.455/.476 Webley Needs Assistance

[jmoore]

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.)



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.



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!)

Information

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[Amatikulu]

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."

[Garandy]

Might be worth a try: Dealer Showroom

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

[jmoore]

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

[Amatikulu]

Apex gun parts also has lots of Webley bits and pieces

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

[jmoore]

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.)

[barbarossa]

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....

[jmoore]

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.

[barbarossa]

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!

[jmoore]

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.