Webley & Scott automatic pistols. Webley & Scott self-loading.455 inch pistol Webley's first was an experimental pistol in.45 produced in 1903; mass production began in 1906 with the (7.65 mm) model. This pistol had a 3.5' barrel and an 8-round magazine. A.25 (6.35 mm) version had a 3-inch barrel and a 6-round magazine. Scott & Son (Guns in Bold Typeface Webly & Scott) 1868: 1000. (These serial numbers include all types of L.C. Smith, Fulton and Hunter Shotguns) YEAR: GUN #.

The Webley line of pistols served the British Army officially since 1887, but unofficially since the 1870's, as then British Officers were expected to supply their own pistols. The Webley Mk VI was developed during WWI and was accepted in 1915 as the official British sidearm. This robust design differed from the Mk V by having a squared off target style grip as opposed to the bird's beak grip, the foresight was screwed to the barrel instead of being forged with the barrel, and the barrel itself was lengthened to six inches.

Weighing 2 and a half pounds, with another pound for the bullets, the pistol was no lightweight. Strong and durable, the Mk. VI served the British Army till 1947, which is amazing since they haven't been any new ones since 1923. To the British Army's detriment, it is obvious that there wasn't much range time allowed or the pistols would have long since worn out. The break open action allows for quick reloads.

This .455 Webley, like most of the one's before it, relied on 45 caliber cartridges, which were proven manstoppers. The slow fat bullet traveled at 650 ft/sec and the lead weighed 265 grains. The bullet was still hollow at the base, a throwback to the muzzle loading era, but due to the design of the pistol, non hollow base bullets aren't as accurate. Shooters of Webleys converted to .45 acp can attest to that

Accessories for the Mk VI included a bayonet, which was adapted from a French Gras bayonet, and built by W.W. Greener. Designed by a Lt. Arthur Pritchard, they were made available by Greener for officers during WWI, but they were not issued. A shoulder stock was also available, which also fit Webley's signal pistols.

Most Webleys imported into the states have had their cylinders shaved to accept .45 auto on clips. This works well, but accuracy suffers somewhat, however in close combat, who cares. You won't miss. By WW2 the Brits had dropped their obsession with manstopping bullets by replacing the .455 with the new .38/200 bullet in a smaller frame gun. The .38/200 is meatier than the .38 S&W, but who uses that round anyway. They should have stuck to their .45's.

Webley Scott Serial Numbers

The following video is from DrakeGmbh's Channel on YouTube. He demonstrates both the Prideaux speedloader and the Pritchard bayonet.

Webley Scott Serial Numbers Online

Hi all,
I recently bought a Webley and Scott boxlock 12 gauge and hoped you might be able to tell me a little about it.
The serial number is 120853 which I understand was made 1950.
It has 2 3/4 chambers, nitro proofed for 1 1/4 oz shot and weighs 6 3/4 pounds.
Semi pistol grip, 30 inch barrels,ejector and automatic safety.
It looks exactly the same as this one except it has seen more use.
http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catalog.CFPage?appID=36&viewMode=list&catID=44&direction=ASC&mode=viewGun&gunID=397&mediaID=883
I would have expected 2 1/2 chambers on a gun this age.
I assume it is a model 700, but it does not have this on it.
Was this model available in different grades/configurations at the time?
I have a Webley and Scott catalogue from 1914 which lists a 'Proprietary' hammerless ejector gun as a top quality no frills product.it appears the same as mine but without the screwgrip top fastener.
I have not had the chokes measured at this stage, but assuming a nominal bore it appears to be approximately 1/4 and full.
Any info at all on Webley and Scott boxlocks would be appreciated.
Thanks.
[ This message was edited by: Gregdownunder on 2005-09-07 00:30 ]
[ This message was edited by: Tiger on 2005-10-09 16:44 ]

I also have a Webley 700 with the 12 prefix serial number - 2 3/4' chambers, 30' barrels, straight-hand stock, 1/4 and 3/4 chokes, cased in green canvas with leather trim.
The stock finish on mine was a bit lacking so I re-finished it & now it looks very good. Mine has no top fastener, dolls head or screw grip.
I had minne cast and swept alittle to suit my face - It used to bruise by cheek. Now it's fine. these Webleys are decent guns, nothing special but for the money better than the foreign alternatives. If you wanted a new British boxlock of similar quality it would cost a mint.
Compared with my Purdey it comes of badly but I used it for 20 years before I got a Purdey and did pretty well with it - it never let me down and I always felt I had a decent gun in my hand - even at driven pheasants. Now I generally keep it for duck shooting.

Thanks Small bore,
It sounds like your gun is the same as mine except the POW grip, what does yours weigh?
I am still curious as to why mine has 2 3/4 chambers in a gun of this weight.
I may also refinish the stock with oil.
What would be an equivalent boxlock nowadays?
Cheers,
Greg

Hi Gregdownunder,
Yours is a Webley 700, made from 1947 to 1979. You're right, that serial number is 1950. I think all the 12 bores (available in 12, 16 and later 20 and 28 bores) were made with 2 3/4 inch chambers and the 12s were proofed for 1 1/4 oz shot. 2 1/2 inch chambers declined in use from the WW1, as did top fasteners, dolls heads and screw grips. Certainly no 700s had any of these. The weight didn't vary by more than an ounce or two, and as far as I know the only differences in the guns that were produced for the UK market were the barrel length and choking, bright or colour hardened action finish (although I never saw a bright finish), and the stocking. Semi-pistol grip would have been unusual for the UK so yours was probably made for export. I think all had auto safety, manual safety seems to have been a resurrection of a bad idea by European trap shooter's with short memories - not at all acceptable to English game shooters!
I ordered a 701 (drop points, better wood and engraving) with 28 inch barrels and a 14 1/2 inch stock in the early summer of 1958 when the list price was £121. Supply was appalling (typical of the UK at the time) and I had to wait 5 months for it. When it came it had 27 1/2 inch barrels and the wood was poor, and the price had gone up to £128. Cases were extra from one's local dealer, I got a nice canvas one with my initials in black paint on the lid, for about £12 if I remember correctly. I sent off to Webley for a case label - free.
I would add one thing, The Scott history by Crawford and Whatley is a good book but it contains one error. It says that the lowest 'grade' was the 700, the middle grade was the 702, and the top grade was the 701. This is not correct! It went 700, 701, 702 as one might expect. The 702 (supposedly even better engraving and wood!) in early 1958 was either £128 or £132, and by the August I think it was about £145. I guess the mistake arose because prices were continually rising.
Now I'll add another thing: There were some special models, 704, 710, 712, 800 (sideplates) and 728 (28 bore) which can be identified by their serial numbers beginning with the model number i.e. 704xxxx.
[ This message was edited by: Fred on 2005-10-09 17:45 ]

Nice answer Fred. All I can add is that is that the 700 weights could vary between about 6 1/2 lbs and 7 1/4 lbs depending on wood density and barrel length. Around 6 3/4 lbs was normal type weight for a British 12 bore and a lightweight was usually reckoned to be below 6 1/4 lbs.
I`ve never seen a 710 but thought it was a Ten Bore - all apart from the 700, 701 and 702 are pretty rare.
I`ve seen a couple of very high spec 702s with full-coverage engraving and well-figured wood......confusingly I`ve also seen a couple of 700s to the same specification, one of which had a full pistol grip and all four w