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#Post#: 47--------------------------------------------------
Webley Revolver
DIR By: allmanav
Date: February 6, 2020, 7:00 am
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The Webley revolver in .455 caliber was first adopted by the
British military in November 1887 with the Service Mk I. This
new pattern offered many innovations in revolver design. Many
experts felt that hinged-frame actions could possibly blow open
with the new higher-pressure smokeless cartridges. Changes in
the design included a near-solid frame locking device that held
up under the most strenuous combat conditions through two world
wars.
Of the six standard Webley service revolver "Marks" adopted
between 1887 and 1915, Webley made fewer Mark V revolvers than
any other, and collectors consider them among the rarest in
standard form. The British adopted the Mk V in December 1913,
and it represented the last revolver change before the start of
World War I.
Twenty thousand were ordered and delivered to the British
military, beginning in September 1914. In its standard-issue
form, the Mk V had a 4-inch barrel and weighed just a half-ounce
more than the Mk IV, which had been in service since 1899. The
extra weight was due to the increased mass of the cylinder,
which was beefed up to withstand the pressures of
non-blackpowder cartridges.
All Webley service revolvers offer the collector a myriad of
modifications and markings. Most Mk V revolvers can be found
with the standard 4-inch barrels, but there are also 6- and
7.5-inch barrel lengths. A wide variety of military and unit
markings aid the collector in making the revolver talk about its
rich history and use.
Before the 1968 Gun Control Act prevented importation, tens of
thousands of Webley service revolvers were offered in the pages
of American Rifleman for prices as low as $19.95. Thousands were
cut to accept the more prevalent American .45 ACP cartridge,
which was used with half or full moon clips to hold the rimless
rounds. This cutting was a relatively easy procedure to perform
and involved turning a few millimeters off the face of the
cylinder to allow space for the .45 ACP cartridge and its moon
clip to clear the frame.
Cut Webleys do not bring the collectors' premium that uncut
examples fetch. One can identify a shaved cylinder by inspecting
the face of the chambers. The face of an uncut cylinder presents
an inspector's view mark, broad arrow and/or inspector's proof
in-between the chambers. All Webleys were issued with matching
frame and cylinder serial numbers. The cylinder serial number is
found on the outer edge of the cylinder side. An uncut cylinder
displays a full number without any erosion to the full figure of
the number.
The particular specimen shown above is a standard-issue military
revolver marked "MARK V" and dated "1914" on the frame. It is
uncut, bearing an official military de-accession mark of two
broadhead-tipped arrows closed point to point. A unit marking on
the backstrap indicates issue to the 2nd Royal Engineers, and it
has approximately 75 percent of its original blue finish. Webley
Mk V revolvers were manufactured between 1913-1915 and appear in
a serial-number range between 129,900-215,000.
According to the 40th Edition Blue Book of Gun Values, Mk V
service revolvers range in value from $500 in 60-percent
condition to $1,800 or more in 100-percent condition. Add
10-percent value for 6" barrel service revolvers and 20-percent
value for commercial revolvers, distinguished by a "C" in a
square box on the left side of the frame.
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