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!
Can you I/D this Webley for me?
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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."
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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.
Edit to add: the distance from the cylinder to recoil shield is pretty small, so as noted above it may still in .455.
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It is still 455. Neat gun!
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)
Webley Mk2 | GunLab (KnownHost)
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Webley Revolvers - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
looks like good link for id
looks like good link for id
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.
I really like these revolvers and enjoy shooting and reloading for them. I prefer the un-shaved ones.
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jimmyj
Well-known 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.
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.
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You are correct, and I stand corrected.
It's not easy to tell, Muddyboot. It took me years of collecting them to learn many (not all!) the idiosyncracies of these boogers.
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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
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
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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!
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!
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22lrfan
Well-known member
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.
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.
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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
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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.
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