Webley MK 1

[read6737]

I have just bought a webley MK1, it has a London address,
therre is no blue left if it ever had any.
Any comments?

Information

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[Patrick Chadwick]

Not a Webley collector, but from my general knowledge:

The "bird's head" grip models are very, very desirable for collectors.
If the case in the background is the original case for the revolver, that is an enormous plus. Photos?

The name on the barrel is that of a contemporary gunsmith/dealer:
E. Whistler London = Edward Whistler, 11 The Strand, London, 1876-1900 (Stöckel, Vol. 2)

The barrel looks serviceable, but the photos are in general not clear enough for a better than approximate evaluation.

Do not attempt to reblue it! That damages the collector value without improving the shooting!

As to shooting: if you wish to shoot it - which should only take place after a thorough inspection and servicing - take note that this is a design from the BP era. The later Mk VI would take smokeless, but you would be very ill advised to try it in this one. At the very least, it would be placing a serious strain on an ancient mechanism. So BP only, no jacketed bullets, and no funny business with duplex loads, please.

The best source of information on Webley revolvers is here:

British Military Handguns Forum

Read around a bit, and you will find more than I can tell you.

[Sentryduty]

I know those revolvers enjoy a high market value in Canada due to the ways our firearm laws work. Any Mk I or Mk II is classed as an antique and does not require a license to possess and shoot, and they are among the small group of handguns that can be shot in informal situations outside that of a certified range. As such, even a scrappy example will sell for $1500+ in Canada, and excellent examples have moved for $3000.

Your example is something most Canadian Webley enthusiasts like me would love to have.

[read6737]

Thanks for the replies Interesting.
reloads, I never shoot high powered loads, not my interest to see how much poder or power I can get.
I have a very good stock of new of Mount and Sowden MK11 cases and their round nose hollow base lead bullets. Put them away 20 yrs ago when the fire arms laws changed in the uk.
I plan to reload with 777, I have not yet found another supplier of hollow based bullets, May use the Fiocchi ones though.
The wooden box in the pics is not the original as far as I know, but it is the right age.