Need help - Webley Mk VI

[gwesson]

Hi all. I have a vintage Webley Mk VI, original .455 that by its serial # and markings, just missed WW1. I took it to our open house yesterday; and in the process of getting it ready for the show, the cylinder latch snapped-through, just above the thumbpiece.

I have a post up in the EE, wanting to buy another latch, but I thought I'd mention it here too - anybody have a spare cylinder latch for a Webley Mk VI that they'd part with?

I've also gotta ask - does anybody know enough about the metallurgy of that cylinder latch to comment-on the possibility that I could make a new one? I.E., does it need to be hardened/tempered? I ain't no great shakes as a machinist, but rather than lose the Webley I'll learn - and besides, I'm left-handed and if I'm going to make a new latch for it, it'll have a thumbpiece on the right side as well.

- And who knows? - maybe even an adjustable sight across the top...

 

[gnmontey]

You can try w w w.gunpartscorp.com/Manufacturers/Webley-33564.htm

or Western Gun Parts in Edmonton.

You would be surprised at the stuff one finds on ebay as well.

May be a candidate for welding? Can you post a pic?

M

 

[gwesson]

Yeah, I tried them first. Numrich has Mk VI parts, but are sold out of the latches.

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[gnmontey]

Could it be brazed? Perhaps get you by until Numrich has one.

That's kind of sobering actually. Makes one wonder if the rest of the metal on the gun is the same speed? I have a VI and a IV.


M

 

[gwesson]

I doubt Numrich'll be getting any more. I suspect that by Numrich being sold out, the latch is troublesome; and when you think of it, with the thumbpiece on one side and a (still very strong after all these years) spring on the other side, the latch would twist everytime it was used.

I e-mailed Webley to see if, in the event they put the Mk VI back into production, they'll start making spare parts for it again; no reply as of yet...

 

[gnmontey]

Don't give up on Numrich, stuff comes and goes there. Just need to check often.

Did you try Western Gun Parts? westerngunparts.com

M

 

[gnmontey]

Maybe try and contact this guy on EBAY "Based in Canada, 2818mark has been an eBay member since Nov 28, 2004" He has a VI cylinder currently listed. May have other bits and pieces?

M

 

[gwesson]

Love ta buy that cylinder - but I've already got two!