Kaeto
Member
It's a 1926 date.
webley collector says hello!
- Thread starter lewwallace
- Start date
- Status
"I would do terrible things to get a WW2 era .455 Webley." Well, there were no .455's made in that era; the standard caliber was .380 by that time. The .455 Mk VI was still being issued, though.
Folks wonder about the scarcity of surplus ammo for the .455 and .380. The answer is that there was not much made. Neither cartridge was used in anything else (as the 9mm was used in the STEN) so little was needed. The standard issue was one (1) 12-round box to each person issued a revolver, with one (1) more box in unit supply. That was it. The soldier got his 12 rounds and was told to get on with the war. (In American forces, an officer or soldier armed with a .45 pistol could often draw as much ammo as he could shoot, for practice.)
Another note, if you are fortunate enough to own one of those .455's cut for use with .45 ACP in moon clips, please don't fire it with factory or GI rounds, not even .45 Auto Rim factory loads. Even the Mk VI has been known to blow with .45 ACP GI loads, whose pressures far exceed the proof load for .455. Stick to light handloads, no hotter than low-end .45 Colt standard loads. For Mk's I-V, black powder may be best!
There is a myth that Webleys are super strong and cannot be blown up or damaged by overloading. It is a myth. And has been "busted", along with guns.
Webley certainly produced a variety of guns. There is a joke among Webley collectors that the company once made two guns alike, but they corrected the error and never repeated it.
Jim
Folks wonder about the scarcity of surplus ammo for the .455 and .380. The answer is that there was not much made. Neither cartridge was used in anything else (as the 9mm was used in the STEN) so little was needed. The standard issue was one (1) 12-round box to each person issued a revolver, with one (1) more box in unit supply. That was it. The soldier got his 12 rounds and was told to get on with the war. (In American forces, an officer or soldier armed with a .45 pistol could often draw as much ammo as he could shoot, for practice.)
Another note, if you are fortunate enough to own one of those .455's cut for use with .45 ACP in moon clips, please don't fire it with factory or GI rounds, not even .45 Auto Rim factory loads. Even the Mk VI has been known to blow with .45 ACP GI loads, whose pressures far exceed the proof load for .455. Stick to light handloads, no hotter than low-end .45 Colt standard loads. For Mk's I-V, black powder may be best!
There is a myth that Webleys are super strong and cannot be blown up or damaged by overloading. It is a myth. And has been "busted", along with guns.
Webley certainly produced a variety of guns. There is a joke among Webley collectors that the company once made two guns alike, but they corrected the error and never repeated it.
Jim
Kaeto
Member
I load a .454 dia 255 grain lead Flat Point using 3.9 grains of Bullseye powder. I use both .45 ACP and Autorim cases.
I also have 80 .455 Webley Mk II rounds, and I found a guy on Ebay that was selling machined discs that would allow use of the Mk IIs. I got one of those as he was selling them for $20.00.
Here's the seller's listing.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/455-Webley-...271?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e5c6713f
I also have 80 .455 Webley Mk II rounds, and I found a guy on Ebay that was selling machined discs that would allow use of the Mk IIs. I got one of those as he was selling them for $20.00.
Here's the seller's listing.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/455-Webley-...271?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e5c6713f
BobWright
Member
Your revolver reminds me of a photo I remember appearing in Life magazine a few (ha!) years ago.
The photo showed two British soldiers advancing past a burning German tank somewhere in North Africa. The man in the lead was armed with a Webley (I presume) revolver while the other carried an Enfield rifle. that image sort of stuck in my mind.
Bob Wright
The photo showed two British soldiers advancing past a burning German tank somewhere in North Africa. The man in the lead was armed with a Webley (I presume) revolver while the other carried an Enfield rifle. that image sort of stuck in my mind.
Bob Wright
bonza
Member
Only have the three break-open .455 Webleys, a Army & Navy Co-op retailed WG-Army, a Mk.V Commercial, & a WD-issue Mk.V. The WG dates to 1909, while the W&S Mk.V was made in 1915 & was actually built on a Mk.I frame, due to the demand for guns at the time. I have the names of the original owners of both revolvers.
Here's another picture of the WG.
Here's another picture of the WG.
Nom de Forum
Member
Are you absolutely sure about that model identification. The revolver in the photo of your starting post looks very much like a Webley W.G. 1886 Model shown in Figure V/46 of Webley Revolvers, by Gordon Bruce and Christian Reinhart. The caption for this plate mention the small screw (spring plate screw) near the hinge indicating an auxiliary catch for the extractor) and that only 500 of the first production models were fitted with this release. Also mentioned is that it has no Webley markings and only the word "PATENTS" engraved on the top of the barrel. Furthermore it was retailed by E.M. REILLY & CO. 16 NEW OXFORD STREET, LONDON. Could your revolver actually be one of these?
I am surprised no one posting about having a W.G. has yet mentioned how light and smooth the DA trigger pull is on these revolvers. My long gone W.G. had a great trigger pull. The only problem is the action is fragile in comparison to the latter Military Marks I through VI.
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mdrisc85
Member
I met the gentleman who owns the Webley & Scott rights, patents and plans at this years SHOT Show. Very polite and nice guy.
While they are making mostly shotguns and some .177 pellet guns for the UK market these days, he's very interested in figuring out how to do a run of repro Webley Mk VI's in .455 for the collector market here in the US.
I got an email from him a few weeks ago that he's trying to put together a website to determine interest in the next few months. We'll see what happens.
While they are making mostly shotguns and some .177 pellet guns for the UK market these days, he's very interested in figuring out how to do a run of repro Webley Mk VI's in .455 for the collector market here in the US.
I got an email from him a few weeks ago that he's trying to put together a website to determine interest in the next few months. We'll see what happens.
Nom de Forum
Member
That is great news! Please encourage him to visit here like other individuals in the firearms trade. I would buy two if made in .455 and more if made in .45Colt, .45ACP, 9mm, and .38Spec. He should not limit himself to thinking about the collector market. A modern Webley revolver would be much easier and faster to make a fast reload than a hand ejector style revolver. You have to be a very fast hand ejector reloader before you are faster than some one with a little experience making speed reloads on a Webley MkVI.
Dframe
Member
A friend owns one. Not sure of the model but full sized and cut for 45 ACP. I'd love to talk him out of it.
OP
OP
lewwallace
Member
You'er correct! That 0 should have bee a 6! Good editing skills. The only markings on my gun are Webley Patents, the arrow on the barrel and ser. Nos.
Nom de Forum
Member
I have been a Webley fan for over four decades. I have even shot IPSC revolver class 35 years ago using a MkVI. That is why I know that with little practice you reload faster than all but fastest of the hand ejector style revolver shooters. I went from "C" class to what was called "AA" class as much on the speed of my reloading as speed in shooting accurately. There are few things funnier in life the the look on the face of a Python shooter who has just lost to a Webley shooter.
.455_Hunter
Member
If you could not tell from the user name, I am a Webley nut too!
There is something very special about popping-off a round of .455 out of a almost 100 year old (or older) Webley revolver.
My 1918 Mark VI is a primary defense gun in my house.
Do you have a source for .455 Mk 1 (or equivalent) cases?
There is something very special about popping-off a round of .455 out of a almost 100 year old (or older) Webley revolver.
My 1918 Mark VI is a primary defense gun in my house.
Do you have a source for .455 Mk 1 (or equivalent) cases?
A Webley fan thinking of producing something could get his feet wet by making new cylinders for the many guns that were "converted" to use .45 ACP. If that is not possible, then he would have little hope of raising the capital to make complete guns.
Jim
Jim
Deaf Smith
Member
Of if you could find a bunch of .455 cylinders THAT would sell well to.
Deaf
Deaf
OP
OP
lewwallace
Member
MkVI 22ca
Here's an odd example of the big frame in 22. Barrel insert and cylinder produced as a target model. Shoots dead on and no wobble in this Webley. Look close; the front sight blade is backwards. Came this way from previous owner who bouhgt @a yard sale in IN and never fired. Have left it and no complaints as to sight acquisition!
Here's an odd example of the big frame in 22. Barrel insert and cylinder produced as a target model. Shoots dead on and no wobble in this Webley. Look close; the front sight blade is backwards. Came this way from previous owner who bouhgt @a yard sale in IN and never fired. Have left it and no complaints as to sight acquisition!
Attachments
RogerWebley
Member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2015
- Messages
- 1
Webley Mk VI .455
It is true, we intend to re-start production of the .455 Webley MK VI. In order to make a CO2 version we took the original drawings and from them produced a solidworks file. This means we have the data to make the revolver.
What we are doing now is seeing if we can get 1,000 people to place signatures on a 'petition' to support manufacture. We'd like these supported by $100 re-fundable deposits i.e. if we don't get a 1,000 signed up we'll return the deposits. If however we do get production started the FOUNDERS who signed up will get the early serial numbers and other special treatment (which we haven't worked out yet!).
Currently, we have a web-site to sign up www.webleymkvi.com but can't take deposits through PayPal - so I'm working on a different method. Sign up anyway and I'll contact you.....
It is true, we intend to re-start production of the .455 Webley MK VI. In order to make a CO2 version we took the original drawings and from them produced a solidworks file. This means we have the data to make the revolver.
What we are doing now is seeing if we can get 1,000 people to place signatures on a 'petition' to support manufacture. We'd like these supported by $100 re-fundable deposits i.e. if we don't get a 1,000 signed up we'll return the deposits. If however we do get production started the FOUNDERS who signed up will get the early serial numbers and other special treatment (which we haven't worked out yet!).
Currently, we have a web-site to sign up www.webleymkvi.com but can't take deposits through PayPal - so I'm working on a different method. Sign up anyway and I'll contact you.....
Kaeto
Member
And if it's chambered in an easily obtainable caliber.
Dframe
Member
I'd love to see a "new" Webley. But would prefer a more available calibre. The 45 acp would be a perfect fit in the US.
Nom de Forum
Member
With modern steel that should not be a problem. I checked out the link provided by RogerWebley and checked out the Webley & Scott home web page where I found the same link. Everything looks legitimate. Don't hold you breath for anything other than a initial run of .455s but do please keep encouraging W&S that other calibers, especially .45ACP, would be purchased.
Carl N. Brown
Member
As the owner of a .455 Webley Mk IV cut for .45ACP/AutoRim, I do have one complaint.
Gun Parts search for parts for Webley Mk IV turns up the .380-200 Webley Mk IV of 1932 -- a .38 revolver scaled down from the .455 Mk VI of 1915. Search does not turn up .455 Webley Mk IV of 1899.
(The .380-200 Webley Mark IV is similar to the Enfield No 2 Mk I of 1932 and is not like the original .455 Webley Mk IV of 1899 version.)
Gun Parts search for parts for Webley Mk IV turns up the .380-200 Webley Mk IV of 1932 -- a .38 revolver scaled down from the .455 Mk VI of 1915. Search does not turn up .455 Webley Mk IV of 1899.
(The .380-200 Webley Mark IV is similar to the Enfield No 2 Mk I of 1932 and is not like the original .455 Webley Mk IV of 1899 version.)
Gordon
Member
My three: a Mark VI post war .455, a Mark V 1915, and the little .38S&W commercial from the 60s . I got a good stach of Fiocchi .455 for the last 20 years and the two guns for it shoot it very well. I reload the fired cases of the first 3 boxes I fired with unique and a 285 grain double cavity Lyman hollow base mold . I have 7 boxes of the Fiocchi .455 as stash for zombies or fuzzy wuzzy attacks. 
I load 200 grain blunt nose "super police" Lyman mold bullets with unique for the .38S&W. Both loads are in the 650 fps range and they penetrate like crazy!
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I load 200 grain blunt nose "super police" Lyman mold bullets with unique for the .38S&W. Both loads are in the 650 fps range and they penetrate like crazy!
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