Webley Revolver

[Krogen]

I have a MKIV that my brother gave me. Dad gave it to him some years ago. I remember when Dad brought it home. He bought it from a City bus driver for $30 or so back around 1970. Eventually he gave it to my brother because I was "too young." I've shot handloads in it, even with 200 gr slugs. It's no target gun, that's for sure! I can't hit the broad side of a barn with it; not even from inside I suppose. It is what it is.

To LVSteve: Mine is marked "Wartime Finish" like those you missed out on. What's the appeal? How high was too high?

 

[LVSteve]

To LVSteve: Mine is marked "Wartime Finish" like those you missed out on. What's the appeal? How high was too high?

The appeal is that I collect guns from WWI and WWII. It also amuses me that Webley went to the trouble of stamping "Wartime finish" to try and distance themselves from the necessities of wartime production. It's just so damned British, and I should know having been born and raised in the UK.

How high was too high? Well, I'm a cheapskate, so when they go above $275-300 in a 20% buyer's premium auction, I'm gone.

 

[Absalom]

How high was too high? Well, I'm a cheapskate, so when they go above $275-300 in a 20% buyer's premium auction, I'm gone.

Hmm .... I don't know how tuned in to the collectors market you are, but I paid about 500 (plus expenses) for mine and it took me quite a while of looking to find one in the condition and vintage I wanted. Now I was after the early-war variant with two-line address, pre-war proofs, and winged logo, so that narrowed choices a bit.

But for 300 you might (if you're lucky) find a mismatched FTR-Franken-Enfield, but decent-condition Mk IV's are quite desirable nowadays.

 

[LVSteve]

Hmm .... I don't know how tuned in to the collectors market you are, but I paid about 500 (plus expenses) for mine and it took me quite a while of looking to find one in the condition and vintage I wanted. Now I was after the early-war variant with two-line address, pre-war proofs, and winged logo, so that narrowed choices a bit.

But for 300 you might (if you're lucky) find a mismatched FTR-Franken-Enfield, but decent-condition Mk IV's are quite desirable nowadays.

Yeah, the collector market has changed yet again. Finn Mosins have come down, but Enfields have gone insane. Garands are still stupid money, but several Mauser breeds are suddenly more reasonable. I got my Enfield No.2 at a great price about three years back.

 

[M1A]

Absalom
Thought you might like to see this:

 

[Bill Raby]

Anderson Wheeler is currently producing a very high quality reproduction. 7 shot 357 magnum. You might want to have a talk with your banker before you buy one.

 

[KarmannGhia]

I have one of the shaved versions converted to 45acp. I have several other 45s, therefore, I buy 45 auto rim brass and load it to 455 pressures and it prevents me from shooting over pressure (standard 45acp) loads in my Webley. The auto rim for Webley, and moonclip acp for my Mod 25.

 

[Kurusu]

And since my last post.

I finally found a Webley Mk IV that I liked.

Early war finish. It will still take some time to wad through the red tape before I bring it home though.

But I got pictures.

 

[Absalom]

I finally found a Webley Mk IV that I liked.

Early war finish .....
But I got pictures.

Looks like a nice one. Certainly didn't get dragged through the sands of the Western Desert or the jungles of Burma

And the nice thing about the early variant is that they could be sold commercially without additional proofing, since until about the end of 1941 W&S had them properly proofed before shipping them off to Weedon.

 

[Kurusu]

Looks like a nice one. Certainly didn't get dragged through the sands of the Western Desert or the jungles of Burma

And the nice thing about the early variant is that they could be sold commercially without additional proofing, since until about the end of 1941 W&S had them properly proofed before shipping them off to Weedon.

Yep. I wonder where it spent the war.

And since it was found in the LGS I got to inspect it personally.

 

[Absalom]

Yep. I wonder where it spent the war.

I've wondered the same thing about mine; must have been a comparatively gentle place.

We sometimes forget how lopsided the ratio between sharp end and support structure in the modern army really has been in the 20th and this century. And since officers were entitled to a personal sidearm, there were many guns which spent the war in desk drawers or hanging in closets, to be carried only for occasional inspections or guard duty, at supply depots, intelligence facilities, staff offices in London etc.

 

[Kurusu]

On the other hand. My 1911A1 looks like it didn't miss any "action" since the day it was made till the day it was sold out of service.

 

[Pig Hunter]

For what it's worth factory Auto Rim is loaded to significantly lower pressure than ACP. My guess it's for these Webleys

 

[Dave_n]

I have Webleys and Enfields including one (sold the other) of the 0.455 Enfield Mk VIs. Not an error, Enfield made somewhere over 20,000 Mk VIs after WWI. Plus one fof the last commercial Mk VIs made in the late 1930s, still in the 0.455 calibre. Can easily purchase the 265 grain bullets from Jet Ammo in Canada and Starline now sell 0.455 Webley Mk II cases. Still exercise them including Webley Mk IV and Enfield Mk I still in 38/200 though I use 190 grain lead bullets sized to 0.361. Dave_n

 

[Kurusu]

I have Webleys and Enfields including one (sold the other) of the 0.455 Enfield Mk VIs. Not an error, Enfield made somewhere over 20,000 Mk VIs after WWI. Plus one fof the last commercial Mk VIs made in the late 1930s, still in the 0.455 calibre. Can easily purchase the 265 grain bullets from Jet Ammo in Canada and Starline now sell 0.455 Webley Mk II cases. Still exercise them including Webley Mk IV and Enfield Mk I still in 38/200 though I use 190 grain lead bullets sized to 0.361. Dave_n

Ya know. We have nothing against pictures in this here forum.

And to prove my point.

Here is a picture of my other two BSR together.

The Webley Mk VI is a first year production(1915). The Enfield is from 1934 and it's marked RAF.

 

[Dave_n]

Ya know. We have nothing against pictures in this here forum.

And to prove my point.

Here is a picture of my other two BSR together.

The Webley Mk VI is a first year production(1915). The Enfield is from 1934 and it's marked RAF.

Yes, but the age of my early Webley requires either a plate camera with magnesium-based flash powder or a Vest Pocket Kodak. One of these days wi will take some photos!! Dave_n

 

[Kurusu]

Yes, but the age of my early Webley requires either a plate camera with magnesium-based flash powder or a Vest Pocket Kodak. One of these days wi will take some photos!! Dave_n

There are no Mark VI Webleys older than the one in my picture.

 

[M1A]

I want to update my Webley MkIII post. It's date is 1929. I confused it with my 1939 Enfield No.2 Mk1. MKIII Ser.# 533xx. No prefix.

 

[nagor]

Webley Mark VI

I've had this Webley for over 25 years and never fired it.
It looks to be in really good shape and has the 455 cylinder and the 45 acp with moon clips cylinder.

I'm thinking of putting it up for sale and would like to get an idea of its value

 

[Golddollar]

I managed to pick up a .455 Mark VI Webley in the original configuration. I've put a couple boxes of Fiocci factory loads through it and it shoots quite well.

I've since picked up a .38 Enfield revolver that has the bobbed hammer. It was chrome plated but that was OK for me because I wanted a shooter.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

I've shot my .455 MkIV and .455 MkVI at my cas clubs monthly matches for the last 2 months. December as Sgt Preston and in January as Colour Sgt Bourne on the anniversary of Rorkes Drift. 'No comedians please.' To be fair to the others using SAA's I fired them single action. Yukon King is such a good dog. He stays very well but hasn't figured out sit yet. Had a great time.

 

[Golddollar]

I've shot my .455 MkIV and .455 MkVI at my cas clubs monthly matches for the last 2 months. December as Sgt Preston and in January as Colour Sgt Bourne on the anniversary of Rorkes Drift. 'No comedians please.' To be fair to the others using SAA's I fired them single action. Yukon King is such a good dog. He stays very well but hasn't figured out sit yet. Had a great time.

I just starting watching re-runs of "Sgt. Preston of the Yukon" on FETV. There is certainly a plethora of Webley revolvers showing up there.

 

[Absalom]

I just starting watching re-runs of "Sgt. Preston of the Yukon" on FETV. There is certainly a plethora of Webley revolvers showing up there.

Interesting. I'm not familiar with the show and had to look it up on wiki. I do know that the North West Mounted Police and later its successor, the RCMP, never used any Webleys, but only Enfields, then Colts since 1905, switching to S&W in the 1950s

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

According to my Arms and Accoutrements of the Mounted Police a handful of MkVI, target and .22 Webley revolvers were bought after the First World War [in 1924].

 

[walnutred]

I have always thought one of the great military procurement tragedies was England choosing the 38 S&W ctg. when they were looking to downsize. Maybe not as catastrophic as the US switching powders in the .223 round with out proper testing. When I take my Mk IV to the range I often think that the same design in 38 Special would have been a very practical field revolver.

 

[Kurusu]

I have always thought one of the great military procurement tragedies was England choosing the 38 S&W ctg. when they were looking to downsize. Maybe not as catastrophic as the US switching powders in the .223 round with out proper testing. When I take my Mk IV to the range I often think that the same design in 38 Special would have been a very practical field revolver.

No big "tragedy" the cartridge did it's job adequatly. The handgun played a small role in WWII.

Edit. I, personally, would hate to be menaced with one let alone be shot.

 

[walnutred]

No big "tragedy" the cartridge did it's job adequatly. The handgun played a small role in WWII.

Edit. I, personally, would hate to be menaced with one let alone be shot.

The handgun may have played a small roll in the outcome of WW2 but played a big enough roll from a logistics standpoint. In regards to supply of both the firearms themselves and the ammunition. 38 Special was already an established round when the Brits did their trials. A Webley design in 38 Special would probably have remained in both police and military service as long as the 38 Special M10s did.

 

[Thuer]

This is my Webley MK IV made in 1951. Was propebly in service after the war by the Dutch police.

 

[Kurusu]

The handgun may have played a small roll in the outcome of WW2 but played a big enough roll from a logistics standpoint. In regards to supply of both the firearms themselves and the ammunition. 38 Special was already an established round when the Brits did their trials. A Webley design in 38 Special would probably have remained in both police and military service as long as the 38 Special M10s did.

The British logic is a mistery to me. One I really will not try to solve.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

What can one expect from a culture that thinks having a king or queen and all their 'royal' offspring on the public tit in 2021 is a positive thing. I hope that the cost to the British taxpayer is offset by the tourist dollars that the silliness brings in. And of course 'god save the queen'.