P Webley & Son Mark II 4″ .455 Man-Stopper SA/DA Top-Break Revolver Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,910.00
LSB#: LSB251006CF043
Make: Philip Webley & Son
Model: Webley Mark II
Serial#: 45227
Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1895-1897, Antique
Caliber: .455 Webley “Manstopper”
Action Type: Single/Double-Action Top-Break Service Revolver
Barrel Length: 4”
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a blade integral to the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch integral to the barrel latch.
Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The grip panels are two-piece checkered black hard rubber with smooth borders. The butt-strap has a lanyard ring. The grip panels have even light handling wear and discoloration. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and small scratches. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Military Blue
Finish Originality: Arsenal Refurbished
Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling is worn, but generally visible. There is erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: The revolver retains about 95% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges, but is otherwise generally strong with infrequent light wear. There is evenly scattered surface erosion under the finish. There are some nicks and scratches, mostly under the finish. The action shows operational wear, also mostly under the finish. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with usable slots. The markings are generally clear, some are obscured by erosion. Overall, the gun is in Fine condition as refurbished Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder locks with barely perceptible play on each chamber. The barrel similarly locks with barely perceptible play to the frame. We have not fired this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box Paperwork and Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The line of .455 Caliber service revolvers that Webley is most famous for began with the Mark I which was adopted for service in 1890. It was an impressive revolver for its time and was superseded in 1894 by an upgraded variant designated the Mark II. The Mark II was very similar to its predecessor, but it featured a strengthened hammer and trigger assemblies and the grip contour was made smoother. The basic grip profile of the Mark II would be retained by Webley until the introduction of the Mark VI during WWI. Older Webley Revolvers were not discarded when they were superseded, the British kept the superbly designed Webley Mark II Revolvers in service through WWI.
This particular specimen is a Webley Mark II. The gun was made in the late 19th century and retains some proof marks from the era including War Department broad arrow. The revolver appears to have been in service for some time, having arsenal blue finish over erosion and a bore showing significant use in the era of corrosive primers. Unlike many of these Webleys, the cylinder has NOT been shaved down to facilitate the use of .45 ACP rounds, still chambered for the original .455 “Manstopper” Cartridge. The gun is still aesthetically pleasing and retains solid mechanics. This should make a wonderful addition to a historical firearms collection. Good luck on your bid!
-Bud
