Enfield Webley Mark VI .455 — Uncut Double Action by Royal Small Arms – C&R OK

Sold For: $1,311.01

Make: Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock

Model: Mark VI

Serial Number: A1694

Year of Manufacture: 1925

Caliber: .455 Webley (Not modified for .45 ACP)

Action Type: Single or Double Action Top-Break Revolver with Left Side Thumb Release

Markings: The left side of the top strap is marked “’25”, a crowned “GR”, crossed flags, an upwards arrow, and a “Crowned 13 / m”. The left side of the frame is marked with a crowned “GR”, crossed flags and what appears to be the symbol for “tau”. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “Crowned 13 / N”. The right side of the frame is marked “Enfield / MK VI / 1925” and an English crown. The right side of the top strap has what looks like an “F” overstamped with a “D”. The flat on the underside of the barrel is marked with a “Crowned 29 / m”. The underside of the frame and the curved underside of the barrel just in front of its flat are marked “A1694”. The rear edge of the holster is marked “A1694” and the spaces between the bolt stop cuts are marked with a “crowned GR / crossed flags / symbol for tau”. The left side of the frame is marked with a “Crowned 8 / m”. The left side of the hammer is marked with a wide arrow head. The right side of the hammer is marked with an “F” overstamped with a “D” and a wide arrow head. The lower edges of the grips are marked “S”. The rear face of the cylinder is marked with a ‘Crowned 22 / m” and an arrow head. The thumb latch is marked with an arrow head.

Barrel Length: The barrel has a full length rib with flat sides and a round underside. It is 6” in length.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Patridge style blade pinned to a raised slotted base on the barrel. The rear sight is a square notch at the bottom of a “V” in the top of the top strap latch.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are black checkered hard rubber with a smooth diamond outline around the screw escutcheon. There is a large chip out of the back of the left grip and a large chip out of the bottom front corner of the right grip. The checkering shows light wear with mars on both sides. The grips rate in about Fair overall condition.

Type of Finish: The finish appears to be Parkerized black, with a slightly lighter color to the cylinder.

Finish Originality: The finish appears to be original.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling shows a slight amount of wear. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 94% of its metal finish. There is thinning on the edges of the barrel and the ears projecting from its sides in front of the cylinder, the lower edges of the frame and the edges of the trigger guard. The front and rear edges of the cylinder and the edges of the flutes and bolt stop cuts show thinning but there is no drag line. There are compression marks at the butt in front of the lanyard ring. The screws are distressed. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Excellent condition.

Mechanics: Both the top latch lock-up and the cylinder lock-up are SOLID, with no play. The trigger pull is smooth in both single and double action, and breaks crisply in single action. The thumb latch return spring is missing. The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: From Wikipedia: “The Webley Revolver was, in various versions, the standard issue service pistol for the armed forces of the United Kingdom, the British Empire, and the Commonwealth from 1887 until 1963. The Webley is a top-break revolver with automatic extraction. The Webley Mk I service revolver was adopted in 1887 and later the MK VI was introduced in 1915 during the First World War. The MKVI is perhaps the best-known model, and firing the large .455 Webley cartridge, it is among the most powerful top-break revolvers ever produced.” Many of the MKVI revolvers had their cylinders modified to accept .45 ACP cartridges, but this revolver is still in its original caliber, complete with lanyard ring, and with matching numbers on the cylinder, frame and barrel. This is a great find for the collector of WWI and WWII weaponry. It is very unusual to find one in this Excellent condition that hasn’t been refinished or modified.