P. Webley & Son Mark II .45 ACP Altered 2.5″ Top-Break Revolver, Antique
SOLD FOR: $2,525.00
LSB#: WY250124CX001
Make: Philip Webley & Son
Model: Customized Webley Mark II
Serial#: 43358
Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1895-1897, Antique
Caliber: The gun was originally chambered for the .455 caliber “Manstopper” cartridge. The rear end of the cylinder has been shaved so that .45 ACP rounds could be used with moon clips. Please be aware, factory loaded .45 ACP rounds have a pressure that is too high for an Antique Webley and a qualified gunsmith should inspect the gun to determine what sort of load may be safe to fire in the gun.
Action Type: Single/Double-Action Top-Break Service Revolver
Barrel Length: The barrel has been cut to 2 1/2″.
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a blade that has been installed at the muzzle. The rear sight is a V-notch integral to the barrel latch.
Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The grip panels are two-piece checkered black synthetic with smooth borders. The butt-strap has a lanyard ring. The grip panels have some scattered light nicks and scuffs. The left panel has a chip-loss at the bottom across the indexing pin hole. The panels show slight discoloration and have taken a brownish hue. The checkering is generally well defined. Overall, the grips are in Good-plus condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with well defined rifling. There is some scattered minor erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 8+ out of 10.
Overall Condition: The revolver retains about 40% of its finish. The grip areas are mostly worn to white. There is finish loss around the outside of the cylinder and on the rear face where it was shaved. There is finish loss in the barrel around the installed front sight and along the topstrap. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some scattered minor surface oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with serviceable slots. The remaining markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Very Good condition as customized Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder locks with minor play on each chamber. The barrel 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 has both military and commercial proof/inspection marks, an “ENGLAND” export mark, and the backstrap is marked “4.96”, presumably a unit or rack marking. The gun retains some of its original blue finish but the rear of the cylinder has been shaved down to facilitate the use of .45 ACP rounds with moon clips (please see the caliber section for more details, the gun is not designed to sustain the pressure of a modern .45 ACP round). It has also had the barrel cut back to 2 1/2″, certainly still a large revolver but much more handy than its original size. Despite the aforementioned, the gun is still aesthetically pleasing and retains solid mechanics. This should make a wonderful addition to a historical firearms collection. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
