WWI Webley & Scott MkV

[Roy]

Greetings Gents,

Being English but now living in Arizona and enjoying the freedoms of firearms ownership I thought my fellow countryman might enjoy a look at some of my finds of the last years.

I was fortunate to find a really nice example of the Webley & Scott MkV 455" revolver which I have since taken to the range and also written a short article on. This can be found on my website via the link below.

http://www.wilkinsonfscollection.com..._Revolver.html

I was also very pleased to also acquire a superb Webley & Scott MkI .455" self-loading pistol. These saw limited issue during WWI and have the distinction of being the first automatic pistol adopted by the British military. I also wrote an article on this model which may be of interest. Link below.

http://www.wilkinsonfscollection.com...ng_Pistol.html

I own and shoot other Webley pistols but thought these two wonderful old handguns might be of interest as they date from the start of the WWI period and represent two different types of pistol that would have been issued or purchased and carried.

All the best, Roy.

[manchesters]

Roy,

As a badge collector I can't say I have any interest in guns, but it would be nice to see your Chindits badges.

Regards

[Roy]

Hi Simon,

My Chindit album is posted on this forum.

Link: http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...hp?albumid=837

For a better look it is also up on my website.

Link: http://www.wilkinsonfscollection.com...ollection.html

Best wishes, Roy.

[johnG]

Hi Roy,

That brought back some memories for me. I used to have one of those .455 revolvers (Mark 1 version) and engraved on the butt was 'E Company. Imperial Yeomanry'. I will always regret not trying to trace it to its original owner, or trying to find out something of its history.

Regards,

John

[manchesters]

Roy,

Thanks for pointing out your forum, I hadn't seen it before.
An outstanding collection. I like the printed version.

Regards

[Roy]

Hi John,

Thanks for that, pleased to have sparked a few good memories. Gosh that MkI sounded nice. These are quite scarce now. Although there are many vintage Webley revolvers here in the US sadly most have been converted to fire the .45acp which of course is of little interest to history buffs like me. I was pleased to find the MkV in its original calibre and have plenty of modern manufacture .455" for when I want to give the old girl a spin at the range!

Hi Simon,

Thanks for your kind words on my Chindit collection, pleased you enjoyed it. I have a new example on the way and will add this into the album soon, so keep a look out.

All the best, Roy.

[johnG]

Hi Roy,
My own particular interest in old weapons is the history, effectiveness, and development of weapons used on both sides during the Matabele War of 1893/94 and the Matabele Rebellion of 1896/97, during which the .455 Webley made an appearance.

My own possession of it was during a later war in that country (the 1970's), with ammunition for it as scarce as hen's teeth.

Regards,

John

[Roy]

Hi John,

Thanks for sharing that, very interesting. I was not aware of the 'Matabele War' and will look it up.

As you say original .455" ammo is quite scarce. As well as having quite a few boxes of newly manufactured .455 for shooting (a company did a run a few years back), I also have a small collection of vintage Webley related ammo. I thought you might be interested to see this full tin or original WWII .455" revolver ammo. Although it is full the previous owner opened it, I would have left it closed but it does make for a good photo op.

All the best, Roy.

[Donny B.]

Very nice, indeed! Lovely to look at.

I Man

[johnG]

Hi Roy,
I fear I may have wrongly described the revolver owned by me as being a MkI, for upon looking up my notes on 'Weapons of the Matabele Wars' I see the Mk1 went into service with the British army in 1887 and by the time of the Anglo Boer War it had developed into the Mk IV, which is probably what my old revolver was.

At the time of its purchase it was the only hand gun I could get, but after a few months I managed to obtain a 9mm Browning Hi-power, so Philistine that I am, out went the Webley.

I had forgotten just how quickly the .455 was developed, albeit with little or no change in its general outward appearance, and your mention of WW2 ammunition reminds one of just how long it remained in service in some parts of the world.

Regards,

John

[Roy]

Hi Donny,

Thanks you for your kind words, I'm pleased you enjoyed the 'eye candy'.!


Hi John,

Yes that sounds right. Still your MkIV was a rare gun, in fact any .455" Webley in the original calibre is a nice find, although finding such in nice condition is a real challenge as most saw a lot of use. One reason I was so pleased to find the example I currently have. Well done on the Hi-Power, another classic.

The Webley revolver had such a long and prolific service life the world over it really was one of the most successful handguns of the 20th century but feel it has not really been given the credit it deserves. I still occasionally shoot the couple of examples I own despite one example (my Wilkinson-Webley) being well over a century old and it works perfectly. You can't beat old world craftsmanship like that!

All the best, Roy

[Roy]

Greetings Gents,

I'm very pleased to say that I have just negotiated a deal for a Webley MkVI in very fine condition and still in it's original .455" calibre. It will be a week or so before it is in my hands but I will be sure to share a photo here.

I will also plan to do a full write up and even a 'range report' for all those interested.

I will be interested to see if it demonstrates any improvement over the MkV that it replaced?

All the best, Roy.

[Hussar100]

You know when you've fired one of those eh? Great punch for such an old handgun.

[Roy]

Hi,

Yes these old 455 Webleys are outstanding revolvers and for the most part still as serviceable today as ever. A true testament to quality.

All the best, Roy.

[magpie]

It's nice to see someone that can still enjoy thier gun collecting and shooting and i supose you can join a gun club like this if you want http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCppmoZiXUY
And the UK version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiDlIe0VzJU