 45 ACP ammo and I wonder if the description of the 'palm gun' might even refer to a Chicago palm pistol. The 38 revolver was probably a Victory. I had to read this a couple of times before I believed what I was seeing. I guess our guys carried just about one of everything over there.

Doubtful. Not only was it 32 Rimfire, which had been obsolete since WW2, but it was a 7-shot, as you can see in this video.
Chicago Palm Protector Pistol operation in action 32 rimfire - YouTube

 

[Thuer]

Maybe it was a Webley MK IV altred for .45acp.

Aldo I really love the old Webley's. I do own a couple.
But seriously, if I am in the midle of a conflict I do grab some better revolver.

 

[Texas Star]

I think that was his slang term for a snub or hideout gun.

Pilots did often supply their own sidearms. I think author Stephen Coonts carried a Combat Magnum, with which he also equipped his fictional pilot/hero, Jake Grafton, in his books. Coonts, like Grafton, flew Intruder Naval bombers.

 

[J. W.]

My S&W 2nd Model Handejector chambered for .455 Webley Mk. II. According to S&W she left their factory on March 29, 1916. Despite being 95 years old, she's still a good shooter!

 

[Cyrano]

I think if he had a Webley modified for 45 ACP, he'd have called it a 45 Webley instead of a .455 Webley. No telling what the 32 caliber, 5 shot palm gun was.

 

[DCC]

455 HE

My S&W 2nd Model Handejector chambered for .455 Webley Mk. II. According to S&W she left their factory on March 29, 1916. Despite being 95 years old, she's still a good shooter!

That is a Great HE pic
All my 455s shoot well...all 100yrs old...just have to keep swaging those Hollow Base bullets...
ATB DCC

 

[JayFramer]

I love the .455 Webley. Looks almost like cartoon bullets!

Shame so many were mutilated by altering them to .45 ACP, a cartridge who's pressure the Webley was never meant for anyway. Sad!

 

[bigwheelzip]

Nice seeing one of Colin's old threads resurface.

 

[olcop]

I used moon clips on mine and shot .45ACP--scored something 90+on the FBI Practical Police test.