British Bulldog question

[DIESEL WEASEL]

I have a buddy who just inherited a Webley British Bulldog 450 CF serial #23561. I know nothing about antiques but I am hoping for his sake that this pistol would in fact be an antique. Can somebody help me here in how we can find out this information. Thanks in advance.....DW.

 

[H Wally]

Pics will help people figure out more and what books/sources to suggest. A clear overall shot of both sides and any stampings/markings. With the current info and no pics it's a bit hard to be sure exactly what they're referring to.

 

[1fastjeep]

I'm no expert at this, but if this is a Belgium made bull dog, first you want to check is google "Belgium proof marks for blackpowder handgun"

 

[dingus]

Well if its in fact a webley (good chance it is with that long Ser#) then its very likely antique but pics are a must before we can tell you for certin.
If its belgian only way to tell is by the ELG in and oval proof mark on the cylinder most of the time the side or the back.

If its marked webley and is a real webley bull dog its antique going by that low ser# but id still need to see it.

 

[DIESEL WEASEL]

Thanks guys for the info. I saw the actual webley stamp but I don't remember an ELG mark. I'll have to snap some pictures and see what you guys think. It might take me a while to get some pics though. Thanks to all who replied! DW.

 

[mooncoon]

Thanks guys for the info. I saw the actual webley stamp but I don't remember an ELG mark. I'll have to snap some pictures and see what you guys think. It might take me a while to get some pics though. Thanks to all who replied! DW.

If it is a true Webley, it will have british proof stamps not belgian

cheers mooncoon

 

[jethunter]

Copies of the Webley BULL DOG were made in Belgium and USA. The real webleys have "THE BRITISH BULL DOG" stamped in 2 lines on the top strap, with one line stamped on either side of the sighting groove. "BULL DOG" is two separate words on a real webley, and all capital (upper case) letters. Some Belgian and US copies used hyphenated "BULL-DOG" and one word "BULLDOG" stamped on the topstrap.

On the earlier webleys the stamping read from cylinder to muxzzle, and some of the later bulldogs had the stamping read from muzzle to cylinder.

The Webley Bull dog (aka "Webley No. 2") was produced from approx 1879 - 1914, with just over 100,000 known to be made. I don't have a reference for date of manufacture by serial number, however you could find out fairly quickly on the antique status by calling the CFP and asking them. They will look it up on the FRT and should be able to tell you the cutoff for the antique ser no.