Sacrilege! New Webley & Scott SxS.

Sharptail

Sharptail

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It seems that nothing is sacred. The grand old name of Webley and Scott is being resurrected. As everyone knows, Webley & Scott sold their factory and production of firearms ceased in 1979. Since that time all that they have built are airguns under the Webley name. Webley was sold in 2006 and the new owners are taking the company back into the shotgun business.

Among the new offerings is a SxS called the Model 700, which is the same designation as the last model of SxS Webley & Scott built. So what is wrong with that?

The new guns are built in Italy, that's what's wrong! While they look sort of like a Birmingham boxlock, they are of Gardone manufacture. Not that there is anything wrong with the quality of Italian shotguns, but the Webley & Scott name is probably the most pervasive in all of English shotgun manufacturing. They built barreled actions and guns in the white for half the English makers, including some very expensive names. They were prolific, historic makers.

For this English firm to subcontract shotgun manufacture to an Italian company is like Chevy having the Suburban made in Korea, or Ford having the F 150 built by Fiat.

Worse yet, the gun is offered with only a single, non - selective trigger. The barrels are typical Italian monoblock. The fore end employs a Deeley latch rather than the traditional Anson push rod. Thankfully you can still get fixed chokes as an option.

Webley has struck a deal with an American company to market the “Webley” and “Webley & Scott” brands in the U.S.A and Canada. Indeed, the company's website shows distributors in Ontario and B.C.

The Model 700 is soon to be available in 12, 20 and 28 gauge configurations. The 28 gauge will be available with 30 inch barrels (a good thing, and hard to find today). Other models include hunting and competition U/O's, and a semi automatic. There is also a youth model U/O in .410.

Does anyone know which Italian firm is making these guns? They do not look like any Fabarm or Rizzini I have seen, although the SxS does look a little like the entry level Fausti Stefano gun (but the Fausti has double triggers). All the info is available here:

http://www.webley.co.uk/

Any opinions as to the actual maker of these guns is welcome.

Sharptail
 
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Model 700, interesting!

Proof once again, that global economy, in this era, has really ceased to have borders :)

To the mass Consumer (admittedly, I am also among those :)), the value of a signature item has in various ways lost it's true meaning.

A minimum quality standard product at a competitive price is what the majority of buyers look for today. It appears that the sxs market may have a somewhat similar offer such as the RBL, albeit in the guise of a Webley :).

It may not be entirely out of place to mention a saying from my part of the world - "The Crow dressed in the plumes of a Peacock shall still remain a Crow." :)
 
I thought they were being made in Turkey? Huglu or Yilditz being the most likely culprit. What they want for a new 700 you can find a decent old 700 for .
 
it's a bit hard to take isn't it? but i guess the global economy will prevail whether we like it or not.webley & scott was a case of simple economics when they closed in 1979. there's only so much market out there for high end gun makers. at least remingtons spartan line, which is a pretty good line, is admittedly made in russia and it's no secret.
 
Where did you learn that they are made in Italy? Does that apply to all the new models, or just the 700 series?

The reason I ask is that their 810 model (auto-loader) is reviewed in "Shooting Times and Country Magasine" in the U.K., where they claim that this model is built in Turkey. Could be that they are contracting out to a variety of makers for various models.

I notice that the 700 series is equipped with chrome-lined barrels. This is what tipped me off and got me wondering about their origins.
 
It could be that the different models are sourced from different manufacturers. Page 13 of the downloadable manual for the 700 series states:

Hereby we certify that this shotgun has been tested at the National Proof House in Gardone, V.T in compliance with C.I.P (*Permanent International Committee) standards. The action and barrels of this shotgun show all proof marks required, barrel weight, chamber length and diameter and barrel diameter at 23 cm from the breech.
Click to expand...

While I suppose it is possible that the guns are made in Turkey, shipped to Italy for proof and then forwarded for resale, it seems more likely that they would simply be sent to Birmingham for proof there. Why would the Italians want to assume liability for someone else's guns? All of the guns I have seen with Gardone proof marks have been of Italian manufacture. Maybe I am assuming too much.

Sharptail
 
Sharptail, this is no different then Rigby being made in the US.
I don't think there is anything wrong with the US guns but are they the same as they were when they were built by Rigby or at the end by John Roberts in London?
I also get a catoluge from William Powel every year and the Powel family started over 200 years ago making guns and still own the company but there first line of guns are supplied from outside England and finshed by them. They still make a best gun at a price and these are hand built
John
 
Sharptail said:
It could be that the different models are sourced from different manufacturers.
Click to expand...

This looks like it may be the case. The 1000 series manual has the same certification regarding proof marks. The 900 series manual does not. There is no 800 series manual available for download on the W&S web site, but I'd wager that it looks more like the 900 manual than the 700 or 1000 series.

I'm guessing the 800 and 900 series are contracted out to either Huglu or Yildiz and the 700 and 1000 series are made in Italy.
 
I too read somewhere they were being made in Turkey....not sure where taht was.

I know I won't be ordering one, I will stick to the used market for decent doubles.
 
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