It’s way cooler then you think. I’ve owned several including a shaved .45 ACP modified gun, (in fact most are modified this way in Canada). If you shoot several rounds but don’t empty the cylinder you can eject only the empties and keep the live ammo in the chambers. Bloke on the Range did a video or four on the Webley including showing this often overlooked feature.
@Beth Schroeder you realize back then pistols were not reliable and that when it came out,you had ZERO pistols in service or worthy to take into service? Are you here just to be a douche? Is that point of you commenting without knowing about the topic or bothering to research? Also,it proved more reliable in WWI...
Always loved the look of webleys. The top break and cutouts on the barrel make it unmistakable. They’ve got this really classic yet aggressive mechanical aesthetic to them. Nice video Ian.
Matthew Showler I agree. They have a grim purpose, as all weapons do, but they reflect both the artistic aesthetics of their era as well as industrial realities. They truly are industrial design - abit like cars, really.
In the past I owned and shot a Webley Mk6 in .455, a Webley in .38 and an Enfield revolver in .38. When I emigrated had to sell them. Still miss these revolvers. Fantastic revolvers, rather precisr, and the .455 bullet walked out of the barrel sedately, but surely.
hans2406 I appreciate the old approach to firearms over the “hi speed low drag” obsession the modern gun market keeps pushing. I’m sure 455 wasn’t the most efficient but I bet it was hard to argue it wasn’t effective
I never cared for Webleys until i had a chance to handle a WG Target with the 7 1/2 barrel... beautiful handling gun and very natural to aim with a classic one hand stance
My Great-Grandfather carried a Webley revolver as a 2Lt in 1917, Ypres. He actually owned a pair that he had to buy for himself. He was hit in the shoulder by a German MG, recovered and sent back to only be wounded again. I wish I knew more about him.
I think, as an American, they are more interesting because they are much more uncommon than the standard colts and S&Ws. That and I’m a huge fan of Indiana Jones.
I own a blued Webley Army with an unshaved cylinder just like the center model at the beginning of your video and it has one of the smoothest actions I've ever felt in a revolver. Even after 123 years it's still quite accurate.
I just recently joined the club. And I have to agree, the action is Black or white, nothing fiddly in between. Really an amazing design. The pinnacle of revolver engineering.
I have one of the really rare WGs from the first production run - the first thousand or so had Webley Pryse style cylinder release mechanisms - and mine has the target length barrel. It also has an established provenance which is good - it belonged to a S African "British" officer who fought in the 2nd Boer War and WW1, carrying it into both conflicts. Only problem is that as Im in the UK, its also a deactivated one. Luckily its an old style UK deac so not completely mullered.
It's a shame that it is deactivated! I am in Canada and I am trying to find an antique Webley like the one that yours once was (before it got vandalized by your government minions)..I have a Spanish .455 antique revolver that is a Spanish copy of S&W double action #3 with a 6" barrel and in .455 Webley and it's such a blast!I load rounds for it quite hot and so I get it to fire the same 17 gram LRN bullet at an average of 280-300 meters per second which is pretty impressive for the gun that is made before 1898! Certainly not a whimp!
I owned a WG Army in .455. It was a surprisingly low recoil smooth gun to shoot. Beautifully made and a joy to look at. Sold all my Webleys years ago but the WG was the best
Huh. RUclips tells me there's four comments here, it only shows two. The one by me and Chris B saying "you're on the right track if you want to learn." What are the other two comments? Is RUclips messing with me?
Madutakam: I am not sure, remember the Webley Fosbery was out of production after ww1, so finding pieces can be a challenge and if you wanted someone to build you one from the ground up then you’ll be paying a lot of $$$$, but I say check some websites out to see if they can help you.
The standard 455 Webley simply has the cylinder shaved and works perfectly. Very popular in Canada especially the antique models. These are among the few handguns in ceterfire cartridges we can legally shoot in the “bush”.
I have read that the Webley-Fosbery was banned from some shooting competitions. The ability it gave to place successive shots without losing the sight picture was deemed an unfair advantage.
I agree, the Webley revolvers have a very 'British Empire' character about them. Looks like these revolvers in particular would have some interesting stories if they could talk.
“Don’t worry old chap, I’ve been in proper wars you know! Not like these colonial trash-tossers you see, and certainly not like this ruffian attempting to rob you of your personal affects! I’ll soon see him off, the blackguard!”
I think, at least in the early stories, there are references to Watson's "service revolver". In the BBC series, I noticed that Jeremy Brett, as Holmes, is shown firing a Webley RIC at the Hound of the Baskervilles, which delighted me!
@Jeremy Brookes Webley and Sons actually produced the Bull Dog revolver (in .442 Webley and .455 Adams). Doyle himself had some Tranter revolvers in his possession and his younger brother had some Webleys and a Colt. It could have been any of those that he had in mind when writing the early stories, it may even have been an Adams revolver like the ones carried during A C Doyle's time served as a volunteer doctor during the 2nd Boer war.
@Jeremy Brookes Hi, actually (at least in the early books) there are no references to what brand/type of revolver Watson uses. He served in the second Anglo-afghan war (1878~1880, although he had to "retire" before the end of the conflict due to a shot in the leg by a jezzail, during the battle of Maiwand, if I remember correctly), so it's actually hard to tell for sure what revolver he used. Before WW1, British officers had to buy their own pistols, but Watson, as he states, was not exactly wealthy (his older brother basically lost all the family resources due to drink and game addiction ). So, we can speculate that it was probably a more affordable British revolver (possible even second hand). I personally think it could indeed be a used bull dog webley, but since he fought in the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers, maybe it was an older full size service revolver. But again, this is just a speculation from my part
To elaborate on the reason for the lanyard: If you fired your last shot and another man was coming at you, you could instantly drop the pistol and draw your sword. No time to holster the pistol. Fighting with your sword while your pistol is banging into you is not ideal, but better than the alternative. Of course the lanyards were around for many years. The scenario I describe would be in 1890s Sudan or India, etc; the use of the sword was not uncommon in such settings.
My great grandfather got one off a officer during the boer war, used it in the great war, then gave it to my grandfather to use in ww2. I still remember my father making his own rounds for it every couple of months, sadly he had to hand it to the police for destruction when we immigrated to New Zealand.
Ian. When the UK was a free country before the Handgun Ban, I owned a WG Target Revolver that shot superbly on a Classic Target Bull 7 points x6 shots the best I managed free hand 39...I was made on 26th of October 1906.. I much enjoy your videos. I miss Revolver shooting, now being regulated to a single shot Target Air Pistol.
Ian, I am astounded by your knowledge of the weapons you present and even if you research them beforehand you speak with such fluidity and confidence and your clips are compelling to watch.
The Webley was always a very fascinating looking and functional weapon to me. Thanks Ian, the more information the better.
4 года назад+1
Very informative video, thanks! I have an antique WG Army carried in the 2nd Boer War by a private in the 2nd battalion grenadier guards, even still has it's original leather holster. Privates weren't issued sidearms but I have a copy of the original signed receipt where he purchased the revolver & holster with his own money at the famous John Rigby & Co storefront in London just a few days before shipping out to South Africa. In the following months the 2nd battalion was in the center of the most intense battles of the war and took heavy heavy casualties but this savvy private who had purchased his own Webley revolver to carry survived and was later promoted to Major. It's a 123 year old revolver but it still shoots like the day it was sold and it's accuracy even at 30-40-50 yards is impressive. Webley sure knew how to produce a fine revolver.
I am so happy you got to these. I have a very early WG army navy, still in .455 and there is nothing on the net about it because they are so rare! I am excited to watch this
When you say Army, Navy- Does that refer to the Army & Navy store? They were the major retailers of all things military to Officers at home or abroad. Thier name would be marked as suppplier.
Apart from the Fosbery, this is my favorite Webley revolver, aesthetically speaking, at least. I cannot wait for you to do more Webley videos. I love my Mk.VI and look forward to learning more about the others. Thanks again, Ian!
George: Thoroughly inspiring stuff. And look sir, this also arrived for you this morning. [hands paper bag to Blackadder] Blackadder: [opening bag, taking out a revolver] Hmm, do you know what this is, Lieutenant? George: It’s a good old service revolver. Blackadder: Wrong. It’s a brand new service revolver, which I’ve suspiciously been sent without asking for it. I smell something fishy, and I’m not talking about the contents of Baldrick’s apple crumble.
More likely a 450 or a Bulldog. I think Holmes used a Bulldog more than once. Also, wasn't the Afghan war in 1879 or so? That predates these. Guess i better go read some
You sort of get a hint from the video but these Webleys had the most exquisite finish on them. I've seen a few and the bluing is just beautiful. Ian's examples are showing their age but I've seen some in mint condition and they are a wonder to behold.
The WG was made until the First World War. I owned what May have been the last one made, serial number 22126. It was built with the birds head grip and non-adjustable rear sight of the WG Army, and the 7.5 inch barrel of the Target Model. It”s illustrated on page 131 of “Webley Revolvers” by Gordon Bruce and Christian Reinhart. It’s Figure V/59 at the top of the page, although the caption is numbered V/58 in error, rather than V/59. I used this revolver extensively and successfully in competitions against modern revolvers. It had a far lighter and smoother trigger pull than modern Smith and Wessons, and it was extremely accurate. Incidentally, the chapter on Webley Wilkinson revolvers was based on my research, much of it carried out at at the Wilkinson Sword factory, where I was given generous access to their records and their collection. My own Webley Wilkinson appears on page 147 (Figure V/82). This, too, was a very accurate pistol, which I also used in competition. It had a very interesting history.
I own a webley 445, unfortunately under the tony blair regime all legal guns were outlawed so rather than give mine up i had it deactivated as was my 1911 colt ( made in 1942) , did it stop gun crime no, as Manchester was then known as Gunchester ! Many thanks for your vids i really do enjoy them, pity i cant shoot any longer in the UK.
In Dennis Wheatley's memoirs about his WW1 experience (great novelist if you didn't know), he eventually managed to join the artillery corps, and he acquired a semi-auto pistol. He was a 2nd Lt. so he could bring anything. I've always wondered what he got.
Probabaly from the Army & Navy Stores. They were a shop and mail order for everything an Officer and Gentleman would need on campaign or forign service, from guns to furniture to grocerries.
An English authour of 1930'/40 wrote a number of supernatural adventure stories best known probably The Devil Rides Out. A number of Hammer films were made of the books starring Christopher Lee.
I've owned both an 1889 Model with the church steeple flutes and an 1892 Army model, both in their original .476/.455 calibre in addition to an Webley No.5 New Model Army Express in .476/.455/.45 Long Colt.....the absolute nicest and smoothest firing revolvers I've had the pleasure of owning. I kick myself daily for ever selling them! 8 postsPage 1
My favorite revolvers. The best design for a top-break--- unsurpassed. Sad they don't make them anymore: I'd love a stainless one.. I'm desperate for a Webley/Dade or Webley/Prideaux speed loader.---- repro or original.
@@justforever96 A right or left handed can use it, when someone unloads it you can observe for any obstruction in the barrel, easily. With today's metallurgy one could be made with a modern caliber. It does give people an option for preference.
I wonder why there are no modern top break revolves. It makes sense for lighter calibers like .38 since it does have a weaker action. It would be faster to reload in theory because you dont have to manually work the ejection rod. I love the looks of webley revolvers and wish they where still around as modern day options.
A very informative video on the Webley, Ian. Looking forward to the series of the other models/variations. Knowing the Brit's, there be more variation than they years they were produced. Hope you get the chance to fire some for us. I'll buy the first box of ammo, when you do.
Mine is number 1313 with the Pryse release. Belonged originally to a S. African officer fighting for the Brits in the 2nd Boer War. I love my old WG...and so does Indiana Jones ;-)
I love the contrast between the UK and US sidearms. The webley in its .445 configuration and the Colt 1911 .45 look worlds apart, but filled the same roll with distinction.
I was looking at the grip on the target shooting Webley, and realized what it reminded me of: the grip on a Gurkha Kukhri. Same reason; possible influence. If so, good History.
I saw one of these on tv today. A showing of "Soldiers Three" from the 1930's. David Niven, Stewart Granger, Robert Newton, Cyril Cussak, Walter Pidgeon, Robert Coote. It looked like a late remake of Gunga Din without Sam Jaffe. All of the military and rebel forces looked like they were shooting Lee Enfield. Strangely, they fired, lowered the rifles to waist level, ran the bolt and brought the rifle back to site. As David Niven was a graduate of Sandhurst, I thought they could have been more authentic on the set.
If you ever run out of guns to review, God forbid, your ability to simultaneously convey history and mechanical operation would transfer to anything, and make I entertaining and educational.
Uh, first, he's never going to run out of guns to review. Second there is no end to history and mechanical operations! Cars, heavy machinery, plumbing, locomotives... the list goes on man. Ian will be fine.
I was about 11/12, my friend's dad had an ex army parrot bill .45. He fired it through the metal mosquito mesh of his bedroom window couple of times one night. Scaring off a prowler in the yard. Anyway, as typical boys we soon after examined the holes in the mesh. Holes were way larger than .45 and th metal stubends round the hole showed melted by th muzzle blast.
I have a Webley 3/1/2 ton model 767 shoots short 38 S&W ammo ***that can only be fired in the double action mode.**trigger WT about 13 lbs.***S# W 853***DR KEL
It is difficult to overstate how much latitude British officers had over their sidearms. It wasnt even until near the end of the 19th Century that the regulations even specified that private purchase service revolvers take a specific cartridge.
When I first signed on the Police Department, we had a small locker behind the desk (I see they have kept that locker even though they have a new building and jail since) and locked up in it were the PD'S old revolvers, .38 Special Smiths, and a few confiscated revolvers and other types of pistols. One was a Webly in .380 caliber. Records indicated that it was used in an attempted murder, and when I was curious enough to look it up, I discovered one of the intended victims of the fellow who had the firearms was indeed my eldest sister. You see my sister was a great friend of this fellow's wife, they had been friends since childhood. Her friend was married to an evil fellow who was dealing drugs and pretty much a damn mean drunk. The gal called my sis and asked her to pick her up as she was leaving "the bum!" So it was that she went to their home and was carrying one of the abused ladies bags to the car when hubby returned from the bar his parents owned up on Main Street. He pulled out the Webly and began to fire, one bullet creasing his wife's head another just missing my sisters, she could hear the wizz as the round passed her ear. Both ladies dived into the car and sped away while the bum barricaded himself in his house. Police responded, and after a couple of hours talked him out. The fellow passed away, while still serving time in the State Pen, and my sister died last winter, as did her best friend. What happened to the guns?? Well a few days later (since the court case was complete) I came to work and the three guns taken from the bum were in the garbage can, having been cut in pieces with a cutting torch. It was sad for me to see as one of the guns was an old single shot rifle that someone had cut down to pistol length and put a grip on. I had traded a .22 semi auto rifle for that back when I was 14 not knowing it was illegal, and I actually got fairly good with the old gun considering it had no sights at all. It reminded me of an old pirate gun, it had that under lever top break design and since .22 shells were cheap as hell and I was working on my Uncle's farm far from town I was free to plink all I wanted, and plink I did. What a waste to make such guns illegal, and that Webly, that would have made a fine backup gun had they not cut it to pieces.
Somebody, like S&W, should make a modern top break revolver in 45 ACP, machined for moon clips. I bet that would be a lot of fun for competition, and of course excellent for self defense. They could make a medium frame one in 9mm too, maybe a 7 shot. Those moon clips already exist too. I didn't really know about this line of Webleys, mostly the ones closer to and during WW1. Great video as always. Thank you.
There is something significant about the numbering of the front sight on the target model on both sides. More a single adjustment for cartridge power depending what side the screw is on?
This might sound weird, and it is not a complaint. I love your videos I watch them constantly but I can't sit on my couch and watch them because I always fall asleep. The sole reason this happens is Ian's voice sounds almost identical to my uncles who used to read me bedtime stories when I was a kid.
The caliber marking of 476 refers to the out side case diameter and not to the bore diameter. The caliber is.455. I believe 476 was an Enfield classification for their Mark I and II ammo.
I know you are a very knowledgeable person, but I have to disagree with you on one point. WG stands for Webley Greene and not Webley Government. I own a WG Army Birdbeak that has the original holster and the serial number is consecutive numbers.
I love the Birmingham produced weapons and air weapons . Built to work reliably and last . They sold themselves off to Turkish companies . Don't blame Turkey . Who wouldn't buy the brand ?
Came here after playing the British campaign in Call of Duty 2. I didn't know much about British revolvers before this video. They seem like some really nice guns even when compared to Colt and Nagant's offerings.
World's smoothest double action, rapid unsighted reloading with speed loaders, accurate, easy to shoot, hugely reliable, excellent manstopping cartridges. The WG is simply the best battle revolver ever made.
Knurled not grippy Ian , that is the only thing that is wrong with this video as far as I know coz I don’t know much about guns being from the uk , you sir are the G.O.A.T. of guns !!! Keep up the good work !!!
I use to own a 455 Webley, ammo was an issue, big issue in South Africa. I now own a 1911. I would gladly get myself a Webley again for the range it was a lot of fun if not for the ammo issue
I love Webley Revolvers, although I've never touched one much less fired one. That means something in my case because about twenty years ago I set out to shoot every handgun there was. I shot every hand gun they had at my local range over the course of a few months. (Note: the best a Sig Saure P226). They didn't have a Webley in Bay Area California. So why do I feel this attachment to Webleys? For the same reason that James Bond fans buy PPKs. I've read most of the Bond books but I much prefer the Len Deighton Bernard Samson books. Samson carries a manly proper pistol - a Webley - not the stinky little PPK (which I have shot and don't much like). Samson is a much more plausible character than Bond and Deighton is a much better writer than Fleming. Check it out.
Webleys are somehow timeless. From a dramatic point of view, any detective, adventurer, smuggler or the suspicious major Trenchbroom could be carrying one of these at any point of time after their introduction. Deactivated and model Webleys are pretty popular as theatre and LARP guns, possibly due to that timelessness.
The ability to quickly expel the used cartridges and pop six new bullets in, must have been awfully handy in a fight.
It’s way cooler then you think. I’ve owned several including a shaved .45 ACP modified gun, (in fact most are modified this way in Canada). If you shoot several rounds but don’t empty the cylinder you can eject only the empties and keep the live ammo in the chambers. Bloke on the Range did a video or four on the Webley including showing this often overlooked feature.
@@john-paulsilke893 i own six of em, all 45.
When you run out of ammo you had a big chunk of metal in your hand to club your opponents senseless with .
@Beth Schroeder you realize back then pistols were not reliable and that when it came out,you had ZERO pistols in service or worthy to take into service? Are you here just to be a douche? Is that point of you commenting without knowing about the topic or bothering to research?
Also,it proved more reliable in WWI...
Frightfully handy when the natives are giving you a spot of bother
Always loved the look of webleys. The top break and cutouts on the barrel make it unmistakable. They’ve got this really classic yet aggressive mechanical aesthetic to them. Nice video Ian.
Matthew Showler I agree. They have a grim purpose, as all weapons do, but they reflect both the artistic aesthetics of their era as well as industrial realities. They truly are industrial design - abit like cars, really.
In the past I owned and shot a Webley Mk6 in .455, a Webley in .38 and an Enfield revolver in .38.
When I emigrated had to sell them.
Still miss these revolvers.
Fantastic revolvers, rather precisr, and the .455 bullet walked out of the barrel sedately, but surely.
hans2406 I appreciate the old approach to firearms over the “hi speed low drag” obsession the modern gun market keeps pushing. I’m sure 455 wasn’t the most efficient but I bet it was hard to argue it wasn’t effective
I agree. I always loved the look of these. It's almost like art for me.
@@MSh-vx3zv They were actually a very efficient weapon for self defence at close range, which was what they were designed for.
Considering the age of these pistol, the finish in both blued and nickel are outstanding. You can see your reflection in the blued one.
Kenny VanCleave i have one and i can see myself in it still
They are from back when British stuff was still made to last.
I never cared for Webleys until i had a chance to handle a WG Target with the 7 1/2 barrel... beautiful handling gun and very natural to aim with a classic one hand stance
There was also a baby .22 rimfire pistol, that was sweet .
My Great-Grandfather carried a Webley revolver as a 2Lt in 1917, Ypres. He actually owned a pair that he had to buy for himself.
He was hit in the shoulder by a German MG, recovered and sent back to only be wounded again.
I wish I knew more about him.
I am a fan of American revolvers through and through but there is something I really like about the British Webley revolvers.
*Indiana Jones Theme song intensifies*
One hit, opposition loose intrest in you. What more do you want? :_)
(UK)we're just better!haha :)
I think, as an American, they are more interesting because they are much more uncommon than the standard colts and S&Ws. That and I’m a huge fan of Indiana Jones.
They simply just have a different feel to them, more slick, less...BOOM.
I own a blued Webley Army with an unshaved cylinder just like the center model at the beginning of your video and it has one of the smoothest actions I've ever felt in a revolver. Even after 123 years it's still quite accurate.
Nakanokalronin i do too. We are in a small club
I just recently joined the club. And I have to agree, the action is Black or white, nothing fiddly in between. Really an amazing design. The pinnacle of revolver engineering.
@@MrRedeyedJedi 455 / 476
I have one of the really rare WGs from the first production run - the first thousand or so had Webley Pryse style cylinder release mechanisms - and mine has the target length barrel. It also has an established provenance which is good - it belonged to a S African "British" officer who fought in the 2nd Boer War and WW1, carrying it into both conflicts.
Only problem is that as Im in the UK, its also a deactivated one.
Luckily its an old style UK deac so not completely mullered.
Yet!
British gun laws are perverse
It's a shame that it is deactivated!
I am in Canada and I am trying to find an antique Webley like the one that yours once was (before it got vandalized by your government minions)..I have a Spanish .455 antique revolver that is a Spanish copy of S&W double action #3 with a 6" barrel and in .455 Webley and it's such a blast!I load rounds for it quite hot and so I get it to fire the same 17 gram LRN bullet at an average of 280-300 meters per second which is pretty impressive for the gun that is made before 1898! Certainly not a whimp!
He loses at tennis, you lose a gun because of the same town.
I hope some coffee gets the taste out of my mouth.
Colt won the west, Webley won the rest.
top!
Notmilandia very true
Well put
remind me who served a longer combat issue life?
*cough* colt
I owned a WG Army in .455. It was a surprisingly low recoil smooth gun to shoot. Beautifully made and a joy to look at. Sold all my Webleys years ago but the WG was the best
Im not even a gun guy
And i dont know shit about guns
But these videos are very interesting
Depending on how many you watched you likely now know more about guns than the majority of the population (at least where I live).
You're on the right track if you want to learn.
Huh. RUclips tells me there's four comments here, it only shows two. The one by me and Chris B saying "you're on the right track if you want to learn."
What are the other two comments? Is RUclips messing with me?
Go away your not welcome here😈
Patricia Cairo
*you're not welcome here.
I was not just correcting your grammar.
I love how the webley reloads. Its like breaking the gun in half and then the casings just pop out the cylinder. Love it
Gotta love those Webley revolvers.
My personal favorite is the Webley-Fosbery revolver
Madutakam: I am not sure, remember the Webley Fosbery was out of production after ww1, so finding pieces can be a challenge and if you wanted someone to build you one from the ground up then you’ll be paying a lot of $$$$, but I say check some websites out to see if they can help you.
The standard 455 Webley simply has the cylinder shaved and works perfectly. Very popular in Canada especially the antique models. These are among the few handguns in ceterfire cartridges we can legally shoot in the “bush”.
Well, naturally; Zardoz.
Try the Maltese Falcon with Humphrey Bogart
I have read that the Webley-Fosbery was banned from some shooting competitions. The ability it gave to place successive shots without losing the sight picture was deemed an unfair advantage.
I agree, the Webley revolvers have a very 'British Empire' character about them. Looks like these revolvers in particular would have some interesting stories if they could talk.
Probably exaggerated stories about the empire...
@@RyTrapp0 whilst smoking pipe tobacco and wearing a monocle, somehow.
@@artemis_smith Indeed, chap!
@@RyTrapp0 quite
“Don’t worry old chap, I’ve been in proper wars you know! Not like these colonial trash-tossers you see, and certainly not like this ruffian attempting to rob you of your personal affects! I’ll soon see him off, the blackguard!”
"I trust you have your revolver, Watson?"
I thought Sherlock and Watson used bulldogs
@@samvimes2821 the older watson did
I think, at least in the early stories, there are references to Watson's "service revolver". In the BBC series, I noticed that Jeremy Brett, as Holmes, is shown firing a Webley RIC at the Hound of the Baskervilles, which delighted me!
@Jeremy Brookes Webley and Sons actually produced the Bull Dog revolver (in .442 Webley and .455 Adams). Doyle himself had some Tranter revolvers in his possession and his younger brother had some Webleys and a Colt. It could have been any of those that he had in mind when writing the early stories, it may even have been an Adams revolver like the ones carried during A C Doyle's time served as a volunteer doctor during the 2nd Boer war.
@Jeremy Brookes Hi, actually (at least in the early books) there are no references to what brand/type of revolver Watson uses. He served in the second Anglo-afghan war (1878~1880, although he had to "retire" before the end of the conflict due to a shot in the leg by a jezzail, during the battle of Maiwand, if I remember correctly), so it's actually hard to tell for sure what revolver he used. Before WW1, British officers had to buy their own pistols, but Watson, as he states, was not exactly wealthy (his older brother basically lost all the family resources due to drink and game addiction ). So, we can speculate that it was probably a more affordable British revolver (possible even second hand). I personally think it could indeed be a used bull dog webley, but since he fought in the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers, maybe it was an older full size service revolver. But again, this is just a speculation from my part
To elaborate on the reason for the lanyard: If you fired your last shot and another man was coming at you, you could instantly drop the pistol and draw your sword. No time to holster the pistol. Fighting with your sword while your pistol is banging into you is not ideal, but better than the alternative. Of course the lanyards were around for many years. The scenario I describe would be in 1890s Sudan or India, etc; the use of the sword was not uncommon in such settings.
My great-great-grandfather carried one of these in India.
My great grandfather got one off a officer during the boer war, used it in the great war, then gave it to my grandfather to use in ww2. I still remember my father making his own rounds for it every couple of months, sadly he had to hand it to the police for destruction when we immigrated to New Zealand.
Bet that hurt's now. My condolences
That makes me loose sleep.
One of the Best Revolvers and one of my favorites
Ian. When the UK was a free country before the Handgun Ban, I owned a WG Target Revolver that shot superbly on a Classic Target Bull 7 points x6 shots the best I managed free hand 39...I was made on 26th of October 1906.. I much enjoy your videos. I miss Revolver shooting, now being regulated to a single shot Target Air Pistol.
Ian, I am astounded by your knowledge of the weapons you present and even if you research them beforehand you speak with such fluidity and confidence and your clips are compelling to watch.
The Webley was always a very fascinating looking and functional weapon to me. Thanks Ian, the more information the better.
Very informative video, thanks! I have an antique WG Army carried in the 2nd Boer War by a private in the 2nd battalion grenadier guards, even still has it's original leather holster. Privates weren't issued sidearms but I have a copy of the original signed receipt where he purchased the revolver & holster with his own money at the famous John Rigby & Co storefront in London just a few days before shipping out to South Africa. In the following months the 2nd battalion was in the center of the most intense battles of the war and took heavy heavy casualties but this savvy private who had purchased his own Webley revolver to carry survived and was later promoted to Major.
It's a 123 year old revolver but it still shoots like the day it was sold and it's accuracy even at 30-40-50 yards is impressive. Webley sure knew how to produce a fine revolver.
As far as I am concerned. This is the best revolver design ever conceived. With a break over design, a speed loader can be employed.
@@justforever96 OK
I am so happy you got to these. I have a very early WG army navy, still in .455 and there is nothing on the net about it because they are so rare! I am excited to watch this
Serial 7403
When you say Army, Navy- Does that refer to the Army & Navy store? They were the major retailers of all things military to Officers at home or abroad. Thier name would be marked as suppplier.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_%26_Navy_Stores_(United_Kingdom)
Webley built revolvers ,rifles,shotguns ,doublerifles marked A&N for the stores.
No army navy, as in army navy model
Webley revolvers have a very distinctive 'steampunk' look about them. Nice weapons nevertheless.
Apart from the Fosbery, this is my favorite Webley revolver, aesthetically speaking, at least.
I cannot wait for you to do more Webley videos. I love my Mk.VI and look forward to learning more about the others.
Thanks again, Ian!
The official sidearm of the Shelby family
George: Thoroughly inspiring stuff. And look sir, this also
arrived for you this morning. [hands paper bag to
Blackadder]
Blackadder: [opening bag, taking out a revolver] Hmm, do you know what
this is, Lieutenant?
George: It’s a good old service revolver.
Blackadder: Wrong. It’s a brand new service revolver, which I’ve
suspiciously been sent without asking for it. I smell
something fishy, and I’m not talking about the contents of
Baldrick’s apple crumble.
That lovely crunchy click as it locks back down is a delight to my ears.
*IMPERIALISM INTENSIFIES*
I always wondered if these were "my old Army revolver" (from the Afghan war) that Dr. Watson carried in his adventures with Holmes.
More likely a 450 or a Bulldog. I think Holmes used a Bulldog more than once. Also, wasn't the Afghan war in 1879 or so? That predates these. Guess i better go read some
Probably an early Enfield revolver, which were different.
Which one ? There were many different variants.
it may have been an adams.i know holmes had an adamnsrevolver.very raely did either use guns
You sort of get a hint from the video but these Webleys had the most exquisite finish on them. I've seen a few and the bluing is just beautiful. Ian's examples are showing their age but I've seen some in mint condition and they are a wonder to behold.
The WG was made until the First World War. I owned what May have been the last one made, serial number 22126. It was built with the birds head grip and non-adjustable rear sight of the WG Army, and the 7.5 inch barrel of the Target Model. It”s illustrated on page 131 of “Webley Revolvers” by Gordon Bruce and Christian Reinhart. It’s Figure V/59 at the top of the page, although the caption is numbered V/58 in error, rather than V/59. I used this revolver extensively and successfully in competitions against modern revolvers. It had a far lighter and smoother trigger pull than modern Smith and Wessons, and it was extremely accurate. Incidentally, the chapter on Webley Wilkinson revolvers was based on my research, much of it carried out at at the Wilkinson Sword factory, where I was given generous access to their records and their collection. My own Webley Wilkinson appears on page 147 (Figure V/82). This, too, was a very accurate pistol, which I also used in competition. It had a very interesting history.
I own a webley 445, unfortunately under the tony blair regime all legal guns were outlawed so rather than give mine up i had it deactivated as was my 1911 colt ( made in 1942) , did it stop gun crime no, as Manchester was then known as Gunchester ! Many thanks for your vids i really do enjoy them, pity i cant shoot any longer in the UK.
Reactivate them and go to town
In Dennis Wheatley's memoirs about his WW1 experience (great novelist if you didn't know), he eventually managed to join the artillery corps, and he acquired a semi-auto pistol.
He was a 2nd Lt. so he could bring anything. I've always wondered what he got.
Probabaly from the Army & Navy Stores. They were a shop and mail order for everything an Officer and Gentleman would need on campaign or forign service, from guns to furniture to grocerries.
Can you refer a favorite writing of Dennis Wheatley?
Curious due to sharing a name.
Thanks
An English authour of 1930'/40 wrote a number of supernatural adventure stories best known probably The Devil Rides Out. A number of Hammer films were made of the books starring Christopher Lee.
51WCDodge ....thank you, very interesting
Pleasure Troy.
These Webley's have a rather distinct and attractive design.
love the logo.
in before redbull
bullets give you wings
Managed to snag a very nice 6" Webley-Greene pistol out of Canada many years ago. Beautifully made and still has a fine coat of bluing.
I have a blued church steeple target WG which has an adjustable ladder rear sight, the 71/2 barrel, and the parrot grips.
I've owned both an 1889 Model with the church steeple flutes and an 1892 Army model, both in their original .476/.455 calibre in addition to an Webley No.5 New Model Army Express in .476/.455/.45 Long Colt.....the absolute nicest and smoothest firing revolvers I've had the pleasure of owning. I kick myself daily for ever selling them!
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My favorite revolvers. The best design for a top-break--- unsurpassed.
Sad they don't make them anymore: I'd love a stainless one..
I'm desperate for a Webley/Dade or Webley/Prideaux speed loader.---- repro or original.
Aka Indy’s gun used in the Last Crusade.
A lot of people confuse it for a Mark IV or Mark VI.
Pretty slick how there is some case of "we'll save this stuff for another video" in almost every video. He will not run out of work. Ever
With today's technology, a revolver like the top break action could be made, and be much stronger and durable.
@Léo Mutombo what was that in English?
Nah.. let's just make the same 9mm forever.
Theyre being produced in India in .32 calibre as a womens self defence pistol.
@@justforever96 A right or left handed can use it, when someone unloads it you can observe for any obstruction in the barrel, easily. With today's metallurgy one could be made with a modern caliber. It does give people an option for preference.
I wonder why there are no modern top break revolves. It makes sense for lighter calibers like .38 since it does have a weaker action. It would be faster to reload in theory because you dont have to manually work the ejection rod. I love the looks of webley revolvers and wish they where still around as modern day options.
A very informative video on the Webley, Ian. Looking forward to the series of the other models/variations. Knowing the Brit's, there be more variation than they years they were produced. Hope you get the chance to fire some for us. I'll buy the first box of ammo, when you do.
Mine is number 1313 with the Pryse release. Belonged originally to a S. African officer fighting for the Brits in the 2nd Boer War. I love my old WG...and so does Indiana Jones ;-)
Yes, please do a video on the various Webley cartridges.
I love the contrast between the UK and US sidearms. The webley in its .445 configuration and the Colt 1911 .45 look worlds apart, but filled the same roll with distinction.
I was looking at the grip on the target shooting Webley, and realized what it reminded me of: the grip on a Gurkha Kukhri.
Same reason; possible influence.
If so, good History.
Break action revolvers are my favorite.
Action is so similar to the Schofield, which I also like. I'd like to see S&W or Ruger to come out with a Schofield type revolver.
I saw one of these on tv today. A showing of "Soldiers Three" from the 1930's. David Niven, Stewart Granger, Robert Newton, Cyril Cussak, Walter Pidgeon, Robert Coote. It looked like a late remake of Gunga Din without Sam Jaffe. All of the military and rebel forces looked like they were shooting Lee Enfield. Strangely, they fired, lowered the rifles to waist level, ran the bolt and brought the rifle back to site. As David Niven was a graduate of Sandhurst, I thought they could have been more authentic on the set.
A reproduction of these two pistols in .45 colt or .44 special would be badass!!! I love that grip.
I have a WG army and it shoots fantastic with Fiocci .455!
If you ever run out of guns to review, God forbid, your ability to simultaneously convey history and mechanical operation would transfer to anything, and make I entertaining and educational.
Uh, first, he's never going to run out of guns to review. Second there is no end to history and mechanical operations!
Cars, heavy machinery, plumbing, locomotives... the list goes on man. Ian will be fine.
@@PaulRudd1941 I'd kill for Gun Jesus reviewing locomotives
I'd love to get my hands on a Webley WG Army. A really cool revolver but then they are all rather interesting! Yes!! More on Webley.
I have one on my Collectors license, but not for sale.
I used HKS speed loaders for .45 long colts with my Webleys. The longer .455 mk. I Dominion cases worked fine in it.
In Canada these are popular in Olde Tyme revolver matches at gun clubs. (black powder loadings).
I was about 11/12, my friend's dad had an ex army parrot bill .45. He fired it through the metal mosquito mesh of his bedroom window couple of times one night. Scaring off a prowler in the yard.
Anyway, as typical boys we soon after examined the holes in the mesh. Holes were way larger than .45 and th metal stubends round the hole showed melted by th muzzle blast.
I have a Webley 3/1/2 ton model 767 shoots short 38 S&W ammo ***that can only be fired in the double action mode.**trigger WT about 13 lbs.***S# W 853***DR KEL
It is difficult to overstate how much latitude British officers had over their sidearms. It wasnt even until near the end of the 19th Century that the regulations even specified that private purchase service revolvers take a specific cartridge.
Webley Greens had incredibly smooth and soft double action triggers.
When I first signed on the Police Department, we had a small locker behind the desk (I see they have kept that locker even though they have a new building and jail since) and locked up in it were the PD'S old revolvers, .38 Special Smiths, and a few confiscated revolvers and other types of pistols. One was a Webly in .380 caliber. Records indicated that it was used in an attempted murder, and when I was curious enough to look it up, I discovered one of the intended victims of the fellow who had the firearms was indeed my eldest sister. You see my sister was a great friend of this fellow's wife, they had been friends since childhood. Her friend was married to an evil fellow who was dealing drugs and pretty much a damn mean drunk. The gal called my sis and asked her to pick her up as she was leaving "the bum!" So it was that she went to their home and was carrying one of the abused ladies bags to the car when hubby returned from the bar his parents owned up on Main Street. He pulled out the Webly and began to fire, one bullet creasing his wife's head another just missing my sisters, she could hear the wizz as the round passed her ear. Both ladies dived into the car and sped away while the bum barricaded himself in his house. Police responded, and after a couple of hours talked him out. The fellow passed away, while still serving time in the State Pen, and my sister died last winter, as did her best friend. What happened to the guns?? Well a few days later (since the court case was complete) I came to work and the three guns taken from the bum were in the garbage can, having been cut in pieces with a cutting torch. It was sad for me to see as one of the guns was an old single shot rifle that someone had cut down to pistol length and put a grip on. I had traded a .22 semi auto rifle for that back when I was 14 not knowing it was illegal, and I actually got fairly good with the old gun considering it had no sights at all. It reminded me of an old pirate gun, it had that under lever top break design and since .22 shells were cheap as hell and I was working on my Uncle's farm far from town I was free to plink all I wanted, and plink I did. What a waste to make such guns illegal, and that Webly, that would have made a fine backup gun had they not cut it to pieces.
If these guns could talk, they probably would tell a couple of interesting stories from around the world...
Somebody, like S&W, should make a modern top break revolver in 45 ACP, machined for moon clips. I bet that would be a lot of fun for competition, and of course excellent for self defense. They could make a medium frame one in 9mm too, maybe a 7 shot. Those moon clips already exist too. I didn't really know about this line of Webleys, mostly the ones closer to and during WW1. Great video as always. Thank you.
What a work of fucking art! Kiling machine!
These guns are so neat
A reproduction of these two pistols in .45 colt or .44 special would be badass!!! I love the grip.on the blued one.
I can barely wait till you get to the Webley R.I.C. and Bulldog pistols. :)
There is something significant about the numbering of the front sight on the target model on both sides. More a single adjustment for cartridge power depending what side the screw is on?
This might sound weird, and it is not a complaint. I love your videos I watch them constantly but I can't sit on my couch and watch them because I always fall asleep. The sole reason this happens is Ian's voice sounds almost identical to my uncles who used to read me bedtime stories when I was a kid.
The caliber marking of 476 refers to the out side case diameter and not to the bore diameter. The caliber is.455. I believe 476 was an Enfield classification for their Mark I and II ammo.
That self-seating extractor holy cow so cool
@Léo Mutombo Wut
On the " Target " I think that the front sight retaining screw is removed and re-inserted in the opposite side to give two differing heights .
For a short moment, I thought this was a Scholagladitoria video because of the weapon... XD
I'm rooting so much them to make collab
Church window fluting on earlier cylinders. Keep them coming Ian!
I know you are a very knowledgeable person, but I have to disagree with you on one point. WG stands for Webley Greene and not Webley Government. I own a WG Army Birdbeak that has the original holster and the serial number is consecutive numbers.
I love the Birmingham produced weapons and air weapons . Built to work reliably and last . They sold themselves off to Turkish companies . Don't blame Turkey . Who wouldn't buy the brand ?
WEBLEY G , were the Webley Greener model, the "Rolls Royce" model so to speak not Webley "government" .
Came here after playing the British campaign in Call of Duty 2. I didn't know much about British revolvers before this video. They seem like some really nice guns even when compared to Colt and Nagant's offerings.
Thank you Ian
There has been some misunderstanding about what WG stood for. In Dowell's book "The Webley Story" he states that it stands for Webley-Green.
I've got one of the last Webley revolvers that they manufactured. Sadly, it's a. 38 standard.
please can you do one on a Webley MKVI. i live in the UK and have a deactivated 1917 one! shes called Doris
Really good old British firearms engineering and design.
When I see a Webly revolver, I think of that one scene in the 3rd Indian Jones movie, where Indiana's Webly shoots through like 3 people, lol.
The Winged bullet is one of the best mascots ever.
Don't forget to check out C&Rsenal on the webley! They go really in depth with it
My grandfather had two Webleys. He was an IRA company captain during the Irish war of independence
I have one of late pattern guns. It is a true hunk of iron
World's smoothest double action, rapid unsighted reloading with speed loaders, accurate, easy to shoot, hugely reliable, excellent manstopping cartridges. The WG is simply the best battle revolver ever made.
With that muzzle energy no not at all. MR73 would be a better one all around. 455 is pretty weak compared to even 9mm
Knurled not grippy Ian , that is the only thing that is wrong with this video as far as I know coz I don’t know much about guns being from the uk , you sir are the G.O.A.T. of guns !!!
Keep up the good work !!!
About Lanyards: the british officers would tie the lanyard to their shoulder, so if they drop it it would dangle in reach of their hand.
Gotta love the Webley.
You must handload your ammo
I use to own a 455 Webley, ammo was an issue, big issue in South Africa. I now own a 1911. I would gladly get myself a Webley again for the range it was a lot of fun if not for the ammo issue
I love Webley Revolvers, although I've never touched one much less fired one. That means something in my case because about twenty years ago I set out to shoot every handgun there was. I shot every hand gun they had at my local range over the course of a few months. (Note: the best a Sig Saure P226). They didn't have a Webley in Bay Area California.
So why do I feel this attachment to Webleys? For the same reason that James Bond fans buy PPKs. I've read most of the Bond books but I much prefer the Len Deighton Bernard Samson books. Samson carries a manly proper pistol - a Webley - not the stinky little PPK (which I have shot and don't much like).
Samson is a much more plausible character than Bond and Deighton is a much better writer than Fleming. Check it out.
Something about top breaks are always intriguing to me
Webleys are somehow timeless. From a dramatic point of view, any detective, adventurer, smuggler or the suspicious major Trenchbroom could be carrying one of these at any point of time after their introduction. Deactivated and model Webleys are pretty popular as theatre and LARP guns, possibly due to that timelessness.