Webley Mk VI 455 cylinder

[Tokarevsrule]

I just picked up a Webley Mk VI with the shaved cylinder, I'm looking for an original cylinder to convert it back to 455. Does anyone have an idea where to look for one? I'm not having any luck.I can load low power 45 auto rim so I can shoot it, just would like to have a 455 cylinder.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Sorry, no help on the cylinder but this guy has moon clips for it with ACP ammo.
455 Webley Headspacing disk Moon clip Shaved Cylinder Conversion MKVI Mark VI | eBay

 

[no.5enfield]

I think they are pretty much impossible to find these days.

 

[mcb]

It's going to be really hard to find an unshaved 455 Webley as they are highly sought after. I spent ten plus years looking for one in my price range. Any that are unshaved almost certainly came into the country before WWII. After WWII most Webley imports were shaved for 45 ACP.

As you know you can shoot your Webley with 45 Auto-Rim or 45 ACP on moonclips (moonclips for a S&W 625 work perfectly), though it is suggested to download them to similar power levels of the original Webley ammo.

There are also a few makers that make spacers that will allow you to shoot the original 455 Webley ammunition in a shaved 455 Webley. I have even seen a few cases were gunsmiths have machined a spacer and then silver soldered it to the cylinder restoring 455 Webley ammunition use without the separate spacer. Though if you keep the spacer loose you do have more options.


https://www.partsforantiqueguns.com/webleymarkvI.html

I have not done business with the above vendor so buyer beware.

 

[Rockrivr1]

I saw one at a gun show in NH a couple years back and the price tag, how should I say, was substantial. Low 4 figures for just the cylinder. Doubt you'll find one online. It's one of those things you need to troll gun shows and such to find an old timer selling stuff.

 

[tark]

This is what can happen when factory .45 ACP ammo is fired in a mark VI. It doesn't always happen but it can.

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

It's going to be really hard to find an unshaved 455 Webley as they are highly sought after. I spent ten plus years looking for one in my price range. Any that are unshaved almost certainly came into the country before WWII. After WWII most Webley imports were shaved for 45 ACP.

As you know you can shoot your Webley with 45 Auto-Rim or 45 ACP on moonclips (moonclips for a S&W 625 work perfectly), though it is suggested to download them to similar power levels of the original Webley ammo.

There are also a few makers that make spacers that will allow you to shoot the original 455 Webley ammunition in a shaved 455 Webley. I have even seen a few cases were gunsmiths have machined a spacer and then silver soldered it to the cylinder restoring 455 Webley ammunition use without the separate spacer. Though if you keep the spacer loose you do have more options.

View attachment 1084581
https://www.partsforantiqueguns.com/webleymarkvI.html

I have not done business with the above vendor so buyer beware.

I purchased that same pacer from that vendor and so far my only complaint is that the alignment is not exactly perfect. Drop six rounds in the spacer and try to drop it into the cylinder and it may work perfectly or the rounds may refuse to go into the cylinder fully. Pull it out and rotate it and drop again and it will probably fall right into place. This is not a huge deal as for me the spacer is only useful in target shooting situations anyway. If I was strapping on the Webley for defense in any capacity it would be with appropriate .45 Auto Rim reloads or with Webley specific .45ACP loaded into moon clips. This, for me at least means that the spacer is well worth it’s price even if it’s not an ideal solution in every way.

 

[Tokarevsrule]

I've been shooting 45 acp handloads out of it with moon clips, reduced power. Works well enough I doubt I'll keep looking for an original cylinder.

 

[Onty]

I just picked up a Webley Mk VI with the shaved cylinder, I'm looking for an original cylinder to convert it back to 455. Does anyone have an idea where to look for one? I'm not having any luck.I can load low power 45 auto rim so I can shoot it, just would like to have a 455 cylinder.

If I am in your shoes, and no luck finding unshaved cylinder, I will just get 45 AR brass, go shooting and enjoining old Webley. As for bullets, apparently, there are some casters, otherwise, contact MP-Molds for hollow base 455 mold. Those HB molds are made from brass and quality is second to none https://www.mp-molds.com/product/455-webley-mk2-hollow-base-4-cavity-mold/ .

 

[mcb]

If I am in your shoes, and no luck finding unshaved cylinder, I will just get 45 AR brass, go shooting and enjoining old Webley. As for bullets, apparently, there are some casters, otherwise, contact MP-Molds for hollow base 455 mold. Those HB molds are made from brass and quality is second to none https://www.mp-molds.com/product/455-webley-mk2-hollow-base-4-cavity-mold/ .

If you're not into or equiped to casting you can buy a pretty good copy of the 455 Mk II bullet from Matt's bullets. I have used his bullets in both of my Webleys, a Mark IV (38/200) and my Mark VI. He sizes them correct for the revolver rather than using undersized bullets.

https://www.mattsbullets.com/index....ducts_id=298&zenid=ng0usgsegu6m0gpcbd8l5taan1

These are my reloads for my Mark VI.

 

[TTv2]

It's going to be really hard to find an unshaved 455 Webley as they are highly sought after. I spent ten plus years looking for one in my price range. Any that are unshaved almost certainly came into the country before WWII. After WWII most Webley imports were shaved for 45 ACP.

As you know you can shoot your Webley with 45 Auto-Rim or 45 ACP on moonclips (moonclips for a S&W 625 work perfectly), though it is suggested to download them to similar power levels of the original Webley ammo.

There are also a few makers that make spacers that will allow you to shoot the original 455 Webley ammunition in a shaved 455 Webley. I have even seen a few cases were gunsmiths have machined a spacer and then silver soldered it to the cylinder restoring 455 Webley ammunition use without the separate spacer. Though if you keep the spacer loose you do have more options.

View attachment 1084581
https://www.partsforantiqueguns.com/webleymarkvI.html

I have not done business with the above vendor so buyer beware.

I didn't know that these existed, but this is what I would do. Keeps the original cylinder with the gun, but allows for use of a variety of ammo.

 

[Englishmn]

I picked up a spacer from ebay for my mk VI.
Now just to find some 455 brass.
Kind of like the option for downloaded 45acp in moon clips.

 

[kBob]

The last three Webley .455 I have seen were all marked uncut and priced accordingly.

Every one had the numbers on the side of the cylinder shaved short and no proofs or part tracking marks on the chamber end of the cylinder.

When I pointed this out, no one was happy with me.

When I offered what I thought a shaved Webley of unknown history was worth they liked me even less.

Ya got to admit, a shaved Webley fed with Moon clipped .45 ACP Lead downloaded to Webley pressures is FAST to reload!

-kBob

 

[Carl N. Brown]

The time for cheap .455 Webley parts was the heyday of imports (1950s-1960s) when England was surplussing WWII Webley and Enfield revolvers. Today the survivors are moving into collectible range.

I bought a .455 Webley Mark IV at a pawn shop at a reasonable price. It had been shaved by the importer for .45 AutoRim revolver ammo or .45 ACP in moon or half-moon clips. Black powder era gun with crown-over-VR proofs, Victoria Regina, probable Boer War era gun. Shows black powder pitting inside barrel and cylinder. I have shot it a little bit in black powder cartridge and vintage military using .45 ACP cases once fired in my 1911A1 clone, replicating .455 Webley BP loads with 255gr .454 bullets intended for .45 Colt revolver.

The first nitro proofed .455 Webley was the Mark V basicly the Mark IV with a slightly beefier cylinder. I have given up trying to find a Mark V cylinder. The Webley Mark VI is a seriously product improved redesign for WWI with steels approved for use with Cordite smokeless powder.

I do not recommend shooting commercial or military .45 ACP in any .455 Webley revolver. But shooting a cylinder of BP loads on a humid windless day is a hoot & generates a personal smoke screen.

 

[kBob]

I have always wondered at the fate of a cut Mk VI a DJ had in college asked me to work on. He paid for parts and I had fun learning about the Mk VI. Honestly I had it working the day the parts came in but he had another handgun and was in no hurry so I played with it for two months. At the time my only .45 ACP was a Mark IV Series 70 with the original recoil spring and I had a 200 grain LSWC with just enough juice to sort of reliably fall out the ejection port. So that is what I used. Remember there was no internet in 1979.

The reason I wonder about the pistol was he insisted on practicing with his “carry” round and could afford to do so…. factory Speer 200 grain JHP, of “flying ashtray” fame.

That was a “robust” .45 ACP loading, and a Metal Jacket.

Did not crack during my Senior year at college.

Every time I see a shaved Webley on a table at a show now and knowing better, I wonder if it is that gun, with that history.

-kBob

 

[Onty]

PLEASE; PLEASE; PLEASE, DO NOT SHOOT STANDARD 45 ACP BALL AMMO FROM ANY .455 WEBLEY!!! Any time you pull the trigger with standard 45 ACP load in cylinder, you are shooting MORE THAN PROOF loads for old Webley:

This is what could happened:

More here https://www.1911forum.com/threads/w...owners-for-guns-with-shaved-cylinders.446900/

I would say that things could be even worse than "proof loads" using 45 ACP ammo. .455 Webley was initially designed for black powder cartridge. Since that powder cannot develop pressure in small revolver case designers were looking for, chambers in cylinder were purposely made undersized. I found exit holes are .447-.449". Shooting in those chambers .455" bullets will create resistance thus bring pressure to desired 13200 PSI. This could work because those bullets are made from soft lead, and they are hollow base. After entering barrel that's like.450-.452", hollow base will expand and grab rifling. Now, shooting those solid, jacketed .451" bullets in .447-.449" chambers is invitation for pressure jump, possibly more than 19000 PSI as for standard 45 ACP ball ammo.

So, if I have shaved Webley, I will make sure to shoot only ammo made using 45 AR cases. Also, since shaved revolver isn't in original condition any more, I will open chambers to .452-.453", and use bullets sized on ,452", so I can shoot those with solid base.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I had the cylinder throats opened up on my un-cut 1918 MKVI to match the barrel grove diameter. I don't use cordite loaded ammo and don't need the extra resistance to get that rather "interesting" propellant to burn/pressurize properly. It definitely shoots Fiocchi LRN-HB better now and should be happier with solid base projectile hand loads. I will probably have the same thing done to my 1916. Eventually, sourcing a quantity of .455 Mk I / .455 Colt brass will be on the list to make proper length ammo that actually fits the chambers. I will keep my Mk III, sold by the Army & Navy Cooperative Society, Limited (CSL) original. It's the source of my avitar, and was private purchase, probably for the kit for a new Omderman/Boer War era officer. Not surprisingly, I am a big fan of the .455.

 

[Onty]

Good for you having having smaller groups after opening chambers!

As for .455 Mk I or .455 Colt / Eley brass, unfortunately, I am not aware of any production last decades. I even tried to organize group buy for .455 Mk I brass https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?199347-Brass-Webley-455-Mk-I-anybody-interested , and through my dealer to convince Starline to make it. Unfortunately, they produced shorter Mk II brass.

However, Mk I brass could be made using 45 Cowboy Special brass https://www.starlinebrass.com/45-cowboy-special . Or 45 S&W Schofield https://www.starlinebrass.com/45-sw-schofield-brass , but, of course, length has to be trimmed. Here is how to make a die to squeeze the rim instead of turning it https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sh...webley-brass&p=5268907&viewfull=1#post5268907 .

I would love to get Webley WG in 455/476. That will allow me to use 45 S&W Schofield untrimmed, just rim modified. Here is an idea using modified Mk VI revolver and loading data for 45 S&W Schofield.https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/webley-455-ammo-another-aproach.902100/#post-12220712 .

 

[Tallflyer]

Sorry to bring back an old topic from last year but I have to ask. Has anyone looked into or known any place that can mill a brand new 455 cylinder to the proper specs? I know some places exist to do it for modern revolvers but curious about the webley. I got a shaved cylinder myself and been looking to avoid the spacer option.

 

[Englishmn]

The spacer works fine i have one. Try finding .455 brass first.
Its kinda nice to be able to run moon clips with downloaded 45acp.
I bought a mk2 hollow base bullet style mold and load both types of cases with that.

 

[Tokarevsrule]

Sorry to bring back an old topic from last year but I have to ask. Has anyone looked into or known any place that can mill a brand new 455 cylinder to the proper specs? I know some places exist to do it for modern revolvers but curious about the webley. I got a shaved cylinder myself and been looking to avoid the spacer option.

I have the contacts in machine shops who could make one, but without a detailed drawing, materials and heat treat spec there isn't much to go on

 

[StrawHat]

I doubt the original cylinders were heat treated.

Kevin

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

Sorry to bring back an old topic from last year but I have to ask. Has anyone looked into or known any place that can mill a brand new 455 cylinder to the proper specs? I know some places exist to do it for modern revolvers but curious about the webley. I got a shaved cylinder myself and been looking to avoid the spacer option.

You could work out a brass spacer to slip onto individual .455 rounds. It should work with the low pressure .455 Webley, but if a case with spacer on it did let go it would probably draw blood. Maybe just deal with the spacer or load .455 level .45AR/ACP ammo for it?

 

[mcb]

You could probably just use 45 Auto Rim brass if you don't want a spacer or moonclips.

 

[natman]

This is what can happen when factory .45 ACP ammo is fired in a mark VI. It doesn't always happen but it can.

Even if it doesn't it's common for the gun to simply shoot loose. A standard pressure 45ACP is like a proof load for a Webley, which was designed to shoot much lower pressure black powder cartridges with lead bullets. If you have a shaved Webley, only use very low pressure reloads with lead bullets, not FMJ.

As far as finding an unshaved Webley cylinder, it's firmly in the "not impossible, but not likely" category. There are a lot more shaved Webleys whose owners would like to restore them than there are unattached unshaved cylinders.