Webley Scott Factory Markings
IV-38 top break revolver with Mosin M39 rifle.(Photo: Francis Borek)It’s a gun that should not exist or at least should not have been accepted into military service. It’s caliber has been called anemic, yet it was considered at the time of its adoption to fit the bill perfectly. It is a top-break revolver, widely considered to be an inherently weak design, yet it’s built like a tank. It is a revolver that I lusted after for years, the Webley Mk. IV-38.Why did I want a Webley for so many years?
Mostly for the looks. The Webley is certainly distinct when compared to the legions of and I see in TV shows and movies. I also love it’s quick and efficient top-break loading system. And then there is the guns historical significance as a British service pistol. For a gun guy, really what isn’t there to love about the Webley Mk. The Webley Mk. IV-38 top break revolver was originally a military, then police gun.
Webley Scott Factory Markings Free
(Photo: Francis Borek)The British Army switched over from the massive to the smaller 38/200 (.38 S&W) in 1922 as the result of experiences gained in World War One. Midway through the war, what was left of the professional core of the enlisted British Army (when it was “nothing more than a travel agency for gentlemen with an abnormally high sex drive” as would say) had been wiped out. Replacements had to be trained quickly and the heavy recoil of the.455 was detrimental to that effort. In the event of another war, the British Army felt that a smaller caliber would make training new officers easier.
In tests the British came to the conclusion that a 200 grain slug, fired at a low velocity tended to tumble and fragment when it hit a target. It also minimized over-penetration, and transferred more energy onto the target. Best of all, it had minimal recoil. The top break is iconic to older revolver designs.
(Photo: Francis Borek)Why the British didn’t simply go with a heavy.38 Special round is beyond me though I suspect it would be some sort of Sisyphean task to navigate the maze of documents that may explain why. Whatever the reason, the decision to switch to 38/200 became an annoyance to American shooters as.38 Special is far more common than the.38 S&W. It also proved to be an annoyance to the British — just before World War Two, the 38/200 was believed to be in violation of the. Officials were worried the unjacketed lead bullet could be seen as expanding ammunition. It was switched over to a jacketed 178 grain which had a bit of a reputation for “icepicking” through targets and transferring very little of it’s energy. “WAR FINISH” markings on Webley revolvers.
(Photo: Francis Borek)As I mentioned earlier, the looks of the Webley are what drew me to the revolver, though I would not say its appearance is very clean compared to Colt and S&W revolvers. The size of the Mk. IV-38 is comparable to other service pistols of the time.
Some examples will be marked “WAR FINISH”, as Webley didn’t have enough time to perfectly finish the metal or polish some parts. The cylinder retaining cam, latch, and cam lever are all exposed, distinguishing the Webley, and the shape and contour of the barrel help to give it a bit of a steampunk look. The grips are black plastic and emblazoned with the manufacturer’s name.
The metal is blued. Milling marks are especially evident on top of the barrel.Despite this production approach, the quality of the workmanship is superb. The grips and grip frame fit my hand like a glove. No other revolver — not the myriad of Colt SAA clones or S&W revolvers I’ve shot — fit my hands better than the Mk.
Loading in a top break revolver like the Webley is incredibly easy. (Photo: Francis Borek)On the range, the Mk.
IV-38 shows its heritage as a military pistol. The double action pull is monstrously heavy, but very smooth. The single-action pull feels to be around 5 pounds.
Not the lightest, but there is still a crisp and clean break. The heavy trigger is there to help prevent any sort of accidental discharge.The rear sight notch is fairly wide in comparison to many pistols of the era. Unfortunately, factory.38 S&W ammunition is light and underpowered compared to the military 38/200 loading of yesteryear.
My shots consistently landed low and I wound up aiming high to hit the bullseye. Felt recoil is around the level of a.22 WMR and muzzle rise is minimal. However it’s all worth it, as breaking open the Mk. IV-38 to reload and watching the casings fly out of the cylinder is good fun. Webley manufacturer markings on top strap. (Photo: Francis Borek)It’s not the most powerful of handguns and isn’t an optimal size for concealed carry.
Does offer a self-defense loading that they say is safe for Mk. IV-38 revolvers. It is however quite pricey.Because of its odd caliber and lack of fame, Mk. IV-38 revolvers can still be had for far less than US and German military pistols of the era. Where US and German pistols are often in the four figure range, Specially marked variants will of course demand more money however.
The British Webley Bull Dog pocket revolver was a small, powerful firearm that saw considerable commercial success in a variety of forms. The type saw its introduction in 1872 with production being handled by the concern of Philip Webley and Son (often noted as 'P. Webley & Son') of Birmingham, England.
The popularity of the Bull Dog was such that the type was produced well into the 1900s and copied the world over by such firms as Forehand & Wadsworth in the US and others from Belgium to Spain and China resulting in a myriad of clones in circulation. As a 'pocket' revolver, the firearm was specifically designed to be small and compact, able to be concealed in the pocket of a user's coat - hence the term 'pocket revolver' used to describe this class of firearm. Additionally, the Bull Dog was a relatively inexpensive sidearm for the time and is thought by some to have given the Colt Single Action, Smith & Wesson and Remington revolvers of the Old West a run for their money as the true 'Gun that Won the West'.Outwardly, the Bull Dog followed conventional revolver design with a solid frame receiver encompassing a multi-shot, reusable revolving cylinder which was loaded manually.
The hammer spur protruded from the upper rear portion of the receiver and the pistol grip was ergonomically curved for a firm single-hand grip. The trigger was slung low in the design, curved to accept a trigger finger pull and protected over in an oblong trigger ring. The barrel was decidedly short and gave the Bull Dog its distinct appearance but also its compact nature.
A fixed iron sight was added to the barrel just aft of the muzzle and intended for accurized fire - though the firearm was really a short-ranged weapon at best. The finish was primarily nickel with wooden grips while the barrel was internally rifled and externally smooth in appearance.
Various production forms saw some Bull Dogs completed with exquisite engravings along the cylinder and receiver surfaces. In fact, so many different forms of the revolver went on to see the light of day that exact identification is sometimes impossible without the help of 'true' Bull Dog experts. The Bull Dog was eventually chambered for a variety of cartridge calibers including the.44 Short Rimfire, the.442 Webley and the.450 Adams as well as other, more 'exotic', breeds.One of the more 'famous' (or infamous) uses of a Bull Dog in history was utilized by lawyer Charles Guiteau to assassinate then-US President James Garfield on July 2nd, 1881. Garfield eventually succumbed to the infections brought about by the assassination attempt and died. Guiteau was subsequently executed for his actions in 1882 to which the revolver used in the shooting made its way into the archives of the Smithsonian - only to disappear completely some time later.Needless to say, many existing Bull Dogs available today can fetch a considerable price if in the right market and in the right condition for she has proven a favorite of collectors the world over.
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