My father gave me a Webley 20+ years ago that I would like to find some info on. It is marked "WG" Target Model with a 7 1/2" barrel. SN 21872. Would like to find possible year made. It has stamped on it .450/.455. The cylinder is marked .455. I know it will shoot . Does this mean it will shoot some type of .45? Any info would be helpful.
Webley Mark I
- Thread starter otelo
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SDC
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Your revolver was made sometime between 1882 and 1896, but to nail it down past that, we'd need to be able to accurately determine which model it is, which might take pictures. "WG" means "Webley-Green", after the manufacturers (Webley) and the fellow that designed the stirrup-style top-latch locking mechanism (Green), but some references also say that this means "Webley Government", because so many of them were bought by the UK for training purposes. Does the grip have a flat bottom or is it a rounded "bird's-head" grip? What are the sights like? What do the cylinder flutes look like, are they rounded or do they have a pointed end? Is the firing-pin part of the hammer, or is it a separate piece held in the frame? The ammunition these use is pretty well obsolete by now, but it is obtainable for a price; it's normally called "455 Revolver", but Colt also chambered some of its revolvers for this round, so you can see it also called "455 Colt" (this is NOT the "45 Colt" that you'd normally see in the western-styled Colt SAA); it's a short revolver cartridge with a flat protruding rim, so the automatic ejector can throw the empty cases out of the cylinder when the revolver is opened. If it's in reasonable condition, and you can determine the proper model, it may be worth more to a collector than to a shooter, simply because the ammunition is hard to find.
SDC, The grip has a flat bottom with checkered grips, target type with laynard ring. The front sight is a flat post type held in with a screw. The rear is adjustable for windage with an arrow pointing toward the left with the word IN, in the middle of the arrow. The flutes have rounded ends. The firing pin is part of the hammer. The trigger, hammer and cylinder release lever are all checkered. If there is any more info I can give you let me know. Thanks.
4v50 Gary Don't plan on modifing it. Thanks.
4v50 Gary Don't plan on modifing it. Thanks.
SDC
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Based on your info, I THINK you've got a Model 1892 WG Target, but they kept many of these features the same when they started producing following series; if you can post some pictures of the proofmarks (including those on the cylinder), I might be able to find some more info on it.
Just FWIW, there is disagreement about what the "G" stands for. Most authorities seem to think the "Webley-Green(e) story is wrong and the "G" may stand for Government, indicating Webley's hope for adoption. Since I don't know, I take no stand, only passing on the info.
As to identifying the gun in question, I think we need some good pictures. Even then, identification may be difficult. It is probably not true that Webley's never made two guns alike, but there is reason for that belief.
Jim
As to identifying the gun in question, I think we need some good pictures. Even then, identification may be difficult. It is probably not true that Webley's never made two guns alike, but there is reason for that belief.
Jim
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