New .455's from Webley?

http://oldbritishguns.com/438-the-phsadc-webley-fosbery

Here's another proposed manufacture.

Good heavens, first new Webleys being made and now this; the possibility of new reproductions of the Webley-Fosbery! Good show gentlemen, jolly good show!

I can dig it! If it was well made and around $1000, which I think might be difficult. If I did, it would just be to have one. I'm not buying anything made in Pakistan though.

The article is a couple years old, I've not heard any new about news about them.

My guess is the idea is dead.

No new Webley-Fosberys, but honestly, did you look at the pictures of the factory? That place doesn't looks so hot. I don't think I'd be keen on getting a gun from there.

That "factory" looks very basic and I am sure they could produce a nice bicycle. I do not know about Fosberys.

The Indians have been manufacturing a very nice 1957 Matchless 500cc single cylinder motorcycle for many decades. There is quality manufacturing of a sort in that part of the world.

.45 ACP Webley

I'd like to hear from those who own or have shot a .455 Webley, that was converted to .45 ACP, to see what their experiences have been.
Problems ? Can they be overcome with modern metallurgy and current engineering ?

$1K is too steep for my wallet, but I'm open to a somewhat less expensive model.

Hey, I'm already speculating on a rumor?
Well, it doesn't hurt to dream.

About 30 years ago, I had a Webley Mark I that had been converted to 45 ACP in the usual way. Because I was young and ignorant, I shot it a bit, I think mainly with 45 Auto Rim RNL and 45 ACP FMJ. I did not have any problems. I later sold it because it was a zero-finish gun with home-made wooden grips, and there was something else I wanted (see PS). The thing I remember most about it is the big Broad Arrow carved deeply into the top strap.

PS - That may have been when I got a reblued Colt 1917. The DA pull was long and heavy, but the SA trigger pull was great, as it if had been tuned. It only shot 230 grain FMJ well, maybe because the bore was rough. I'd still have it if I could still see the tiny sights.

garyhan said:

The manufacturer has stated within the last month that the Webley Fosberrys are beginning production and should be available in the US this year. We will see. Projected price was $800. Personally, I'm a bit more concerned about the quality of these than of something Webley will put their name on. If they are good, I want one.

gary

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Hmm I see.

Will it be available in .38 special, or .38/200?

IIRC, the original .38 Webley Fosbery was in .38 ACP.

Yes, if they could sell those for $800 retail, I would buy one. But I doubt they could, even made in Pakistan. But is there really a market? It would face the same problems as a Webley and would have even less name recognition and historical interest. Most folks, even gun enthusiasts, have never heard of the gun.

"What's that funny looking thing, Charlie?

"It's a Webley-Fosbery replica; a revolver that works sort of like an auto pistol."

"Sounds really crazy. Let me look at that Glock."

Jim

Well.

That settles that. I highly doubt I would buy the gun if it was chambered in such an obscure round. Make it a .38 special and I'd be all over it.

I doubt a modern replica would be in .38 ACP, but long cases present extraction problems in a break top "revolver" even a semi auto one.

I have no idea why the .38 ACP was chosen at that time.

BTW, one article says the W-F is the only handgun ever made that way. Not true. There is an even more obscure gun called the Union revolver, which was made in the U.S. It was even less successful and I have never seen one outside of pictures.

Jim

I doubt a modern replica would be in .38 ACP, but long cases present extraction problems in a break top "revolver" even a semi auto one.

I have no idea why the .38 ACP was chosen at that time.

BTW, one article says the W-F is the only handgun ever made that way. Not true. There is an even more obscure gun called the Union revolver, which was made in the U.S. It was even less successful and I have never seen one outside of pictures.

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I also doubt .38ACP would be chosen and doubt we will ever see this Pakistani Fosbery on the shelves of our LGS. Longer cases (.45 Colt to .38 Spec.) are not really a problem for Webley designed to use them. I never had problems ejecting factory loaded .45 Colt Silver-tips from my Webley Government revolver. That gun had a cylinder shaved to accept .45 Colt rims. BTW, even thought it was chambered for black powder .476/.455 cartridges with lead bullets the 1980's vintage factory .45 Colt Silver-tips shot accurately and did not blow it up. I DO NOT RECOMMEND YOU TRY REPEATING THAT EXPERIENCE. I WAS LUCKY.

The Fosbery .38 caliber revolver was originally intend to use a new rimed .38 WF cartridge. This was all happening in 1902 and the sudden market success of the .38ACP cartridge convinced Webley to go with that cartridge. In 1903 Webley attempted to interest military customers with a .38 cartridge more powerful than the .38ACP. That new cartridge duplicated the muzzle velocity of the .38 Super decades before the Super was created. Most Fosbery's were chambered in .455 Webley.

Besides the Union revolver there were a couple other automatic revolvers were created. I cannot recall the names at this time (senior moment).

It has been mentioned elsewhere that Webleys are big and heavy. They are not when compared to comparable S&W revolvers. For example the Webley Fosbery Automatic Revolver 8-shot .38ACP only weighed 38 ounces. The Webley Revolver Mk VI 6-shot .455 also only weighed 38 ounces. For comparison the S&W 625 6-shot .45ACP Jerry M. uses is several ounces heavier and has a two inch shorter barrel.

I would not even blink before spending $2,000 - $3000 on a quality Webley Fosbery in .455, they are just too cool to not jump at the opportunity. If Webley does make some commemorative Mk VIs I would pay up to $2,000 for one. If you love Webleys like I do, and can afford it, why not?

You all do realize that copies of the webley in .32 S&W long have been made for years in India. http://ofbindia.gov.in/products/data/weapons/wsc/3.htm

Sarge7402 said:

You all do realize that copies of the webley in .32 S&W long have been made for years in India. http://ofbindia.gov.in/products/data/weapons/wsc/3.htm

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Sure. There is a YouTube video of someone (in India, IIRC) test firing one. I think they get two misfires in one cylinder.

The Indian Ordnance Factory also makes a 32 automatic that seems to be a cross between a Colt 1903 and an FN 1910, and a copy of the Canadian Inglis Browning High Power. But except for one small batch of the High Powers, none of these guns have ever been exported to the US, AFAIK.

I have a Mk VI that some idiot converted to 45ACP. The conversion was poorly done, but it was (is) functional. I stopped shooting hardball ammo in it when I found out that 45ACP is loaded to around twice the pressure of .455 ammo.

With light handloads, the gun is a lot of fun and quite accurate,

I would love to have a new one which was intended for and proofed for 45 ACP. They are so ugly, they are beautiful!

Sarge7402 said:

You all do realize that copies of the webley in .32 S&W long have been made for years in India. http://ofbindia.gov.in/products/data/weapons/wsc/3.htm

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Do you know the current price and/or a person that has bought one ?

Do you know the current price and/or a person that has bought one ?

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AFAIK, the Indian Webley clones in .32 Long haven't been imported into the US. Oh, I'd most certainly buy one, but I've never seen one in this country. If anyone has details to the contrary, I'm all ears.

Interesting.

I'd love a Mk IV Webley for around $800-$1000, even if it's a new one.

Any news on this boys?

I signed their list, but I have received no e-mails to date.

I could see Webley making and selling them for a bit, and then they would be as scarce as the S&W 696.