Von der Goltz
Member
Here for comparison is the contemporary British Webley & Scott automatic (self-loading) pistol which was adopted first by the Royal Navy in 1912 (first deliveries weren't made until April 1913) after Small Arms Committee testing against both the Colt .45 ACP Military Model 1905 and Colt Model 1911. This type pistol also saw service with the Royal Naval Air Service, Royal Flying Corps/RAF, Royal Horse Artillery (with adjustable sights and modified safety) and private purchases by Army officers (although it didn't perform as well in the muddy trenches due to fouling and jamming). This Webley-Scott .455 1913 MK1 Navy automatic pistol serial number 3800 was 1 of 1919 (serial numbers 3691-5609) delivered to the Royal Navy in December 1914. Close-up photos show the (19)14 acceptance date above the Crown/GR on the frame and breech-block, the serial number, the broad arrow property mark on the grip. Eventually about 7000 saw service in the Royal Navy, about 500 in the British Army and some 500 with Australia. Most Government contracts were completed by late 1917 with a few more delivered in late 1919. These pistols also saw service in WWII with the Royal Navy
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