Webley MkIV .380 Mainsprings

[peregrinvs]

I'm currently conducting an informal feasibility study regarding restoring a postwar police MkIV with a crossbolt safety. The only missing part I haven't been able to ID a source for is the mainspring as the usual suspects seem to be out of stock. A slight complicating factor is that mainspring on the crossbolt model seems to be smaller than the one on the 'standard' MkIV as it has a smaller frame. You can see an illustration here:

Webley Scott Ltd. Mk.IV Revolver. - Gun and Game - Firearms Forums

Does anyone have any leads on where one might be found? (Original or repro) Alternatively, are there any other revolver mainsprings that could be adapted to fit? Or how difficult would it be to bodge something that would work?

Grateful for any help.

Cheers,
Mark

Information

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[jamie5070]

Try looking on gunbroker if you haven't already done so. You can also check out the british gun forums site and ask there, britishmilitariaforums.yuku.com. They have a handgun and gunsmithing forums that might help you. I have a singapore issued MKIV with the crossbolt safety.
john

[peregrinvs]

Thanks for the tips.

I've since noticed that Numrich sell MkVI mainsprings. Does anyone know how much they differ in size to the MkIV mainspring? Having experimented, I know a standard MkIV mainspring can be shorehorned into the smaller crossbolt safety frame - it correctly compresses the hammer, but it would need modifying (or some sort of spacer would have to be inserted) to make it correctly compress the auxiliary mainspring.

Thanks,
Mark

[Simon P]

Have you tried any of the UK Section 5 Dealers.

Richard Milner at Wilkinson Sword research, Webley original factory records archive

Helstons may have spares as well.

[Peter Laidler]

On the restorers thread there's some chatter about similar mainsprings. Not having a Webley one handy but from memory a good start might be a .38 Enfield. But to be really and truly honest, I'd anneal one that's similar, work it so that it fits, test it fir fit then harden and temper. Job done.

Armourer apprentices used to make revolver or Vickers lock springs during their tin bashing stage as apprentices. Instructor would leave newly made, hardened and tempered spring in a closed-up vice (or in a cocked pistol body/lock) overnignt and in the morning you would have a) a perfect spring or b) a squashed spring or if you were REALLY unlucky, a spring in TWO pieces!

Easy to make from another spring because you know at the outset that the actual material is perfect

[bigduke6]

Mark,

I was given a few boxes of bits etc other day, going off memory in one box there was a few main springs etc and maybe some other bits that may be of use, I,ll get a pic tomorrow.

[bigduke6]

PM sent with pics.