Nitro proof marks on Webleys
- Thread starter Rotaxpower
- Start date
I've seen a few different nitro proofmarks on the webleys: "NP" under crown (photo above) on the left side of barrel.
Some have "NP" with no crown like this one in the photo below with the NP proofmark stamped on the right side of the barrel.
These nitro proof marks were applied when these revolvers were sold into the civilian market as military surplus in the 1950s or 1960s. British law says that commercial firearms must be proofed prior to sale. They were proofed to make it legal to export them as military surplus. The "England" stamp was put on at the same time.
The nitro proof doesn't mean it is stronger than a non-NP marked revolver, just that it was tested 50-60 years ago with a nitrocellulose proofload at a British government accredited proofhouse. There are quite a few MKI/II ex-military revolvers around that are not stamped with the nitro proofmark; these left the UK by a different mechanism than the civilian surplus market.
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There are 2 proofmarks on each cylinder in both of the pictures. Each cylinder chamber was proofed at the time of manufacture and again when they were nitro proofed in the 1950s or 1960s.
Note the first picture there are 3 proofmarks on the barrel: "BV", "BP" and "NP" with crown over each. The cylinder on that revolver has alternate chambers proofmarked with "BP" and "BV" with crown over each. Each chamber also has a second proofmark that I think is stamped at time of manufacture.
Note the first picture there are 3 proofmarks on the barrel: "BV", "BP" and "NP" with crown over each. The cylinder on that revolver has alternate chambers proofmarked with "BP" and "BV" with crown over each. Each chamber also has a second proofmark that I think is stamped at time of manufacture.
Military proof
Military Webleys were not specifically nitro proofed but were proofed with issued proof ammo and received military proof marks. Cordite ammo was approved for use in all marks of service Webley revolver.
Commercial Proof
There were two proof houses in Britain, London and Birmingham which used different proof marks. The rules of proof were altered in 1896, 1904, 1916, 1925 and 1954 and the marks were changed with the new rules.
Commercial proof marks were applied when a commercial arm was made or in the case of a military arm when it was sold as surplus on the commercial market. Webleys could bear proof marks from the 1890s to the 1980s under several rules of proof and from two different proof houses. There is no single set of nitro proof marks.
Military Webleys were not specifically nitro proofed but were proofed with issued proof ammo and received military proof marks. Cordite ammo was approved for use in all marks of service Webley revolver.
Commercial Proof
There were two proof houses in Britain, London and Birmingham which used different proof marks. The rules of proof were altered in 1896, 1904, 1916, 1925 and 1954 and the marks were changed with the new rules.
Commercial proof marks were applied when a commercial arm was made or in the case of a military arm when it was sold as surplus on the commercial market. Webleys could bear proof marks from the 1890s to the 1980s under several rules of proof and from two different proof houses. There is no single set of nitro proof marks.
