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Unusual Webley Revolver

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https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/430601935/m/2070024184

April 20, 2021, 10:07 AM
Rolan_Kraps
Unusual Webley Revolver
I'm starting my own Webley topic for a new revolver I picked up yesterday.

It was sold as a Webley MK VI revolver in .455, but shaved for full moon clips. Appears to have been refinished which removed the maker's marks on the left side of the frame. What I find most unusual is that it only has a 5 digit serial number.

Does anyone know what I have?

Right Side by Dave Steier, on Flickr

Left Side by Dave Steier, on Flickr


Right frame marking detail by Dave Steier, on Flickr

Top Strap and Cylinder Markings
Left side crane cylinder by Dave Steier, on Flickr

Left Frame showing missing makers markings
Left Frame worn off markings by Dave Steier, on Flickr

5 Digit Serial
Crane SN by Dave Steier, on Flickr



Rolan Kraps
SASS Regulator
Gainesville, Georgia.
NRA Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Instructor - Pistol / Personal Protection Inside the Home
April 20, 2021, 04:50 PM
92fstech
Can't help with any info on the gun, but I just want to say that is pretty awesome. Thanks for sharing the pictures...how does it shoot?


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April 20, 2021, 07:34 PM
Rolan_Kraps
It shoots great! I just put about 24 rounds through it. Want to load more!



Rolan Kraps
SASS Regulator
Gainesville, Georgia.
NRA Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Instructor - Pistol / Personal Protection Inside the Home
April 20, 2021, 07:51 PM
cas
My 1917 (IIRC lol) gun has a 6 digit serial number.


_____________________________________________________
Sliced bread, the greatest thing since the 1911.

April 20, 2021, 08:22 PM
bigwagon
Looks like a standard Mark VI to me. Does it also have a serial number on the bottom of the frame near the joint? This reminds me I need to load up some 45AR to shoot mine.
April 20, 2021, 08:55 PM
Rolan_Kraps
quote:
Originally posted by bigwagon:
Looks like a standard Mark VI to me. Does it also have a serial number on the bottom of the frame near the joint? This reminds me I need to load up some 45AR to shoot mine.


Yeah @bigwagon, but it's just a 5 digit number, All the rest of them I've seen are 6 digit.

Crane SN by Dave Steier, on Flickr



Rolan Kraps
SASS Regulator
Gainesville, Georgia.
NRA Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Instructor - Pistol / Personal Protection Inside the Home
April 21, 2021, 07:35 AM
lyman
according to this site

https://classicfirearms.be/web...ice%20revolvers.html

there was some overlap with the Mk III's serial number


https://chandlersfirearms.com/chesterfield-armament/
April 21, 2021, 08:30 AM
Rolan_Kraps
quote:
Originally posted by lyman:
according to this site

https://classicfirearms.be/web...ice%20revolvers.html

there was some overlap with the Mk III's serial number


From that website:
Lowest known serial number 77503 (overlap of the Mark III) and the highest serial number 130024. It is unknown how many Mark IV's were produced the British Government did not purchase any more after 1904 and the commercial sales had there serial numbers mixed with sales of the W.S Model.

Mine is still below that number at 147XX.



Rolan Kraps
SASS Regulator
Gainesville, Georgia.
NRA Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Instructor - Pistol / Personal Protection Inside the Home
April 21, 2021, 08:47 AM
bigwagon
From the same site. Could be one of these:

Mark VI Enfield

The Enfield Mark VI was produced at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield from 1921 until 1926. Visually they are identical except for the finish and are stamped Enfield above MK (crown) VI beneath was stamped the year of production. The grips were also 0.25" slimmer. It is unknown exactly how many Enfield Mark VI's were made but it is thought to be between 32,000 and 40,000. I would be grateful to anyone who has one of these revolvers to let me have the serial number to help confirm this.

20,000 with no prefix

10,000 with an A prefix

up to 10,000 with a B prefix

Mostly Enfield Mark VI revolvers are found with very little usage or wear.

Here's another example. Check the serial number format:

https://www.legacy-collectible...ld-mark-vi-1922.html
April 21, 2021, 09:26 AM
Rolan_Kraps
quote:
Originally posted by bigwagon:
From the same site. Could be one of these:

Mark VI Enfield

The Enfield Mark VI was produced at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield from 1921 until 1926. Visually they are identical except for the finish and are stamped Enfield above MK (crown) VI beneath was stamped the year of production. The grips were also 0.25" slimmer. It is unknown exactly how many Enfield Mark VI's were made but it is thought to be between 32,000 and 40,000. I would be grateful to anyone who has one of these revolvers to let me have the serial number to help confirm this.

20,000 with no prefix

10,000 with an A prefix

up to 10,000 with a B prefix

Mostly Enfield Mark VI revolvers are found with very little usage or wear.

Here's another example. Check the serial number format:

https://www.legacy-collectible...ld-mark-vi-1922.html


Yes, it COULD be an Enfield. Too bad someone obliterated the maker's mark on the left side of the frame. It certainly could fall into that range of 20,000 guns without a prefix.



Rolan Kraps
SASS Regulator
Gainesville, Georgia.
NRA Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Instructor - Pistol / Personal Protection Inside the Home
April 21, 2021, 01:31 PM
Mars_Attacks
Here's you an unusual Webley.

MKIII Pocket with the Lyon & Lyon rollmarks.

One of four made.




____________________________

Eeewwww, don't touch it!
Here, poke at it with this stick.
April 21, 2021, 01:43 PM
bigwagon
quote:
Originally posted by Rolan_Kraps:

Yes, it COULD be an Enfield. Too bad someone obliterated the maker's mark on the left side of the frame. It certainly could fall into that range of 20,000 guns without a prefix.

If you look at the example I linked, the Enfields were marked on the righthand side on the sideplate. If there's no indication of a mark there, it's also possible the sideplate was replaced.
April 21, 2021, 02:46 PM
Rolan_Kraps
quote:
Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
Here's you an unusual Webley.

MKIII Pocket with the Lyon & Lyon rollmarks.

One of four made.



That's way cool Marzy! I like the video too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV9Q84cQ7AE



Rolan Kraps
SASS Regulator
Gainesville, Georgia.
NRA Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Instructor - Pistol / Personal Protection Inside the Home
April 21, 2021, 02:48 PM
Rolan_Kraps
quote:
Originally posted by bigwagon:
The Enfields were marked on the righthand side on the sideplate. If there's no indication of a mark there, it's also possible the sideplate was replaced.


No disernable markings on the right side either. Like this fine example. May have been replaced or polished out when refinished.





Rolan Kraps
SASS Regulator
Gainesville, Georgia.
NRA Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Instructor - Pistol / Personal Protection Inside the Home
April 21, 2021, 03:22 PM
lyman
so is the serial on the frame just in front of the trigger guard? ,

you posted the pic of the serial on the barrel,


can you get us better pics of the pistol, close ups of the marks,
good clear overall
and a close up of where the marks were removed?


https://chandlersfirearms.com/chesterfield-armament/
April 21, 2021, 03:40 PM
Rolan_Kraps
Serial numbers are on the frame in front of the trigger guard, on the barrel, and on the cylinder. Areas where Enfield marks are (right side behind cylinder) and Webley (Left side above trigger) are polished/worn completely away. I'll try to get better photos.



Rolan Kraps
SASS Regulator
Gainesville, Georgia.
NRA Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Instructor - Pistol / Personal Protection Inside the Home
April 21, 2021, 06:02 PM
Rolan_Kraps
Lyman, Check these out.

Right Close by Dave Steier, on Flickr

Left Frame by Dave Steier, on Flickr

Left Frame worn off markings by Dave Steier, on Flickr



Rolan Kraps
SASS Regulator
Gainesville, Georgia.
NRA Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Instructor - Pistol / Personal Protection Inside the Home
April 22, 2021, 06:51 AM
Mars_Attacks
The little arrows (raven feet) are acceptance markings. This gun was never retired. The arrow would be reversed into a star.

Usually Webley had a flying bullet as the maker's mark.


____________________________

Eeewwww, don't touch it!
Here, poke at it with this stick.
April 22, 2021, 07:02 AM
Rolan_Kraps
quote:
Originally posted by Mars_Attacks:
Usually Webley had a flying bullet as the maker's mark.


So this was a military and not a civilian gun?
Where would the "flying bullet" mark appear?



Rolan Kraps
SASS Regulator
Gainesville, Georgia.
NRA Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Instructor - Pistol / Personal Protection Inside the Home
April 22, 2021, 12:51 PM
Mars_Attacks
I've seen them on either frame side to the side of the barrel topstrap.

Depending on the time of manufacture.

Mine is above the trigger guard.


____________________________

Eeewwww, don't touch it!
Here, poke at it with this stick.