Top Breaks, Break Tops, Tip-Ups, Show ‘Em if You Got ‘Em

[orpington]

Orpington's Single Shot is a Third Model based on the Perfected.
The First Model was on the frame of the 1891 Single Action and retained the recoil shield, hand, and cylinder stop. You could get a combination set with .38 revolver barrel and cylinder and a single shot target barrel, most in .22 but a very few in .32 and .38. Parts are interchangeable, there are "comprised" sets out there that did not ship that way.

Yes, however my understanding is the Third Model was available only in .22 Long Rifle. Not the case with the First Model. Here’s a photograph of a First Model, shipped to England in 1905. The case is London manufactured and would date to the time of arrival in England, circa 1905, supplied by the retailer, Chas Osbourne & Company, Birmingham.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Single Shots

First Model, (Model of 1891). This one is chambered for 32 S&W. Note the similarity to the 38 Single Action, 3rd Model pictured above. I have no date for when this one shipped.

It retains the hammer of the revolver, but the hand has been removed.

Third Model. 22 Long Rifle. This one shipped in 1912.

How the metal grip frame is inletted into the wooden grips.

It retains most of the mechanism of the Perfected model. No hand though. Yes, it can be fired double action.

Third Model Single Shot and Perfected Model.

 

[CajunBass]

Interesting!

Can we see one of the “cartridges”, please.

Sure. We can do that, but I've got to admit that I've been caught in a lie. I never thought a real cartridge would fit, but I'll be darned if at least a 38 snap cap won't fit quite nicely.

Of course there still is no firing pin to actually ignite the primer, but I suppose one had best be careful to not load live ammo. The snap cap is the red one on the right, the air gun cartridge is on the left. Now that I look at it closely, it appears to be a 38 special case, with a sleeve through the primer pocket that runs the length of the "cartridge and through the silicone rubber bullet. The BB is held in place in the silicone bullet pressed in by thumb pressure. I've got other air guns that load in the opposite direction, pressing the BB in from the rear. I suppose each manufacturer does it differently but they all work on the same idea. Some use regular steel BB's, others us 6mm air-soft BB's.

I suppose I really need to shoot them one of these days.

 

[orpington]

Here’s a .38 Single Action First Model revolver, also known as a Baby Russian. This one is unusual because it’s blued. The vast majority of them were nickeled. In its original box.

 

[orpington]

Of course, if you have a blued Baby Russian revolver in its original box, you should also have a nickeled one in its original box.

 

[Speedo66]

@Driftwood Johnson said there are three ways to tell if an Iver Johnson is a 3rd model, thus safe for smokeless. The grips, the cylinder stops, and the coil hammer spring.

There is an additional means, the four pins in the frame between the cylinder and the trigger were unique to the 3rd model, hammer or hammerless. The patent date of 1906 is another giveaway.

 

[Onty]

Webley Mark VI in .45 Autorim/ACP. Carried by my grandfather in Europe. Supposedly he acquired it from a Canadian mounty when stationed up north and had it rechambered prior to being shipped off to theatre.

Dad and I loaded some light rounds and shot it before. Cylinder could use some tightening up, but otherwise shot just fine. I inherited from Dad when he passed a few years ago.

View attachment 1166114

Before you do anything on that Webley, I strongly suggest do the following test:

1. Pull the hammer all the way back, hold it, pull the trigger and holding it pulled all the time, slowly release the hammer. Now, check cylinder for any radial movement.

2. Do that for all six chambers.

I bet you will find cylinder firmly locked in all six position, no radial movement. This is just how Webley mechanism is set. I had at least half a dozen Webleys, handled few dozens more, some of them quite sloppy specimens from 1917-1918, but I cannot recall that any of them had a loose cylinder after tested as described above.

I hope you already know, but just in case, this warning is for others reading this post and not familiar with Webley revolvers, DO NOT SHOOT 45ACP BALL AMMO FROM ANY .455 WEBLEY. Here is why

British Militaria Forums-CAUTION RE .455 REVOLVERS ALTERED TO SHOOT .45 ACP and .45 Auto Rim

Thanks for the information. I have a number of Webley revolvers both cut and un-cut that I really want to shoot.

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[Tallinar]

I hope you already know, but just in case, this warning is for others reading this post and not familiar with Webley revolvers, DO NOT SHOOT 45ACP BALL AMMO FROM ANY .455 WEBLEY.

Thanks, yes, I know this. When we did shoot it, we loaded some light .454 or .455 lead bullets in .45 Autorim cases, loaded down to pretty moderate levels using Unique as I recall.

I will take a look at the cylinder the way you've suggested. Personally, I don't recall us having any issues when we shot it, but Dad was nervous about the cylinder, so we stopped shooting it. It may well be just fine.