GunLab (KnownHost) » British weapons.

Webley Mk 6 22

Chuck — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 08:00:02 +0000

Another post on Webley revolvers. This is a 22 version of the Webley Mk 6. According to the book “The Webley Story” this pistol was built as a target pistol for training and practice on short distance ranges.

close up of the cylinder

Markings on the top strap

The Webley logo

If anyone has any pictures of Webleys they would like to share please contact me.

Rick and the SA80 project

Chuck — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 08:00:07 +0000

Rick at ar180s.com has started a new and interesting project. He has taken on converting a gas operated air soft gun to a shooting rifle. This is a complex project where he is using some AR-180 parts, some SAR 80 parts and making a number of the smaller parts. I wish him luck in his endeavor.

You can follow his progress here:

http://ar180s.com/project-sa80-l85a2/

Webley 22lr pistol

Chuck — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 08:00:03 +0000

A webley Mk 4 in 22lr. I am not sure the date that these were made,but it would have to be post WW2.

Looking at the pictures you can see that the pistol grip is shortened and the cylinder is modified.

The right side view.

A left side view.

Some of the markings on the pistol.

A nice addition to any Webley collection.

Lend lease pistols part 1

Chuck — Mon, 29 Aug 2016 08:00:05 +0000

During World War II after the Dunkirk evacuation the British military was in dire straits for weapons that were lost.

There was a shortage of revolvers. Smith & Wesson was contracted to provide replacement handguns for England. Due to the urgent need there was no time for Smith & Wesson to design a new revolver so the M&P pistol was used. This weapon was designed to shoot the 38 special and with some minor modifications implemented to convert this handgun to the British caliber .38/200.

The initial orders for this handgun were for South Africa but the British military staff in Washington DC diverted it to the United Kingdom.

Originally the Smith & Wesson M&P model came in four, five and 6 inch length barrels, with checkered would grips and commercial bluing. Due to the demands for faster and more economical production Smith & Wesson changed to a plane wood grip, 5 inch barrel and a phosphated finish.

The pistol were talking about today is one of the standard ones that were made.

There were 586,200 Smith & Wesson M&P pistols produced. This is one of the of the 8000 pistols that Australia received.

You could see that it’s marked United States property which is part of the lend lease package to the United Kingdom.

Looking at this photograph you can seal the stampings that indicated it was used by Australia.

You can see the broad arrow stamp on the bottom of the frame.

For more information on Smith & Wesson victory models please look at the following books:

https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Handguns-World-War-II/dp/0917218752/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472402174&sr=8-1&keywords=U.S.+handguns+of+WW2

https://www.amazon.com/Timothy-Mullin-K-Frame-Revolver-Phenomenon/dp/B00RWQZEZ6/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1472402271&sr=1-2&keywords=The+K+frame+revolver

Or go to the webpage.

http://forums.gunboards.com/

Webley Mark IV Singapore police pistol

Chuck — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 08:00:14 +0000

This post deals with 2 Webley mark IV pistols. Both of them were issued to the Singapore police force. Both of these pistols are commercial versions and show no military markings.

The first is a standard mark IV webley.

The second version is the police model. This pistol incorporated a hammer safety. With this pistol the safety can only be engaged with the hammer down. The pistol can still be open to load or unload with the safety on. Production of the Police model ended in 1970.

Top strap markings

The safety pushed to the safe position.

Close up of the barrel proof marks

Typical markings showing the model and proofing of the pistol

You can see the Singapore police markings and the red dot on the safety indicating the weapon is ready to rife.

Rack markings painted on the butt of the grip

A quick look at then side by side. showing the frame differences.

Notice the hump design on the back of the frame and the difference in grip design.

Webley Mark IV Commercial pistol

Chuck — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 08:00:06 +0000

While we are on the series of posts dealing with Webley revolvers, this is the next one to chat about. It is basically a standard Webley pistol with commercial proof marks, no acceptance marks and a standard finish.

Interesting stamping marks on the barrel

Top strap stamping

A comparison between a war finish issued pistol and a commercial pistol

Close up of the stamping on the left side of the frame between a issue pistol and a commercial pistol

Webley Mk4 38/200

Chuck — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 08:00:59 +0000

I have always enjoyed collecting and shooting the Webley 38 revolvers. Collecting them has been a challenge. Not because they are scarce but because information is actually hard to come by.

The Webley MkIV 38caliber pistol development started in 1921. This was due to the War Office wanting a smaller and lighter weapon but still have the same as the .455 pistols. It is based upon the MkIII pistol service revolver plus a number of other improvements reducing its weight to 22.25 ounces. After additional trials testing a few more alterations were made. One being changing the grip style to the MkVI type.

Over 100,000 Mark IV were made between 1939 and 1945.

This is a standard model pistol.

You can see that war finish is stamped on the frame. Also the flying bullet logo is stamped on the barrel.

The marking on the top strap.

Webley Mk6

Chuck — Mon, 08 Aug 2016 08:00:11 +0000

With the Mark 6 Webley revolver coming about in and being approved for service in May of 1915 it officially became the issue hand gun in British service. You can see the differences between it and the Mk4 revolver that it was suppose to replace. The pistol came with a 6″ barrel and was chambered for the .455 cartridge. The grip style had been changed as well as a minor change to the front sight.

A photo of the right side of the revolver.

Left side of the revolver.

Close up of the markings on the side plate.

You can see that this one has been shaved to accept 45 auto rim or 45 acp with half moon clips.

Mark *VI* stamped on the side.

This is actually one of my favorite revolver to shoot.

Mk4 Webley .455

Chuck — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 08:00:01 +0000

Unfortunately I have no Mk3 pistol in my collection, maybe someday. The next in line is the Mk4 pistol in .455. This pistol was accepted into service in October 1899. Commonly call the Boer war pistol. It was the pistol supplied by the British government for troops sent to South Africa to fight the Boors. The Mk 4 was a very well design and serviceable weapon as no changes were made to the weapon for the next 14 years and then only when the Mk5 was introduces in 1913. The pistol remained in service through WW1.

Left side view.

Right side view.

Stamped markings on the Mk4

Barrel lengths come is 4, 5, and 6″ lengths.

You can see the cam, cam lever, cam lever fixing screw in this photo

The dimension of the hammer spur has been reduced

Clear view of the hardened steel shield.

Open cylinder

By the Mk3 and Mk4 versions the cylinder cam and cylinder cam lever had been installed.

Webley Mk2

Chuck — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 08:00:04 +0000

The second pistol in the series in the Mk2 revolver. By 1894 a number of changes had occurred to the Mk1 to warrant a new nomenclature. Thus the Mk2 was born. The modifications that occurred were to the frame, hammer and the changing of the machined in shield to one that was a separate hardened steel shield.

A view of the left side of the revolver.

A close up of the stamping on the side of the frame showing the Mk2 stamp.

Right side of the revolver

This photo shows the new hammer design that came with the Mk2 revolver. The change was a larger spur, for the benefit of the cavalryman, and a stronger nose.

In addition to the difference in hammer size the thumb piece portion that was chequered was also increased in size.

A good view of the separate shield that was came with Mk2

The broad arrow mark on the top strap.

The Mk2 revolver barrel will withstand a safe pressure of 6 tons per square inch.