English Proof Mark on a MK I .455

[read6737]

I think er Poyal Navay MK I this has a 1950s onwards proof Mark.
Am I right?
It is on a MK I Webley .455.
It is a nitro proof? as it says 6 tons.
What mark and where, if there are any
are put on a revolver when refurbished.
Is it an "R" next to the lanyard ring?

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[jamie5070]

You might try on the britishmilitaria forums. There are more people there who may be able to answer you

[Sunray]

"...a nitro proof..." The BNP stamps? Those are required by English law on any milsurp sold through there. Nothing to do with the military or refurbishing.
Should look like this.
BNP under a king's crown = British Nitro Proof, .455":.760" = the case length of 455 Webley Revolver cartridge, 5 TONS = Pressure of the proofing. (5's can look like 6's)
A Mk I can be over 100 years old but the Brits would still insist on stamping it.

[read6737]

Attachment 83959
I posted a thumb nail instead of this one.
I have 3 Spanish .455s sold out od servuce by the R.U.C. in the 70s, All proofed as explained by sunray, except that they are all proofed at 6 TONS not 5.
It is definatly a 6 not 5.
The webley it also still looks like a 6 not a 5.
My queasion is, can I use a MK II notro type load in this BNP 6 TONS proofed MK I webley?
It still has the smaler cylinder 43. mm than the MK I** that uses a MK V 44.mm cylinder,
as does the MK II**.

Being an ex police sgt, in the 90s, I did know the proof laws then, I did catch an RFD trying to sell mes a revolver ex WWII Enfield 38 with no cervilian proof mark. He soon gor it proofed for free, I payed 25 quid and I am sure the proof cost him that as well. It was mint, looked as new, great to shoot, used it in many PPC compertitions, 115 grain bullet and a Hurco light load. It only needed the fore sight reducung to bring it back on target. Wery gentle load to shoot, I still shoot it in a large Spanish smith copy, my boys aged 9 can even control it.
I know the Proof has nothing to do with a refurb, that question as what markings indicate a refurb, or what does one look for that my inducat a refurb.

[Peter Laidler]

To be honest Read, I don't think that you ought to be too concerned about the proofing of your barrel. The barrel on a revolver is really just a tube to direct a projectile - and a tube that is vented at one end to boot!!! The gas pressure in that tube will never (?) exceed the ductile strength of the steel tube to the extent that it will exceed the bounds of its elasticity and deform. The pressure will vent via the hole at the rear long before that happens. The cylinder is a slightly different matter because........ and........ and its strength is all to do with ......... anyway!!!!!

Why are they proofed them you're going to ask? Yep........ and why proof unlocked breech SMG's? It's an artificial test based on fizzy logic

[read6737]

What I want to work out is a load that I can shoot in all my .455s.
I have 2 spanish 1915s, a MKVI and the MKI.
I do not shoot heavy loads, just the 265 grain and a Vectan A0 load of 5.4 grains.
The MK I is the only revolver that might not be able to take it.

[DocAV]

BTW, "BNP" means "Birmingham Nitro Proof", NOT "British etc". ( founded 1813)

The London Proof House ( Worshipful Company of Gunmakers of the City of London)
is an Intertwined "CP".

As mentioned, the Commercial proofs were done to All firearms which passed into "Trade" in the United Kingdom.( by Import, Manufacture, or Surplus).

Military Firearms produced by RSAF Enfield were only "Accepted" by the Enfield Acceptance
Inspectors, whilst the Firearms for British service made by BSA and LSA for the War Office were similarly inspected...BUT those made for "Volunteer/Territorial" Units were commercially Proofed, as were those sold to "The Colonies".
Only after WW I, did the War office supply War Department Rifles directly to some of the Empire countries as replacements for SMLEs supplied to Britain during the War.( Australia)

Firearms imported directly by the War Office (eg Colt and S&W revolvers in WW I) carry Enfield Inspection/acceptance marks, and were only re-proofed( BNP or CP) when sold out of service after WW I or II.

Doc AV