Webley MKVI. Happy to have it - but should I try and restore it?

[LeftHandGuy]

Yes my sister was for 30 years working in precious metal depositing in the UK and my drafting compasses weigh double the normal weight due to them being left in the gold plating vat for a whole 8 hour shift .
I once stripped down a .455 bringback for a thorough clean that was owned by an un namable neighbor many years ago "located somewhere in the EU" and it took me a whole day to strip it and put it back together as the hand fitting tolerances were so fine, happy memories of before the gun steal legislation.

Right, that settles it - if it took a day to re-create the hand built tolerances, I'll be leaving it as it is for the moment! I might see what the cost of getting a reputable local smith to do it would be (if I can find one!) but unless I'm offered a very good deal, it can wait until the time I have money for vanity projects!

 

[Southern]

Went to a gun show last weekend, where there was a collector with some nice Webley revolvers and Lugers, some for sale, some not. He was in the spirit, dressed in old British Army blue tunic, matching trousers, and white pith helmet from the 19th Century. I apologize in advance for the quality of a phone photo.

 

[LeftHandGuy]

It's good that I don't have anything similar close to me at the moment. I can't afford more guns and a divorce lawyer!

 

[Southern]

You have to be careful... even looking too much, and a little handing without buying, can cause trouble.

 

[Southern]

I was in a small gun store Saturday morning, which had some nice, very clean trade-ins: Model 70 .243 with scope for $500, NIB Sako L61R .30-06, Model 70 high grade .338 Win Mag like new for $900, and a very clean Webley .38 revolver for under $700. What a delight to hold that piece! So light in the hand, with such strong sights, a very purposeful handgun.

 

[LeftHandGuy]

Stop it! PA isn't bad, but clearly I'm in the wrong part of the country....

 

[buckalec66]

I know a number of Webley shooters and they have tried repeatedly to get Starline or other case manufacturers to do a production run of 455, but to no avail, even offering to purchase a run of 50,000. Guard your spent brass like a loved child!

You got your wish! Star line now do .455 brass

 

[Rafter]

Personally other than despatching at close range I wouldn't even think about using either the Tokarev or the .455 to take a deer. Not that I have anything in principle against using a pistol just that neither is anywhere near up to doing a proper job of it.

Just take a look at some typical average ballistics.
.22 long rifle 104 ft/lb of energy.
.455 revolver 212 ft/lb of energy.
7.62 Tokarev 360 ft/lb of energy.
.357 magnum 763 ft/lb of energy.
.223 Remington 1333 ft/lb of energy.

I have an old Herters reloading manual that strongly recommends against trying to use the old .455 for hunting. In fact it goes on to state that in wartime the .455 was sometimes used to despatch injured mules and failed miserably at the task because the penetration was so poor. Now the .455 may have a reputation as a man stopper (I won't repeat the vile racist term often used in past times) but many say that it was much overrated and certainly not a match for the .45acp or long colt.

I would suggest that a good hardcast SWC in .357 magnum would make a much better job of it but still not a match for a .223 rifle (ballistic wise).

With all due respect to Herters, I've shot and killed deer with every calibre listed except the Tokarev.

They all seemed to work just fine, within their limitations.

 

[Smellydog]

45 Colt, not long Colt....
It's 45ACP or 45Colt. There was no 45 Long Colt.. originally.

 

[hybridfiat]

If it were mine, HELL YES!
You like the gun but hate looking at it.
That isn't a good thing is it?
Get it restored properly.