Selby S. Webb Single Action Revolvers

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tiriaq

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At the last Switzers Auction, I bought a pair of .22 revolvers by this maker. Neither was working, thought they might be interesting projects. I'd only planned on getting one, but the way the online bidding went, I got both.
Started searching the 'net. Selby S. Webb was born in 1862, died 1954. He started making guns in 1928. There is a revolving .410 shotgun by made 1938. Made 180+ guns. Liked single actions. One is dated 1862 over 1951, so he was still active in his old age. He was a skilled craftsman. Apparently he was featured in The Gun Report, October 1962.
The ones I got resemble Single Sixes, but are mechanically like Colts. The revolvers are hand/shop/homemade. All parts are shopmade, nothing outsourced. He had a lathe and a mill, judging by the trace machining marks. The smaller parts are handmade from steel stock. Trigger guard and front strap are two pieces, as is the back strap, and loading gate.
One gun was complete, but not working. Turns out the hand pin had come loose, separating the hand from the hammer. Reset it, works fine. The second revolver was missing its ejector housing assembly, and didn't work either. Bolt was broken - the leg which engages the cam on the hammer had snapped off. Made a new bolt, copying the broken original. Used a piece of steel cut from a heavy old dado blade. Annealed, shaped, hardened and tempered. Now the mechanism works. Have an ejector housing well underway. Cheated, using two pieces, a tube and a bar attached to it. Have to cut the slot and make the ejector rod and its head.
These are really interesting revolvers. Glad I got both. Would love to find others, photos, or any further information about Webb.
Haven't taken a photo spread yet, but if you go to the Switzers site, you can see the auction photos.
 
Had the complete one to the range this evening. Excellent shooter, accurate - although a couple of chambers need to be scrubbed out.
 
I have been digging on the 'net, but haven't found any more of his guns. Did find a photo of his gravestone, information about his wife and children. Love to get a copy of The Gun Report. Some of his guns must have survived.
Some years ago, I bought a commercial MLE with a silver prize plaque from Bisley. Won by a Canadian in 1899. Remarkably, I obtained a sheet from the London Illustrated News, with coverage from the Bisley meeting. The chap is in a group photo of the Canadian Kolapore Team.
 
The Switzer site seems to have been swept clean of the Apr 23 catalog. So no pictures to see. Guess we have to wait for you to post.

How cool is it to buy a couple of guns which were made by just one pair of hands belonging to one craftsman? I'd have to say that it is REALLY DAMN COOL! ! ! ! You just joined a rather small and limited membership sort of "club".

Looking forward eagerly to the pictures.
 
I have another handmade pistol - also came from Switzer's. It is a .22 autoloader, made by A Newton. Also got the holster made for it, stamped A Newton as well. Not a copy of any design, pretty much original. Swing a latch, hinges open, top load an internal magazine, close and latch. Tubular receiver, like a Ruger, but the bolt/slide is very different. Smooth shooter. It was obviously carried for a long time in the holster. No idea where, when or who. Can't find any reference to an A Newton who was a gunsmith.
 
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