Webley & Scott Mark IV .455 Webley 4” Military Revolver C&R John Taffin
SOLD FOR: $1,031.00
LSB#: LSB260521SS068
Make: Webley & Scott
Model: Mark IV
Serial Number: 107783
Year of Manufacture: Circa 1899-1913 / C&R
Caliber: .455 Webley
Action Type: Double / Single Action, 6-Shot Top-Break Revolver with Automatic Extraction
Markings: The left side of the frame is marked “WEBLEY / MARK IV / PATENTS”. The revolver is marked with the serial number “107783”. British military inspection and acceptance markings are present throughout, including Broad Arrow government property markings and various crowned proof and inspection stamps. Additional assembly, proof, and inspection markings are present on the frame, barrel, cylinder, and internal surfaces.
Barrel Length: 4”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade integral to the barrel assembly. The rear sight is a fixed notch integral to the top-break latch.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered hard polymer panels. They show handling and operational wear with scattered scratches and smoothing to the checkering. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Good to Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is light pitting at the muzzle. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates approximately 7 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains approximately 80% of its original finish. The balance shows thinning, finish loss, scratches, and handling and operational wear throughout. There is scattered oxidation and freckling consistent with the revolver’s age and military use. The markings remain generally clear and legible. The screw heads show use but remain serviceable. Overall, this revolver is in Very Good condition for its age.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes with a Certificate of Authenticity identifying it as being from the collection of noted firearms writer and handgun historian John Taffin.
Our Assessment: The Webley Mark IV was introduced in 1899 as the fourth major evolution of Webley’s large-frame .455 service revolver and became one of the characteristic British military sidearms of the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. Built around Webley’s robust top-break design, opening the action simultaneously ejects the fired cases for rapid reloading. The Mark IV served during the era of the Second Boer War and remained in British and Commonwealth use alongside the later Mark V and Mark VI revolvers into the First World War period. This example retains British military inspection and government property markings, providing visible evidence of its service configuration. Its documented provenance to the collection of John Taffin adds another desirable element; Taffin is widely known for his extensive writing on revolvers, sixguns, and historic handguns.
This example retains about 80% of its original finish, with a bright bore, sharp rifling, and only light pitting at the muzzle. The action functions correctly, the grips remain in Good to Very Good condition, and the revolver retains numerous period British military markings. The accompanying John Taffin Collection Certificate of Authenticity further enhances the historical and collector interest of this classic .455 Webley service revolver.
Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids!-C.M.