i just got an antique handgun webbly mk1. not the best shape but i got it cheap and i was hopping to turn in to a snubby six shooter. i have been calling a few of gunsmiths(5 total) and some told me it is totally illegal to manufacture short barrel for an antique handgun (same caliber). others told me it is not because it is not a firearms as long as an antique handgun discharge same ammo before the re-barreled . what should i do?
hello guys, i need help with is
- Thread starter kwonnypooh
- Start date
The very first thing you should do is LEAVE IT ALONE!
Webley Mark I revolvers are NOT the most common things in the world. They date back to 1887 and they just ain't makin' any more of them.
Legality regardless, I don't think you will find a gunsmith in the country who has so little taste that he would butcher one of these.
If you don't like it the way it is, I suggest you get rid of it, sell it to someone who will appreciate it and then find what you are looking for. Lots of original short revolvers out there, big calibres, too. You don't have to destroy an irreplaceable antique to get one.
Webley Mark I revolvers are NOT the most common things in the world. They date back to 1887 and they just ain't makin' any more of them.
Legality regardless, I don't think you will find a gunsmith in the country who has so little taste that he would butcher one of these.
If you don't like it the way it is, I suggest you get rid of it, sell it to someone who will appreciate it and then find what you are looking for. Lots of original short revolvers out there, big calibres, too. You don't have to destroy an irreplaceable antique to get one.
Show us some pics! As far as I understand it you can cut it down with no legal troubles.
There is a smith in the states who does a pretty neat number on mkVIs making them into 'bulldog' configuration.
As smellie said you might be better off though selling it as is and using the money to buy a very good condition RIC type bulldog in the barrel length of your choice.
That being said I tore apart a minty mkII once................ no regrets
There is a smith in the states who does a pretty neat number on mkVIs making them into 'bulldog' configuration.
As smellie said you might be better off though selling it as is and using the money to buy a very good condition RIC type bulldog in the barrel length of your choice.
That being said I tore apart a minty mkII once................ no regrets
No barrel length restrictions on antiques and you CAN change the caliber if you like, just not to one on the 'no-go' list.
Webley Mk Is are not so rare that it would break anyones' heart, either.
There are extra barrels available on US auction sites, or maybe even here, if you look for one.
Your gunsmiths should brush up on the laws before turning away good business!
Webley Mk Is are not so rare that it would break anyones' heart, either.
There are extra barrels available on US auction sites, or maybe even here, if you look for one.
Your gunsmiths should brush up on the laws before turning away good business!
Give Rusty Wood trading a call. He does nice work, I am having him cut down a barrel for me. Plus he knows whats what with antique laws.
vagrantviking
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Don't know what a replacement barrel would run you but I'm betting the fitting would add up pretty fast. $$
I wouldn't cut one myself unless it the muzzle was seriously buggered or I had a spare barrel to modify.
I wouldn't cut one myself unless it the muzzle was seriously buggered or I had a spare barrel to modify.
There are lots of guys who wish they had one just the way it is, condition regardless.
PM me what you want for it. If I can dig it up, I'll buy it from you.
As far as the rest of you guys are concerned, have you no respect for ANYTHING but fun, games and the Almighty Buck?
Sorry. Perhaps I'm too mkuch of a historian, but, once upon a time, I lived in one of the most historic houses in this province. It was bulldozed to make a PARKING LOT before the people living in it could have it declated a Historic Site. This mentality makes me want to heave!
PM me what you want for it. If I can dig it up, I'll buy it from you.
As far as the rest of you guys are concerned, have you no respect for ANYTHING but fun, games and the Almighty Buck?
Sorry. Perhaps I'm too mkuch of a historian, but, once upon a time, I lived in one of the most historic houses in this province. It was bulldozed to make a PARKING LOT before the people living in it could have it declated a Historic Site. This mentality makes me want to heave!
I would honestly leave the darn thing alone. Unless the short barrel really tickles your fancy, you'll get a marked decrease in accuracy, muzzle velocity, and appearance 
.... value would also completely tank on it.
Just going along a seperate train of thought, I'd imagine carrying in clothing would be the only benefit to the short barrel, as the medium barreled webley#1 are not all that big... and if you somehow have a long barrel on it it'd be a reaaaally bad idea to do that.
So... with that in mind.... carrying a concealed antique is only really necessary in public... which would be carrying a concealed weapon... so it would need to be openly carried to avoid criminal charges, which would void the purpose of shortening the barrel.
Eh, those are my trains of thought at least, doesn't really seem worth it to me.
.... value would also completely tank on it.Just going along a seperate train of thought, I'd imagine carrying in clothing would be the only benefit to the short barrel, as the medium barreled webley#1 are not all that big... and if you somehow have a long barrel on it it'd be a reaaaally bad idea to do that.
So... with that in mind.... carrying a concealed antique is only really necessary in public... which would be carrying a concealed weapon... so it would need to be openly carried to avoid criminal charges, which would void the purpose of shortening the barrel.
Eh, those are my trains of thought at least, doesn't really seem worth it to me.
thanks guys for inputs. i will give him a call. the main reason i want a new barrel because condition of barrel. i am not cutting it short. i am gonna get a new barrel made. i am so sorry about not being clear. finally, i am keeping this one, so please i can do without the pms" would you like to sell your webly?" finally, i am not much of a CCW kind of guy. i did it in US for work and i am happy i don't have to do that again. i never had a high polished blue snub nose and always want one. they are so cute ! (yes, i am man enough to say "cute" )
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Huh? Do you vote Liberal, by any chance? If not, you should start... I'm sure they'll be happy to accommodate and even surpass your "needs" whenever they're back in office (which every gun owner honestly hopes won't be anytime soon).
Anyway, 911 is all you need in times of great peril so who needs CCW, right? That ideology worked so well for Katrina victims too (you know... when all the cops f*cked off with their service guns to protect their own homes and left the city to the wolves)...
Yeah, it's me again.
If you take a careful look at your Webley, you will see that there is no real "barrel". The gun has a two-piece frame, and both pieces are made from FLAT PLATE STEEL. The machine-work mostly was done with shapers and milling machines, then the thing was drilled, bored, reamed, polished and rifled.
That's a lot of work.
You might talk to someone who really knows Webleys. There could be a way to mod a barrel from a later model to fit what you want, and still not destroy the original. Mod the original and there is exactly ZERO value left. Start with a barrel from one that has been scrapped and you MIGHT have a good start on a project. Either that or get a milling machine and make one.
Gonna cost a ton of money either way.
If you take a careful look at your Webley, you will see that there is no real "barrel". The gun has a two-piece frame, and both pieces are made from FLAT PLATE STEEL. The machine-work mostly was done with shapers and milling machines, then the thing was drilled, bored, reamed, polished and rifled.
That's a lot of work.
You might talk to someone who really knows Webleys. There could be a way to mod a barrel from a later model to fit what you want, and still not destroy the original. Mod the original and there is exactly ZERO value left. Start with a barrel from one that has been scrapped and you MIGHT have a good start on a project. Either that or get a milling machine and make one.
Gonna cost a ton of money either way.
I think most of the replies were encouraging preservation so I am not sure I understand what I appears to be an admonishment to the "rest of you guys".
That said kwonnypooh asked a legitimate question, he appears to be an adult and it's his property to do as he pleases so let's not get rebuke the fellow too much.
Yeah, I understand that part.
A lot of the replies were in line with the rarity and historical value of the thing, I do agree. Sorry if I p*ssed anybody off.
Right now, in the province of Manitoba, there are exactly THREE 1934 Ford cars.... and they actually BUILT about 6 different models. They are all "private property".
One has been hot-rodded completely.
One has an aluminum-block V-6 in it, a velour interior and suspension from a 1980s car.
There is exactly ONE left in anything like the way they were built... and there are three people trying to buy it from me. Sorry to them, too, but it ain't for sale.
NOR is my dirty old .303 army rifle, the 1907 with the tapered bore...
Nor a bunch of other things.
Private property is private property, but there also has to be a little bit of respect, a little bit of reverence for the times that gave us those things.
Or else I'm just gonna weld a whole buncha M1913 Picatinny rails all over this 1858 Remington.
Why not?
Heck, it's 'private property', isn't it????????
Like the 1912 Ross Military Match .280. There were 12 built, 2 survived in really nice shape, ONE unfired. It went to a Canadian museum..... then was sold to the USA because Canadians don't need guns and don't need to know about them.
I'll shut up.
A lot of the replies were in line with the rarity and historical value of the thing, I do agree. Sorry if I p*ssed anybody off.
Right now, in the province of Manitoba, there are exactly THREE 1934 Ford cars.... and they actually BUILT about 6 different models. They are all "private property".
One has been hot-rodded completely.
One has an aluminum-block V-6 in it, a velour interior and suspension from a 1980s car.
There is exactly ONE left in anything like the way they were built... and there are three people trying to buy it from me. Sorry to them, too, but it ain't for sale.
NOR is my dirty old .303 army rifle, the 1907 with the tapered bore...
Nor a bunch of other things.
Private property is private property, but there also has to be a little bit of respect, a little bit of reverence for the times that gave us those things.
Or else I'm just gonna weld a whole buncha M1913 Picatinny rails all over this 1858 Remington.
Why not?
Heck, it's 'private property', isn't it????????
Like the 1912 Ross Military Match .280. There were 12 built, 2 survived in really nice shape, ONE unfired. It went to a Canadian museum..... then was sold to the USA because Canadians don't need guns and don't need to know about them.
I'll shut up.
There is a lot of machining work to make the barrel for a top-break, it would cost a small fortune unless you're doing it yourself. I would sit on it for a while and try to find a second barrel and modify that, or even a entire second parts gun to scavenge from.
If the bore is kaput, it would make more sense to sleeve the existing barrel for the above reason.
cheers mooncoon
