Webley Revolver
Standard British service revolver from 1887 to 1963.
The Webley Revolver, often called the Webley Top-Break or Webley Self-Extracting Revolver, served as the standard sidearm for British and Empire forces from 1887 until 1963. Its top-break design means that snapping open the frame automatically works the extractor, ejecting spent cartridges from the cylinder. These revolvers fired the hefty .455 Webley round, placing them among the most powerful top-break revolvers ever made.
Webley & Scott—originally P. Webley & Son before merging with W & C Scott in 1897—had been making revolvers since the mid-1800s. Their first patented single-action cap-and-ball revolvers appeared in 1853. Later, as P. Webley and Son, they produced their own .44 calibre rim-fire solid-frame revolvers and licensed copies of Smith & Wesson’s tip-up break-action models. The hinged-frame, centre-fire designs that define the Webley name began development in the early 1870s, notably with the Webley-Pryse (1877) and Webley-Kaufman (1881) models. The W.G. (Webley-Government) models, made from 1885 into the early 1900s, were popular commercial top-breaks, often bought privately by British officers and target shooters, chambered in .476/.455 calibre. More common at the time were short-barrelled solid-frame revolvers like the Webley RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary) model and the British Bulldog, designed for coat-pocket self-defence. Today, the best-known are the military models used in both World Wars and many colonial conflicts.
In 1887, the British Army sought a replacement for its unsatisfactory .476 Enfield Mk I and Mk II revolvers, which had only recently replaced the solid-frame Adams .450 conversion of the Beaumont–Adams. Webley & Scott, already respected for quality firearms sold commercially to officers and civilians, submitted their .455 calibre self-extracting revolver for trials. The military found it a major improvement over the Enfields, whose American-designed Owen extraction system had proven unreliable. On 8 November 1887, it was adopted as the "Pistol, Webley, Mk I," with an initial order for 10,000 revolvers at £3/1/1 each, at least 2,000 to be delivered within eight months.
The design evolved through several marks, culminating in the Mk VI, produced from 1915 to 1923, and also made by the Enfield arsenal from 1921 to 1926.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Is Ranged
- yes
- Service
- 1887–1963
- Designer
- Webley & Scott
- Design Date
- 1887
- Manufacturer
- Webley & Scott, RSAF Enfield
- Production Date
- 1887–1924
- Number
- approx. 125,000
- Spec Label
- Revolver Mk VI
- Weight
- 2.4 lb, unloaded
- Length
- 11.25 in
- Part Length
- 6 in
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Webley & Scott, originally P. Webley & Son, produced revolvers from the mid 19th century. The hinged-frame, centre-fire revolvers for which the Webley name is best known began development in the early 1870s, notably with the Webley-Pryse (1877) and Webley-Kaufman (1881) models. The W.G. (Webley-Government) models from 1885 to the early 1900s were popular commercial top-break revolvers, often privately purchased by British officers. Other models included the short-barrelled solid-frame Webley RIC and the British Bulldog revolver, designed for pocket carry.
In 1887, the British Army adopted the .455 calibre Webley Self-Extracting Revolver as the 'Pistol, Webley, Mk I', replacing the unsatisfactory .476 Enfield Mk I & Mk II revolvers. The Mk IV rose to prominence during the Boer War of 1899–1902. The Mk VI, introduced in 1915 during wartime, is the best-known model and was produced until 1923, with additional production at Enfield arsenal from 1921 to 1926. The Mk VI was used in both World Wars and numerous colonial conflicts. The .38/200 Webley Mk IV variant remained in police use in several countries.
Reader's Guide
The Webley Revolver served as the standard British military sidearm for 76 years, from 1887 to 1963, seeing action in the Boer War, both World Wars, the Korean War, the Suez Crisis, the Malayan Emergency, and the Rhodesian Bush War. Its top-break design with automatic extraction made it faster to reload than many contemporaries. The Mk VI proved reliable in trench warfare conditions, and accessories such as a bayonet, speedloader devices, and a carbine stock were developed for it. During the First World War, demand exceeded production, forcing the British government to purchase substitute revolvers from the United States (Smith & Wesson and Colt) and from Spanish makers in Eibar. The .455 calibre Webley was retired from military service in 1947, but the .38/200 Mk IV remained in service until 1963, alongside the Enfield No. 2 Mk I revolver. Post-war, ammunition shortages kept these revolvers in use longer than intended, as they were not being worn out from use. The Webley Mk IV .38 was not completely replaced by the Browning Hi-Power until 1963. Police forces including the Royal Hong Kong Police, Singapore Police Force, Metropolitan Police, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Shanghai Municipal Police used Webley revolvers. The Indian Ordnance Factories Service still manufactures a .32 S&W Long revolver clearly based on the Webley Mk IV .38 service pistol.
Did You Know?
- The Webley Mk VI could be fitted with a bayonet made from a converted French Gras bayonet.
- The Webley Mk IV was known as the 'Boer War Model' due to its widespread purchase by officers during that conflict.
- The last Mk VI was sold from the factory in 1957, with 'Nigeria' noted against the entry.
- Singaporean police Webleys were equipped with safety catches, an unusual feature for a revolver.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Webley Revolver?
The Webley Revolver is a self-extracting, top-break handgun that served as the standard sidearm for British and Commonwealth military forces. It held that role from 1887 all the way through 1963, making it one of the longest-serving revolvers in military history.
How does the Webley's self-extracting mechanism work?
Because of its top-break frame, simply snapping the gun open engages the extractor and pushes spent cartridges out of the cylinder in one motion. This eliminated the need for a separate ejector rod and made field reloading noticeably faster.
What round does the Webley Revolver fire?
Most service models were chambered for the .455 Webley cartridge, which placed the gun among the most powerful top-break revolvers ever produced. A later Mk IV variant also offered a .38/200 option.
Who manufactured the Webley Revolver?
The pistol was built by Webley & Scott, a firm created in 1897 when P. Webley & Son merged with W & C Scott. The company had been crafting revolvers since the mid-1800s, starting with early single-action cap-and-ball designs.
How long did the Webley stay in British service?
Adopted on 8 November 1887, the Webley remained the standard-issue British revolver until 1963—a span of roughly 76 years. Notable production marks include the Mk I of 1887, the Mk IV from the Boer War era, and the Mk VI introduced in 1915.
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