Webley RAF Special

[BruceHMX]

Doing some research on a Webley item and I ran across this video on You Tube. Has anyone even seen one of these let alone one for sale? I cannot find any other information on them other than the article in French. Interesting.

Essai armes | Revolver Webley Mark IV « R.A.F. 22 Special » / calibre .22 Long Rifle

Information

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[Flying10uk]

Although my French is very rusty, it does mention Cadets in the write up at the top of the page and so, perhaps, it was intended for use by Officer Cadets or Air Training Corps (Air Cadets)? I don't why he has got an RAF Police badge included in the picture which confuses matters.

[Brit plumber]

I have my suspicions about this one, there isn't a rear sight like Webley put on their .22s, the .22 marking look added on not in the way a factory .22 would have. It's post war so I doubt it was bought under contract, more a private purchase that has been converted to .22 and marked RAF, maybe cadets or some other reason but not an issue piece.

[Peter Laidler]

Somehow, I don't think RAF in this instance indicates RAF as we know it. I'm a bit like BP here

[Flying10uk]

Does the barrel look a bit on the short side to be U.K. service issue? These things can look a bit deceiving on film/pictures.

[BruceHMX]

Years ago I has an actual .22 Webley. They barrel was much longer it had an adjustable rear sight. During the short film the cylinder is shown and it has those inserts like you see on a Cogswell & Harrison Victory S&W 22 conversion. My Webley 22 had a dedicated 22 cylinder no inserts. Would Webley do custom work like this if requested? I know S&W would years ago. Also agreed that I can't see Webley doing something like this and crudely stamping .22 on the barrel. Interesting revolver.

[Brit plumber]

Yes this is a .38 sleeved down to .22, the .22 I think was an 8 shot not a 6 shot and I see the front sight has been filed down to get it to sight better at the short range of a .22

The more I see of it the more I'm convinced a shop has done this probably in the last 20 to 30 years. Even the RAF letter style isn't in keeping with the date of the gun, more like 1850s than 1950s.

[Flying10uk]

Could it have started out life as one of the Post WW2 Commercial versions, I wonder?

[BruceHMX]

Could it have started out life as one of the Post WW2 Commercial versions, I wonder?

I'm pretty sure it did as it's in the "A" serial range. Also noted no lanyard ring. Could be gone or plugged.

[BruceHMX]

One thing that captivated me about this revolver is not only the collectability of it but the ability to shoot 22 in a Webley. My Son and I shoot a lot of 22. Perhaps I'll find a decent post war 38/200 Webley and see if someone like Hamilton Bowen could make one of these.