Webley MK 1 stars
- Thread starter Bowie
- Start date
Modifications, such as a later barrel/cylinder assembly and a reinforced (removable) blast plate.
I believe some MKI's were refitted with stronger MKIII parts later in their life and subsequently stamped with these stars to show that they were modified by military gunsmiths. I don't know too many details of why this was done and when, but I am sure that some other members will have more detailed info to provide.
I believe some MKI's were refitted with stronger MKIII parts later in their life and subsequently stamped with these stars to show that they were modified by military gunsmiths. I don't know too many details of why this was done and when, but I am sure that some other members will have more detailed info to provide.
My MkI with no stars at all has nitro-proof marks all over... frame, cylinder and barrel (on the cylinder, every chamber is nitro-proofed). No modifications whatsoever as far as I can tell though, she appears all stock.
Weird how they would proof some guns without any mods/new parts, while they would swap out half the gun on another unit in order to make it compliant to the same smokeless standards. Any logic in that?
The logic I see is that the re-proofed gun might not have been done by the Military Armorers.
I am not certain on this, but have read that in the event of major changes to the firearm, it was required by law to be sent back to the Proof House. I do not think that the military was bound by this.
What're the odds?
Cheers
Trev
I am not certain on this, but have read that in the event of major changes to the firearm, it was required by law to be sent back to the Proof House. I do not think that the military was bound by this.
What're the odds?
Cheers
Trev
Where's Dingus?
My commercial shaved Mk1 sounds identical to yours.
Looks to me that a half century of active service encompassed numerous field armourer expedients to keep them in the line. If they had the parts to upgrade, great, if not then out she goes anyways. Expediency.
My MkI with no stars at all has nitro-proof marks all over... frame, cylinder and barrel (on the cylinder, every chamber is nitro-proofed). No modifications whatsoever as far as I can tell though, she appears all stock.
Weird how they would proof some guns without any mods/new parts, while they would swap out half the gun on another unit in order to make it compliant to the same smokeless standards. Any logic in that?
My commercial shaved Mk1 sounds identical to yours.
Looks to me that a half century of active service encompassed numerous field armourer expedients to keep them in the line. If they had the parts to upgrade, great, if not then out she goes anyways. Expediency.
Thats right^in some cases.
Two asters ** meens its had the cylinder and barrel replaced with a MKV cylinder and MKV barrel.
I have a MKI ** with Two Asters ** or Stars its in orignal 455 but i have a 45 ACP cylinder for it as well.
There much stronger than MKIs or MKIIs as the MKV cylinders have thicker chamber walls.
Mine has not had the recoil sheild replaced tho.
Aparently Webley stoped that recoil sheild replacement as it was time consumeing and expensive.
If the fireing pin hole was OK they didnt do that modification.
Some pre 1898 Webleys have three *** asters.
All this info is in the Two main webley books Dowel and that other one.
It is also interesting to note, as per Ian Skennerton a single asterix on the barrel indicated a barrel defect as issued from factory or marked by military armourers, likely the latter. Presumably not serious enough to prevent proofing or reissuance. The star was typically stamped closer to the breech. I have one of these. You have to really look closely to find any malocclusion/cut in the bore. It shoots perfectly otherwise.
My MkI with no stars at all has nitro-proof marks all over... frame, cylinder and barrel (on the cylinder, every chamber is nitro-proofed). No modifications whatsoever as far as I can tell though, she appears all stock.
Weird how they would proof some guns without any mods/new parts, while they would swap out half the gun on another unit in order to make it compliant to the same smokeless standards. Any logic in that?
The webley ex-service pistols with the three different proofmarks and "England" stamp were sold as surplus by the British DoD about 50 years ago. British law says all firearms must be tested in a government proof house before they can be sold to the public. So the old service pistols were reproofed by firing a cylinder full of high pressure "proving loads" at the Birmingham proofhouse. If they didn't blow up on the proof test they got the BNP proof stamp. You could do an equivalent "proof" on a MKI by shooting a cylinder full of factory .45ACP in it (not a recommendation, just an example).
Commercial MKI/II .455 webleys got their proofmarks at the time of manufacture and did not need to be re-proofed later to be sold on the civilian market.
The MKI* and MKI** are not just re-proofed, but were rebuilt using more modern components. The MKI** becomes a defacto MKV because all the pressure-containing components have been changed to MKV parts.
Revolvers with the nitro stamping are not stronger or able to shoot higher pressure loads than their non-nitro-proof stamped counterparts. Some people think the nitro-proof marks means they are getting a stronger or safer gun. It ain't so.
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I have a Mark 1** Webley shaved to .45acp with an "N" stamped on the handle and what appears to be a 1914 date under the "patents" word, which is mostly obscured by surface pitting and scratches but the '14' portion of the date is clearly visible. This suggests it is a refurbished Navy model retrofitted for WW1.
Question is...does it still qualify as a prescribed Mark 1 antique having been retrofitted in 1914?
Question is...does it still qualify as a prescribed Mark 1 antique having been retrofitted in 1914?
Yes, it's the frame (aka the firearm) that needs to be made prior to the antique cutoff date so long as it's not chambered in a non prescribed caliber (caliber chart found here).
It'd be a lot easier in the future for you to start a new thread rather than necro post.
