Webley MK IV .32
I have in my possession a Webley MK IV in 32 S&W Long. It is in excellent condition, and is one heck of a shooter. I came in with a large lot of guns at my friend's gun shop, and I snagged it for very little money. It was not until after I bought it that I was informed that it could be worth a bit of money. The owner of the gun shop rated it as a 98% finish with a perfect bore.
The barrel has a slight taper to it, and has three stampings on it; BV BP and NP all under a crown. The webley emblem is stamped on the opposite side along with 'MADE IN ENGELAND'. The serial number is A564**
Any ideas about value? I have scoured the internet, and have found an impressively small amount of data about it. Any information that you may have would be great. If I can snag the digital camera from work, maybe I will get some pics of it to post.
Thanks!
-Phil
The barrel has a slight taper to it, and has three stampings on it; BV BP and NP all under a crown. The webley emblem is stamped on the opposite side along with 'MADE IN ENGELAND'. The serial number is A564**
Any ideas about value? I have scoured the internet, and have found an impressively small amount of data about it. Any information that you may have would be great. If I can snag the digital camera from work, maybe I will get some pics of it to post.
Thanks!
-Phil
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Phil, I'm not an authority on Webleys, and I'm working from memory, but I believe that the Mark IV was the .38/200 or .38 S&W as we know it. The Brits did make the Mark IV in a .22 LR caliber also but I haven't heard of one in .32 S&W Long. Can you tell if this military? Is it stamped with the broad arrow anywhere? A picture would certainly help if you could post one. 0 -
Bruce & Reinhart's Webley Revolvers, page 168: "Although not produced in such large quantities, the Mark IV also became available for calibre .32 cartridges. Except for the calibre, these models were identical to the .38 models and had a similar choice of barrel lengths, sights and stockplates. All versions could be fitted with the safety device if desired. Ammunition for the Mark IV .32 was either the .32 Smith & Wesson Long, the .32 New Police or the .32 Smith & Wesson cartridges." 0 -
I have one in .32 S&W with a short barrel and grip. I personally value it much higher than any of the other MKIVs, because it is so rare. On the other hand, , I doubt that it would bring a big premium because not many people are looking for them because they are almost unknown. 0 -
I'd be a wee bit cautious with any "Webley" revolver that had England spelled "Engeland." There are some very nice looking copies of Webley revolvers of all marks and periods made in the border regions of Pakistan. They are generically called "Khyber guns" after the famous Khyber pass nearby. The usual giveaway is that they have spurious or just plain incorrect proofmarks or markings that are copied from real guns by makers who don't read English very well. Some of them are of surprisingly high quality appearance, but surprisingly low quality metallurgy! They are collectors items in their own right, but not Webleys. Is England really mis-spelled? If it is, I'd cease fire at least with smokeless loads, even in the mild .32 Long.... 0 -
Nope, that was just me doing what I do best; Misspelling words. In this case, I mangled England. It is spelled correctly on the gun.
I am 100% positive that it is not a copy, that much I know for sure. I have actually seen a couple of those Pakistani copies, and was actually able to find more info about them on the internet than I was able to find about the Webley.
Good advise just the same[:)] Thanks.
-Phil0 -
The Standard Catalog of Firearms lists the Mark IV as:
"Mark IV
As above (Mark III), with a .455 caliber 3",4",5" OR 6" barrel. This model was also available in .22 caliber with a 6" barrel, .32 caliber with 3" barrel, and .38 caliber with 3",4" or 5" barrel.
Exc. - $400
V.G. - $325
Good - $225
Fair - $150
Poor - $ 75"0 -
to be fair, while several differant cartridges will interchange / fit / function in this gun, its a .320 revolver round...
while the .32 S&W, .32 SHORT COLT, .32 COLT NEW POLICE can be used, and are very similar in dimensions, this revolver IS NOT chambered in .32 S&W, and should not be refered to that way...
i have a revolver chambered in .22 WINCHESTER MAGNUM that will accept / function with and fire the .22 WRF.
i do not say that it is chambered in .22 WRF.
best regards, mike.
What other dungeon is so dark as ones own heart, what jailer so inexorable as ones own mind.
contact me at the shop at waltsgun@aol.com best regards, mike.0 -
Mike,
I regards to the breaktop Webleys you are wrong. Both my MKIII and MKIV are chambered for the .32 S&W rather than the .32 Colt. It is the same thing with those MKII and MKIIIs marked .380. In that case, they are chambered for the .38 S&W rather than the .38 Colt. This can be proven empirically, by simply trying to chamber the larger diameter S&W rounds. If they fit, that's what its chambered for. The Colt "New Police" cartridges are essentially the same as the S&W rounds. It is true that the early Webley solid frame revolvers marked .380CF and .320CF are chamber for .32 Colt and .38 Colt.
quote:Originally posted by mrmike08075
to be fair, while several differant cartridges will interchange / fit / function in this gun, its a .320 revolver round...
while the .32 S&W, .32 SHORT COLT, .32 COLT NEW POLICE can be used, and are very similar in dimensions, this revolver IS NOT chambered in .32 S&W, and should not be refered to that way...
i have a revolver chambered in .22 WINCHESTER MAGNUM that will accept / function with and fire the .22 WRF.
i do not say that it is chambered in .22 WRF.
best regards, mike.
What other dungeon is so dark as ones own heart, what jailer so inexorable as ones own mind.
contact me at the shop at waltsgun@aol.com best regards, mike.0
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