Webley Mark 4
The revolver Webley .38 was created in 1923 to arm the police force.
After 1942 it was made lawful in the army.
Before 1942 there existed in calibre .22 LR, .32 Long S&W, .38 S&W and .38 Webley Special.
This one is in calibre .22.
Thanks to Enrico for the nice pictures
Webley mark IV
This specimen may be a civilian one, but the MK lV has been used by officers in the British Army as well.
It is one of the innumerable revolvers produced by Webley & Scott from ca. 1897 until mid-1970. This model exists in .38 and .38-200 caliber (interchangeable) or, like yours, in 450 and .455 calibers (interchangeable). To pass from one caliber to the other, only the cylinder has to be changed. Since the cartridges are fitted with an unjacketed lead bullet, the tolerance of the barrel is fair enough to accept the slight difference.
Markings:
The letters BSAC on topstrap stand for "British Small Arms Corporation", which indicates that your gun was potentially accepted for military service (although it bears no "broad arrow" sign indicating it was serviceable).
The 3-digit number 252 under it is the registration number in the BSAC records.
The 450/455 stamp indicates the two calibers that are interchangeable on the gun. The proper caliber should be marked on the rear face of the cylinder.
The crowned BV stamp on the frame is the Birmingham Inspection mark. It is the official Inspection stamp of the Birmingham Proof House AFTER 1904, so your gun was made after 1904 anyway.
It is NOT a proofmark, only an inspection mark. The actual proofmark would be a BP under crown and be stamped on each chamber.
The 6-digit number on the frame is the serial number
The winged bullet with the letters W&S is the official logo of the Webley&Scott company.
The barrel bears the Philip Webley & SON logo -owners of the patent - but from 1897 on the guns were made at the Webley & Scott plant of Birmingham. Philip Webley and his son had taken C.Scott as an associate and stockholder in their company. Later they would also take interests in other companies as well.
Marcel
Webley mark IV
Webley & Scott MK IV, 38cal S&W with a 5" barrel.
The revolver is marked War Finish.
With the pleasant authorization of “DocsGreenvilleNC”
Webley mark IV
Cal .22 barrel 3 ".
