.455/.476 Webley Needs Assistance

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tuff0011-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tuff0031-1.jpg

This poor revolver has been languishing away as it is in need of a few components to bring it back to a servicable condition. The regular Webley cylinder retaining mechanism doesn't work on this particular revolver, so if anyone has suggestions as to finding correct parts, it would be much appreciated. (Grips would be good, too, but that's not as critical.)

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tuff0021-1.jpg

It's still it's original caliber, and was nitro proofed, so a range trip would very nice! Bore's good, and it has the best DA (trigger cocking) pull of any Webley I've ever tried.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tuff0061-1.jpg

This isn't a Milsurp revolver, AFAIK. It was sold through Wilkinson Sword. (The photo of the top of the barrel was terrible, it needs to be reshot- sorry!)

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tuff0051-1.jpg

:beerchug:

Is the marking on the top strap (just above the cylinder on the left hand side) a "WG?" if so, it's a Webley-Green revolver. from the internet "The Webley WG as designed by a new Webley employee (at the time), Michael Kaufman. It introduced a number of improvements which later became standard on other Webley revolvers, and it was widely sold to British officers and travelers going to the wilder parts of the kingdom. WG is generally said to stand for “Webley Government,” but some say it stands for “Webley-Green,” after the inventor of the stirrup lock. The WG does not include a safety. The Service model is the most common one, produced for the military. The Target model is a long-barreled version produced for competition; it had a long 7.5-inch barrel, a match trigger, and a sideplate that allowed access to the mechanism."

Might be worth a try: Dealer Showroom

A buddy got some hard to find Webley bits from them several years back.

It is indeed a '"WG" Army Model'. 6" barrel. Left hand side plate.

Apex gun parts also has lots of Webley bits and pieces

https://www.apexgunparts.com/index.php/cPath/28_59

John Sukey has volunteered to do some photos (film type, I think) and get some dimensions off his "WG". So maybe I will be able to fabricate what I can't buy. A "donor" revolver would be fine, as long as the parts are there. (I.e.- nickel plated, converted to .45 ACP and with a bulged barrel or burst cylinder..., etc.)

jmoore, I suspect the standard Webley Mark VI cam lever screw might just work. I would also give a Webley Mark VI cam lever a whirl. You might be able to soft solder on a piece of soft steel to the top of the 'tail' then file to shape. Might just work and be a cheap fix.

Just a thought....

The Mk. VI screw DOES work. Tried it this morning (from the Enfield .455 Mk. VI posted elsewhere.) The cam absolutely won't work! But that's the first thing tried a year or two ago. Had another try today and it still doesn't begin to work- it can't even be modded to work- it's altogether useless.

Well, jmoore, you're down to two alternatives on the cam lever--find an original off a wrecked gun or get a machinist to make one from scratch. I think a machinist is probably the way to go, especially when you consider the value of the revolver in a repaired condition. Worth the effort in my humble opinion even if it costs a bit to get it done right. Just find someone who'll loan you the part long enough for a machinist to get his measurements and off ya go to the races.

Good luck!

Gee, another 20 years in the shop, and I MIGHT be a half decent machinist. If the CNC crap hasn't completely taken over by then.

too late -- think it has , good to know there are a few die hards out their that still can run a tool in a machine without anything except a drawing

Have you tried asking on the britishmilitaria.yuku.com site? There is a forum for british handguns and someone there maybe able to help you.
john

Here's a link to photos of the "WG" Army Model cylinder stop (bolt) and other bits required for it's proper function:

.455/.476 Webley "WG" Detail Photos of Cylinder Stop, Screws and Springs

Thanks to John Sukey for his work in this matter!

On the subject of getting small parts made, I've found that these model engineers are always good at these small intricate parts and they can/will also make small one-offs for you as most reasonable charges. Most of them are retired engineers who, like me, can't get away from the smell of cutting oil, swarf and lathes. But, unlike me, know what they're doing and can usually do a good job!

I've used three such model makers in the past, (two of whom have since passed on to the great Lodge in the sky). One had just finished making two large scale locomotives (King John and Manorbier Castle) so small parts for telescopes with indefined threads were simplicity itself for these maestros. In fact one locally has been slowly fully skeletonising/sectioning an SA80 rifle for us. Obviously he can't ever have all of the parts but by doing a part at a time, slowly, he will soon have completed the job. We've told him that he can display it at the next big model engineering exhibition he shows at. Sorry for going off at a tangent.............

Put a small advert in your local model engineering materials suppliers shop or in the local paper under '.........help wanted from model engineer....