.455 Webley Overview

[Lance]

Webley .455 Revolvers

For the collectors out there here is a minimally detailed pictorial over view of the Webley .455 revolver from Mk I to Mk VI high lighting the major differences between each mark. There are many detailed engineering differences that I will not mention, please refer to the reference books. As with all British weapon’s many variations exist and if fellow collectors have a different example please post. A fair amount of these revolvers have had their cylinder’s shaved to accept .45 auto rim for the North American market which decreases their desirability, in my opinion, and is a hazard as only the Mk V and VI have the cylinder designed for higher pressure ammunition.

For reference I highly recommend Ian Skennerton’s SAIS No.9 book .455 Pistol, Revolver No. 1 Mk VI and Webley Revolvers by Gordon Bruce. Information posted here are from these two fine books.


Webley Mk I

Approved in 1890 and with approximately 40,000 made it is a commonly found example with the hump behind the cocking piece on the rear strap being its greatest distinguishing sign.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Lance]

Webley Mk II

Differs from the Mk I by having a hardened steel face shield backplate, a heavier hammer, no grip hump. Official productions numbers are estimated in the 23,000 range and are also commonly found.

[Lance]

Webley Mk I*

Is a Mk I revolver upgraded to Mk II status by installing a dovetailed hardened backplate and in some cases the hammer is replaced with the Mk II pattern. This example has not. The rear strap hump was also approved for removal but few have been observed with its removal. Quantity converted is unknown and they are an unusual variation

[Lance]

Webley Mk III

A short lived example that introduced the Whiting mechanism for holding and releasing the revolver’s cylinder. Few appear to have been ordered for military service with most examples found today being of civilian production. Official production numbers are not known and early civilian versions and military production models are very collectable.

[Lance]

Webley Mk IV

The standard pattern revolver for the next 14 years, it is commonly known as the “Boer War Model” and varies from the Mk III in type of steel used in construction, the profile and size of the hammer, and the enlarged trigger stop slots in the cylinder. Once again official production numbers are unknown, but over 36,000 examples were delivered between 1899 and 1904 and are a common variation.

[Lance]

Webley Mk V

A second short lived example with a production of approximately 20,000 units is basically a Mk IV with an enlarged cylinder to handle nitro powder ammunition. Most are found with 4” barrels but a fare amount were also produced with 6” barrels found on the Mk VI revolver. Examples of this type is common in the 4” but are a harder find in the 6”.

My example here is a unusual example that was sold out of service and sent back to Webley, refinished, regripped, and had a 7.5” target barrel fitted. The target barrel is marked “Mk V” and “Webley & Scott Ltd, Birmingham & London” and is serial numbered to the frame. Fortunately the original 4” barrel stayed with the set.

[read6737]

Thankyou Lance for these very enjoyable posts.

I have always loved the 455.
I use to have a Mk VI Enfield made one, it was a minter not many rounds through it at all.
Came from an old Ladys estate after she died it had been her husbands.
I had a few friends in my area at the time who were shot gun dealars only, so when
they got pistols in in a deal, they came my way at a very cheap price.. Being in the police at the time I got my FAC
modified very quickly with no problem. When the ban came in I had over 30 pistols and space for over 50 on my FAC.
So my heart was so badley broken when we lost them, it was not a good time for me as wife also devorced me that year.
I had her deactivated ( the 455 not the wife) when we lost the pistols. I was so p***** off doing it.
It was fantastic to shoot, so gentle, I reloaded with Herco powder, I used it in all my pistol rounds.
I still have the M & S hollow base bullets and the Mk II cases I bought from M & S most are un fired,
never know when I might want them.

[A square 10]

i also have assembled a collection of these , no one-up intended , just a followup with additional examples , i do collect holsters etc as well ,




OK , some of these are enfields ...........
and a couple 22s -








---------- Post added at 08:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:43 PM ----------

oh - that last one - the enfeild 22 no2 is in the lower right 'empty' position in the case , it was not secured untill recently

[Proofround1917]

That's a very impressive display.

Is there a MK I** in there?

I saw one today at a local gun show, but couldn't decide what mark it was until I looked at Revolvers of the British Services.


Thanks.

[Gibbs505]

Very nice photos!!