For the RIC fans/experts

myenfield

myenfield

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I've had this P. Webley and Son RIC for quite a few years and just dug it out the other day to play with it. It's been so long since I've looked at it, I had forgotten all about the markings on the bottom of the grip. Does anyone have any ideas what they indicate? Military Police? Manitoba Police? My Pistol? There are no "broad arrow" markings on it to indicate military ownership, also no retailer markings on the top strap. Also, was it common for these to be private purchased for officers in the military, or did they tend to lean towards other sidearms? Thanks.

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the hollow based mini ball with wings is the Paul Webley and Sons trademark which shows it to be an antique as opposed to a solid based winged slug for Webley and Scott which is modern

cheers mooncoon
 
Nobody else yet? Usually after about 15 seconds people have posted every detail know (and unknown) about an antique, including the last time the first owner farted. Is there actually that little information available about these?
 
myenfield said:
Nobody else yet? Usually after about 15 seconds people have posted every detail know (and unknown) about an antique, including the last time the first owner farted. Is there actually that little information available about these?
Click to expand...

...he farted for the last time in 1883. For you, no charge...;)
 
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Jeff; that gun looks to be in real nice condition. I have the same gun but mine has a Ser # below the Webly winged bullet and no markings on the butt cap. Its a fun gun to shoot. Sorry, I don't have any info about the MP markings.......but if I had to guess it would be for Military Police..........wTc
 
IMHO MP is Municipal Police. International sold some RICs in the late 80s stamped "EP" Egyptian Police.
 
I was originally thinking Military Police, but there are no broad arrow military ownership markings on it anywhere. If it were miltary police, wouldn't it have them? I am taking this and several other handguns to a collector's show in a couple of weeks, and I want to have as much info as possible about it. I don't have any good books on Webleys. Thanks for the feedback so far.
 
I would wager that "MP" is an ownership mark of the "Metropolitan Police", as suggested by CanTom .... The Metropolitan Police Service was established in 1829 for the Greater London area, and is considered the oldest established police service in the world. The Webley "M. P." (or "Metropolitan Police") revolver mentioned in the thread Tom linked to is actually a specific variation of the RIC model, marked and marketed as such following its adoption by the the Metropolitan Police Service in 1883.

As for the suggestion "Military Police", the absence of any military acceptance or ownership marks suggests otherwise, and unfortunately British Army organization and terminology of the era don't bear it out, either. A very small (21 NCOs and men) "Mounted Military Police" was formed n 1855 for service at Aldershot, which became the "Corps of Military Mounted Police" in 1877. A nucleus of Foot Police was organized for service with the British Army in Egypt in 1882, and from 1885 it existed as a separate "Corps of Military Foot Police" alongside the older MMP. At any rate, based on earlier research, it is my understanding that weapons issued to these units would have been marked "MMP" and MFP", respectively.

As I'm sure you are aware, the mark almost certainly does not signify service with the North West Mounted Police. Their standard-issue revolvers during the relevant time-frame were .450 Mark I and Mark III Adams , and then, starting in 1882, the .476 Mark II Enfield. I have never seen reference to an RIC revolver in NWMP service.
 
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