Webley 455 MK VI Question

[sailor723]

I just received a 1918 Webley that I bought on the EE. Some of the numbers have me a little confused. The registered serial number is 3982xx N1578.

I see N1578 in larger numbers on the bottom of the butt and under the barrel just in front of the hinge. Also on the bottom of the barrel and frame (repeated on both sides of the hinge) I find 3982xx in smaller numbers. The 3982xx numbers appear to be struck through with a broken line. I always thought the Webley's serial number was on the edge of the cylinder but that location is marked 431627 in one location and 1377 (or possibly 1877) twice, once facing up and once facing down.

Any Webley experts out there? Maybe a replacement cylinder? I think read somewhere the N number might have indicated issue to the Royal Navy and am wondering if it is part of the serial number at all?

I tried getting photos but my cell phone won't focus in that close.

 

[hawken1965]

Letter prefix is it was reissued at the beginning of ww2 I hear they were short of guns

 

[hawken1965]

If u research the N it is a year code

 

[KotKotofeich]

Go with the serial in front of the triggerguard on the bottom edge of the frame - i.e. the serial of the frame.

You can just barely see it here - (picture stolen off the net)

Other parts are replaceable and may or may not match. (yes, we all cry when they don't...)

I've seen webleys registered incorrectly when that number can be read either way e.g. serial is 608608 but it's registered as 809809 because someone held it upside down to read the number But in your case, I'd say whatever comes after the N is incorrect and is not part of the serial...