History of WWI Primer 059: British Webley Revolvers Documentary

[@k_enn]

I never get tired of Mae's patented smile after she shoots one of the classic guns.

[@RockIslandAuctionCompany]

Awesome video. Love the history behind the people in addition to that of the firearms. Very relevant and all too often lost to history.

[@tamlandipper29]

Thanks for providing the pictures, by the way.

[@michaelray4033]

I purchased a Webley Mk IV in a pawn shop a while back, and the lady could tell I was pleased to have it, going so far as to say, "I'm glad its going to a good home." She then said she wanted to show me something, and went into a side room; she came back holding a battered old Beaumont-Adams conversion. "I knew you'd appreciate that," she said with a smile. The cherry on top, there was a Webley Mk IV 38 next to the bigger one. That was one fun pawn shop excursion.

[@MrMaffy96]

Me: this morning I am gonna study and be productive! C&R: not so fast boi!

[@tamlandipper29]

You are studying the wrong subject, apparently.

[@ernestorafaeldiaz8374]

I'm not giving a like because I don't want to ruin the perfect 69

[@ghostface1529]

I mean unless it's something other firearms you are still studying

[@yozmatoz]

I love my MKVI. its beautiful. 1917 stamped and an absolute beast. Makes me proud to be british

[@johnsaia9739]

Too bad they make it so difficult for you to even own a firing non DEWAT Webley in most of the UK. We Americans are happy to have them to preserve and shoot them.

[@handlesarefeckinstupid]

@@johnsaia9739 it's difficult, but not impossible. Shotguns, however are quite easy to own and I go out most weekends to shoot.

[@tamlandipper29]

If you need anything to be proud of being British, then you are Britishing incorrectly.

[@tomsoki5738]

Do you have a section 5 license or deactivated one

[@edinnorthtexas113]

Wish mine wasn't "shaved", but .45 Auto Rim cases work as the revolver was designed without the hassle of moon clips and I keep the pressures down. I sometimes wonder if the .45 AR case's larger capacity doesn't keep ACP level loads to a more moderate .455 level, but I have no way to test the thought so I load to .455 levels.

[@whupdup62]

"Served in the battle of Waterloo" unless I'm missing something, it feels absolutely crazy to me that a guy fighting in the age of muskets contributed to a gun that saw use in WWI

[@jonahmarlow3816]

Whup Dup Indeed. Really shows how much gun technology evolved during the 19th century. You basically had armies go from smoothbore muzzleloading muskets to small bore smokeless repeating rifles in only a 100 years.

[@lptomtom]

Yeah you missed something, Davis died in 1831 and wasn't involved at all in the development of the Webley revolver

[@MrThomPS3]

In even less than that, all things considered. Circa 1840 all flintlock muskets were turned into caplock muskets, circa 1860 they were turned into Minié rifles, then replaced in the 1870s by single-shot cartridge rifles, then in the 1880s replaced by small bore repeaters.

[@MrLolx2u]

Why not? Smith and Wesson created guns for the Civil War and now their revolvers revolutionized the world and even served in hundreds of police dept. in the world. Gatling's gun also became the base for the Vulcan and Gatling guns now too. These 2 were all spawned at the age of rifled musket so yea. It's possible.

[@ironanvil1]

You had someone like Lord Roberts, who entered military service when a caplock smoothbore was the standard issue arm (with some still having the Brown Bess) and exited it in an age of the SMLE and the Vickers Machine Gun.

[@SeraphinaPZ]

I've been waiting for this episode for a long time, I knew the Webley would have its day eventually.

[@Gunsbeerfreedom87]

Mae and her food analogies.... Too adorable.

[@Ashfielder]

Have to fault May for loading the Webley clockwise. Army regulations state Anti-Clockwise incase a colonial native jumps out at you mid reload.

[@maewinchester2030]

Toby Wood Something I should have noticed, thanks for the critic!

[@Ashfielder]

Mae Winchester Well blow me down, I wasn't expecting a reply! Thanks for noticing, and not being particularly offended.

[@maewinchester2030]

Lol, no worries.

[@waynecopus5544]

What a beauty 😍, and the webley ain't bad either.

[@mauer594]

@@waynecopus5544 simp

[@amateurshooter927]

Glad you guys weathered the storm, got my shirt in the mail yesterday, looks and feels awesome... Now for some late night infotainment

[@Candrsenal]

Glad to hear!

[@tamlandipper29]

They are amazingly high quality thick cotton.

[@darthrex354]

.455. For when you want your target's grandchildren to feel the stopping power.

[@Niklas.K95]

...there not gonna be anything after such a hit. Beside a uprooted family tree

[@andyrihn1]

.45 acp hits harder

[@Niklas.K95]

wouldnt call it weak. Only ive you want to talk about the Mars Automatik 45. (at that point its going to get stupit)

[@MrBioniclefan1]

LOL too funny

[@thurin84]

new and improved with extra added imperialism!!!!

[@operator1192]

I've always had an affection for Webley revolvers and this video was just so excellent in so many ways. Great combination of history, lineage, and shooting footage.

[@GusBDamme]

"Third son of a button turner" what a perfect title to tell you how long ago a man lived lmao

[@jamesclark6427]

The Webley is one of my favorite revolvers. There's just something especially delightful about it. They handle and point very well, and the top break action is particularly fun to operate. I sometimes carry my War Finish Mk IV .38-200 as a street gun. They can even cope with black powder fouling just fine. I've fired 50 rounds of black powder loaded cartridges continuously through mine with no trouble at all. Colt cap and ball revolvers are usually too fouled to keep working without oiling after only 18 rounds. But the Webley sails right along. Once in a while I like to load some black powder cartridges just for fun.

[@lptomtom]

I've been waiting for this one since the beginning of this series, the Webley may be one of the coolest revolvers ever made (especially the Mark I-V versions with birdhead grips) Thank you so much for your amazing work!

[@51WCDodge]

Have you got your revolver Watson? :-)

[@cptreech]

The soothing tones of Othais and the stunning Miss Mae. Good morning World!

[@genebohannon8820]

I like the butterfly in the background in the slow motion of the MK IV

[@csipawpaw7921]

Just an observation for those who were not combat trained on a revolver as I was in the 70s. When loading a swing-out or break-top revolver from a loop ammo belt, medium to small handed shooters should pull two rounds at a time and load them. It halves the reload time. Large handed people can learn to load three at a time which is even faster. For a long time speed loaders for revolvers were discouraged as they frequently failed to work properly dumping shells on the ground instead of in the cylinders or failed to release the shells. As for moon clips , the quality of the clips available was a problem, some full moon clips had similar problems as speed loaders. Partial moon clips had little to no real advantage over combat loading from loops. New moon clips of today are generally of better quality.

[@d-cat8198]

Another wonderful film! I love it when these films drop! Please keep the same format, I love the history behind these brilliant militarily historical firearms and learning about the design process is half the fun. I also thoroughly enjoy your humor. Best regards!

[@freemarketjoe9869]

Great job on the video. Love the Webley. The marl IV in 38 is my favorite. Best looking revolver ever, in my opinion, and all that wonderful British history.

[@Groundsey]

Gotta love the Webley Revolver.

[@Solarship_Radical]

Webley Mk.1-5s are the most badass revolvers ever made. Seriously well-made and gorgeous pieces of British craftsmanship

[@kevinforget549]

why not the mark 6 too?

[@tays8306]

Patiently waiting for my webley mark 4 in 38 short and weak. Love this show!

[@Dgotpwnd]

Seeing old revolvers like this really make me appreciate my S&W .357

[@jamesg1367]

I have a Mark VI, of 1918 manufacture in original unaltered condition and I shoot it regularly. I reload using hollow-base cast-lead bullets of the standard Mk II design. Excellent new brass is available from Starline so I'm doing great for ammo despite there being essentially none to be found anywhere on the commercial market. The pistol is a GREAT shooter, and a good fit for my large hand. I certainly understand May's viewpoint, the pistol is not good for small hands and it's heavy as a brick, a bit of a chore to lug around. Nonetheless I love this old thing and despite its value as an antique I would never quit firing it. It's just too good to leave lying in the gun safe. It goes to the range with me at regular intervals.

[@PlymouthT20]

Well done, you have the same attitude as the vintage car racers, a n old Car /gun should be used if possible.

[@popuptarget7386]

Just got a 1918 Mk6 that has been shaved. I just loaded a bunch of .45 auto rim brass with the mk2 bullet. We shall see how it goes. Mine has markings of the 3rd military district so it was still in service for WW2 in Australia. Classic old soldier

[@paladin50554]

New episodes of C&Rsenal are one of the two best things about the weeks that I get paid.

[@bbb2881]

Now if we could get Uberti to make new Mk6's in .45 ACP

[@InputHercules]

Yes please!

[@InputHercules]

Yes Please!

[@bennyjoe1990]

If only

[@M.M.83-U]

Yes please

[@Lowlandlord]

Anderson Wheeler has made a version, the Mk VII in .357, and it is pretty expensive to make. It would be rather expensive for Uberti to make Webleys, considering the issues with top breaks and that the market is more debatable. Note that Uberti right now does NOT make a topbreak .357, their top breaks are available in .38 or .45LC at lower pressure loads than you can put into a Colt SAA. Historical Webleys are not safe with .45acp, acp produces more pressure than Webleys are meant to handle, .455 is actually a kind of light cartridge, heavy bullet, not a lot of powder behind it.

[@deadfish12345]

Out of power in Florida, still watching !

[@maewinchester2030]

That's some dedication sir

[@richardsteele6776]

Extremely awesome. This is the revolver of my childhood dreams. The MK VI. Those incredible British war movies had me dreaming of this handgun. Many years later I managed to find a MK VI. Sadly shaved but wonderful to shoot with my lite hand loads. It was also inexpensive because of the shaving. Everything else is perfect.

[@7hart2]

Just because of the prevalence of hand-to-hand combat with trench raids, I would have figured the MK VI would have rated higher... Being a wonderful club and a nastier belly gun than a .32 Savage 😉

[@raywhitehead730]

That roll was filled by the hand grenade and the shotgun

[@aaronleverton4221]

@@raywhitehead730 Not in British Commonwealth service. It was the Mills bomb.

[@bluebeard6189]

This is the first time I'm ever laying eyes on a Webley Pryse, I have to say that is one of the most beautiful revolvers I've ever seen.

[@TheSound0fLegends]

Absolutley love this channel! Firearms, history and Mae. What more can a man ask for on a thursday night after work. Thanks so much from the UK, cant wait to watch more of your videos!!

[@robertblake7824]

I enjoy watching both of you the knowledge you two offer and chemistry you two bring is unmatched

[@tompepper497]

My father was issued a mk6 .455 in 1940 he was an artificer Sargent in the Royal artillery 8 th. army and served in north Africa. Italy and Germany. The weapon served him well all through the war and in peace time where he used it to dispatch pigs and cattle with an earshot. The weapon was surrendered in the 1960's during an anonymous amnesty, that was the last I saw of it, but I do remember it felt reassuring.

[@Ralph-yn3gr]

So let me get this straight. You could get a .455 caliber top break double action revolver with a shoulder stock, loaded with a speed loader, and fitted with a bayonet. We have discovered the gun cowboys dream of. I'd go through the NFA for that.

[@MrRedeyedJedi]

The bayonets were not common at all. Only a handful actually made it onto the battlefield.

[@simeondarke201]

That is because the Pritchard bayonet was a PoS and made the pistol almost unfireable when attached.

[@Lieutenant_Dude]

I’d shoot the NFA into paper pulp with that.

[@kkloikok]

@@Lieutenant_Dude I always keep my NFA paperwork. It makes good toilet paper when hunting.

[@rdeanbenson2214]

Not a Schoefield!

[@AizazQazi-k4t]

More than the weapons and the one who was shooting them, I want to comment on the extremely well groomed and built character shown by Mr. Othais which is, off course, a byproduct of a lifelong hard work of his parents, and which his body language, vast knowledge on the subjects he discusses, and the kind selection of the appropriate words reveal. Expressing crystal clearly what he feels yet still maintaining a delicate balance with so soft a fascial expression as to not hurt anybody that might remotely feel the other way, I am fascinated by the family values he was brought up with. I learned a lot from you Sir, and it was you I was listening, hearing, taking notes of, though I couldn't help taking note of the courage and boldness of this female who was handling them all literally as toys. We don't have girls like her here in Pakistan. Love from a poor Pakistani.

[@deltaskyhawk]

I really enjoy this historical look at firearms development!

[@BradMcDee]

lying in bed (2:48 am local time) with my pc on a sleep timer for when this video ends is possibly the #1 way to end the day

[@bruceperkins6844]

Interesting that your Mk V has a small farsi marking on the right side. These indicate sale to the Egypt Military/Police. Great video!

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

Farsi is a Persian dialect, that would likely mean it was it Iran, Afghanistan, or Pakistan.

[@charlesadams1721]

I don't know if it's been mentioned before, but from viewing various patents and early military manuals, that "hump" or "knuckle" at the top if the grip came to be technically termed the "Recoil Shoulder." I believe that this what we have learned to consider normal for revolvers came about as a result of competition shooting where the birds head grip might not allow the repeatability in target shooting.

[@ivanthemadvandal8435]

Good show as always, love me some large frame revolvers, I use an N frame 44 for my carry gun, love them.

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

For real dude? I usually don’t bug people about their carry choice but damn, unless you are more worried about getting mugged by bears than humans, .44 might be overkill.

[@williamcollins4082]

You. Obviously haven't seen what a drug crazy junkie can do . Especially the larger variety !!! Let's call it a truck gun .

[@vincentlok8894]

Thanks for the video! The amount of time and research you guys do is incredible!

[@briancox2721]

No shame in taking the 32. A hit with a 22 is better than a miss with a 44.

[@SpruceReduce8854]

Brian Cox *insert joke about .45 acp killing even though it missed.

[@JosipRadnik1]

This is certainly true, but I think Mae completely misses the tactical point here. That Revolver was intended for combat ranges in which you had to decide the fight with one or two shots fired instincively in split seconds. If you needed more than six rounds to bring your opponent down, you would be dead anyway - so in no way would the 10 shot ruby have any advantage imho. so "soft no / soft yes"? clearly a missjudgement in my view. Especially if you consider that this was a weapon that was intented to work in the arctic as well as in the sands of the north african desert or the burmese jungle (which it did).

[@Roflcopter4b]

JosipRadnik1 On the other hand, I have to carry it around all day and probably won't ever shoot it. I don't want to carry a 2.5 pound chunk of metal for no reason all the time.

[@methanbreather]

6 divided by 2 are 3 people, than you have to reload. Every bullet one after another. 10 divided by 2 are 5 people, than you have to reload. Out with the magazine, in with the new one and you have 10 rounds, while the guy with the revolver is at bullet 2 or 3.

[@jackandersen1262]

JosipRadnik1 also the 1911 and P08 Luger carried 7 and 8 rounds respectively, so the Webley wasn’t that far behind the curve in terms of magazine capacity.

[@nathanlambshead4778]

I was consigned a Webley (I think it was Mk VI ?) in 38 SW short when I was an armored truck driver in South Africa in 1978. It holds a spot in my heart for nostalgia.

[@rdrrr]

38 S&W? Then it was a Webley MkIV Service Revolver (not to be confused with the Boer War era .455 Webley MkIV revolver). It could also possibly have been the visually similar Enfield No. 2 revolver, but you seem pretty sure it was a Webley.

[@nathanlambshead4778]

@@rdrrr Yes. It was a Webley MkIV, not a 455. Not any kind of powerhouse or anything, but it functioned well. I remember them telling me it was a WWII leftover.

[@rdrrr]

@@nathanlambshead4778 My understanding is the Webley MkIV Service is a much nicer revolver. Apparently the Enfield is a fairly blatant copy of the Webley with just enough parts changed internally to avoid legal trouble. The Enfield was adopted as the new service revolver but production never managed to meet demand, so Webley managed to sell quite a few MkIV Service revolvers anyway. No doubt many of them did see use in WWII. Maybe C&Rsenal will eventually cover the Enfield No. 2... it'd be an interesting story!

[@Bill23799]

I imagine any horse mounted Cavalryman loved his Webley revolver. You could fire it without pulling back the hammer and you could eject the spent cases with one hand.

[@Dapstart]

I agree that it was a great thing to have double action, but IDK if you could consider the ejection a one hand operation. Due to the star ejector you're clearly fighting a spring when you open the gun up, and i've never seen any videos where somebody opens one without using a hand to pull down on the barrel. IDK if it'd be possible to whip the gun around hard enough to force it open once handed, as I've never handled a Webley, but I doubt it would be very feasible to do, and might damage the gun if done often. Kind of like how whipping a swing out cylinder in and out is discouraged due to possible damage it can cause. It's an interesting idea though, I wonder if anybody's tested doing so before.

[@biggusdickus5986]

@@Dapstart It opens with a side lever you thumb down one handed if you didn't notice.

[@chaimafaghet7343]

@@Dapstart There are lots of things you could use in conjunction with one hand that aren't another hand. Your armpit, for instance.

[@barry7608]

Fantastic in depth review, much appreciated. Its good to get a point of view from your gorgeous assistant who makes intelligent and calculated comments.

[@tangle70]

I love the looks of the Webley revolvers.

[@Tipi_Dan]

Me some too.

[@brandon7482]

I had an Enfield Webley Mark 6 when I was a kid, absolutely loved it. Used .45 acp with moon clips. Great pistol…

[@herman7661]

I don't understand why Uberti or one of the other Italian replica makers has not made a replica of the Webley Mk6, chambered for .45ACP with clips, or .45 Auto Rim.

[@JS-ob4oh]

Probably because Webley the company still exists and may still own the rights to the pistols.

[@insertjjs]

Yay, shirts yesterday and a webley today. You guys are the best.

[@robnunya572]

Pronunciation note (information not criticism): Berkshire is pronounced (with typical English flim-flammery) as Barkshire, where the 'shire' part is more of a 'sha' sound with a slight 'r' roll-off- Barkshar.

[@Sarrienne]

It's more like a straight "Bark-sheer", by most people... The Whitley-born and similar yokel types effect a fake Berkshire accent and call it "BAAAAARK-sheeurr". There is an actual Berkshire accent, but it's nothing like the bad Somerset impersonation!

[@alundavies8402]

Sarrienne Cousland I am English and I call it barks hue not a sheer sound and I think that they tell people to pronounce it wrong so that they can hit them in a pub or something

[@alundavies8402]

Sarrienne Cousland I dunno how it respelled what I wrote so I am going to give it one last try it’s pronounced bark shurr in London and if people are telling you different they are lying and telling you rubbish coz they are commies or republican weirdoes

[@peterfeltham5612]

I know very little about firearms,but found this video compelling viewing.The narrator is brilliant,really knows his stuff and has a lovely dry sense of humour.Oh and for once on a video I loved the music,very appropriate.English fan.

[@rdrrr]

Also being English I don't actually _own_ any firearms (I don't have the time or money to go through the bureaucracy involved in that) but I find them fascinating on a mechanical level, in the same way some people go mad for cars or clocks. The animations provided in these videos are wonderful. I can't help but admire the fine machining and craftsmanship that went into these early 20th century firearms.

[@biggusdickus5986]

@@rdrrr You can buy co2 powered replicas of nearly all these guns including rifles and machine guns even shotguns, the pistols, are around £180/£225, the main makers are Umarex ( a German company and the most popular ) WinGun ( Taiwan made guns of which the Webley VI is made by these who used to make the Webley with its actual blueprints, l have 2 Webley Mark VIs in 177 and 22, they are beautifully made all metel except the grips which are plastic but hey so we're the Gutta Percha grips of the real guns an early form of plastic like bakelite ) ASG, Crosman. You can get 45 Colt Peacemakers, in different finishes ie silver, black, battlefield. There's Luger, 44Magnums like Dirty Harry's, Walters, Berretas, Glocks, H&Ks, Mp4 pistols, Lee Enfield Rifles, Winchester Repeaters, all firing BBs, or pellets or both. They are amazingly faithful replicas with the joy of being able to actually fire them and perfectly legal, though they cannot be sent through the post. There's 3 gun stores near me that all have some of the guns l mentioned or who will order you them. I'm 65 by the way and yes it's great playing with guns again only this time l don't have to shout bang everytime a cap misses lol. I have 5 guns 2 colt 45s same size but different finishes silver and worn gun metal ( mist like the silvered but l prefer the weathered gun but l bought the silvered first l would rather have both in weathered but that's just my choice ) 2 Webleys as stated previously, 1 in 177 and 1 in 22. I also have a Schofield mark 3, l had a 1911 commander auto and a 44 Magnum before l decided to collect only revolvers around a hundred years old. I'm thinking of getting a Crosman 1875 Remington ( much like the Peacemaker but with 7 inch barrel and the ejector rod is fully shrouded ) you can get targets cheaply, or make your own with plastic bottles, tin cans, the empty pellet tins, anything you can think of, it's great fun shooting them it's the nearest we'll get to having the real thing. Even if you could get a certificate for a pistol now they have to have an 16 inch steel bar attached to the handle to make them as long as a rifle.. I know it's mad, a villain would just hacksaw the bar off if intent on nefarious deeds but that's England for you. So if you're looking for some fun in owning and shooting some of the guns we grew up seeing in films and TV these are your chance, two tips if you buy one, never tighten the gas bulb in too hard it will damage the fa's seal, and same wise don't leave the gas bulb in fir longer than your shooting session as prolonged pressure on the seal will malform it oh and always put a spo of pelgun oil on the tip of each co2 bulb it keeps the seal soft and the gun lasting for years. I hope you get one ( if you do tho you won't stop at one they're addictive lol).

[@HustlerDrill]

Still used the Webley for water ops till the late 70's in the unit i was in (Australian Army), more reliable than the 9mm in such evironment. I got so attached to it, that I've got one (dectivated 😞) as a wall plaque in my 'war room'.

[@artiz32000]

about that Gasser there are a Russian rifle cartridge that can be used if trimmed and .45 lee dies do function. you get full grip in the barrel

[@Candrsenal]

I will pass this to jay

[@ypop417]

Good show. Love your Hair Mae!

[@maewinchester2030]

Y Pop Thanks! It was time for a change.

[@Tuning3434]

I was still flabbergasted by you wearing contacts. Eye's to drown in. Hair is a nice plus too.

[@andygif290368]

gah, Mae's a Girl, where'd that tom boy go....

[@john-paulsilke893]

Did you see the slow mo of her shooting that beatie? I'm still not sure she's not an NFL linebacker or a UFC pit fighter. I have a Webley myself and the trigger in double action is heavy, (smooth though). Kinda hard to train yourself to hold it still when shooting. (She's either really good at shooting or owns one she's practiced with lots.)

[@maewinchester2030]

I practiced with a few hand strengtheners in the beginning... then I started riding motorcycles and just from riding so much my hands have gotten used to long, heavy pulls for many hours at a time.

[@forestgreen9447]

Mae has never looked better she was positively glowing with her review and boy can she shoot

[@nicholasmazzarella2720]

Super job as usual. I am a huge fan love collecting ww1 and ww2 rifles and pistols you guys are always awesome. Thank you :)

[@Candrsenal]

Glad you're enjoying it!

[@bearshrimp]

I love how much you are dedicated to sound fidelity. I can say, from your videos, tye .455 Webley is my favorite sounding pistol l, well that's not black powder. Your reprecussions series is great and I can't wait until you cover my favorite sounding firearm, the Remington 1858 in black powder form. I have also realized that I will never own a .32 pistol, not because they fire an underpowered cartridge, but the sound too peaky for my ears. Either way, it's nice to hear something other than .22LR, 9mm or .45 ACP like I hear at the range all the time. Great job with the sound ❤

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

Thomas Shelby will be pleased with this episode.

[@PaulRudd1941]

Underrated comment to be honest

[@LouisL1963]

Until he changed over to his M1911 .45 semi auto in season 3.

[@neilmackenzie4394]

Excellent smooth, informative presentation by the gentleman. Very good shooting analysis by the lady. The graphics and X-ray displays were well done. All in all, good job! I subscribe to C&Rsenal.

[@frankbrayman8076]

My grandfather served in the Canadian Army in WW-1 as a Lewis gunner. They issued him a Webley Mk. VI to defend himself if the LG went down. He said that marksmanship training was very basic. Grip the gun with your bird, ring and little fingers, and your index finger ends up above the trigger guard parallel with the barrel. You've been pointing with your finger all your life - that's your means of aiming. Pull the trigger with your bird finger. He said that it worked surprisingly well at close range, which was all he was concerned with.

[@Pijawek]

Polish spies from the inter-war period were trained to shoot like this. At close range and especially in the dark it's surprisingly effective

[@tlw4237]

@Thirsty Sexpert Canada used a mixture of Webley, Colt and S&W pistols just like the rest of the British Commonwealth and Empire forces, including the UK. What was issued boiled down to where enough approved for adoption .455 pistols could be obtained from quickly enough to meet the huge demand.

[@mikerock777]

@Thirsty Sexpert Might want to read the content of your own link.

[@mikerock777]

@Thirsty Sexpert They also issued Colt 1911s, not just S&W revolvers. We have one in our museum collection. You are correct though regarding the Webley being a private purchase item, and not an issued item.

[@mikerock777]

​@Thirsty Sexpert Wow. Rude. Sorry you don't like being corrected when you're wrong, and handwaving away my correction doesn't make you right. When you say something on a gun channel post and it's not right expect to be called out. You made a claim which was incorrect, "No they only used S&W revolvers unless they were officers who chose to purchase a Webley." This is untrue, but you tried to support it with a link that contradicted your claim. I pointed this out and you didn't like it. It doesn't matter what ratio the 1911s were issued in compared to the S&Ws, they were issued. So, the correct response is, "That's true, they did issue the 1911 as well as the S&W." The Webley being a private purchase item is irrelevant to your statement. Your claim was that the S&W was the only issued service pistol for the Canadian forces.

[@alexandrevelhinho2327]

One interesting tidbit: my Webley Hurricane air pistol in .177, in which the barrel acts as a lever to arm the piston spring, still uses such a stirrup to retain the barrel in battery.

[@J.DeLaPoer]

I still maintain that the MkVI Webley is one of the finest revolvers ever made; still a viable weapon today too.

[@lorenrogers9269]

Agreed, I have one and love it.

[@greghardy9476]

I used to have one modified for .45 ACP/.45AutoRim. I simply loved it, wish I still owned it.

[@hans2406]

The Mk VI was and is a fantastic weapon, the calibre was perfect, the handling was perfect, cleaning was an easy chore, lovely.

[@J.DeLaPoer]

I also continue to be surprised there's so extremely few revolvers of the top-break type out there, considering their very fast, intuitive and easy reload (and cleaning) vs. the "standard" swing-out cylinders. They can't be _that_ much more expensive to produce, or that much weaker in strength, surely?

[@danielkorladis7869]

sorta like the last big steam engines, the most refined that technology got before being displaced by other systems.

[@spaceman6215]

That lovely sigh after emptying 6 rounds from May is just *chefs kiss*

[@keithorbell8946]

Othias, just a quick note on pronunciation: in British and Commonwealth armed forces the rank term “Lieutenant” is pronounced “Leftenant”, and the County Berkshire is pronounced Barkshire. I don’t know why, they just are. Just to be even more confusing, the town where I went to school, Berkhamsted, is pronounced “Berk-em-stead”. In British place names, there are no pronunciation rules!

[@Roflcopter4b]

Yes there are. You just gave the pronunciation rules. They just don't correspond to the very outdated spelling system we use.

[@Tipi_Dan]

I couldn't look away. The Webley is my favorite. The iterative process of refinement is fascinating. The end product is perfection. I own a Mk. VI (made by Enfield), a Singapore Police Mk. IV (with safety), and a standard Mk. IV. These Mk. IVs are the WW2 vintage Mk. IVs, not the earlier iteration that led to the Mk. VI. All three are shooters--- still, I wish they would go back into production. About as likely as Player's Navy Cut Medium coming back on the market, I suppose.

[@milgeekmedia]

I know a lot of people think the idea of a bayonet on a revolver is weird, but if you get a chance do visit the WW1 museum in Ypres to understand what a horrifyingly medieval thing trench warfare was! Trench raids must have been terrifying.

[@JS-ob4oh]

You mean there are things in warfare that isn't horrific or terrifying? Must live in a different reality than mine.

[@popuptarget7386]

As a GI I love the 1911 but I always had a soft spot for the MK6. When I finally found one I didn't have to think before grabbing it. The crowning touch was coming in 1st at a military shoot with it.

[@JerryEricsson]

When I returned from Vietnam and separated from the US Army, I was hired on by my home town police department. We had a small grey file cabinet with a locking side door, and inside, I found an old Webley .38. I asked the Chief about the gun, seems it was confiscated from a fellow who used it to try and shoot his wife, and barely missing my eldest sister who was with the guys wife as she tried to get some things from their home. Another gun in storage was an old .22LR rifle cut down with a pistol grip, it was very familiar to me, as it was the first handgun I ever owned. I purchased it from a Combiner who came up from Mexico when I was 15 with money I earned driving tractor for my Uncle who hired us for 5 bucks a day, then worked our assess off, even went so far as to hire us out to his neighbors to dig toilet holes! A few weeks later, I came to work and found the two old guns cut in half and laying in the garbage, the Court had ordered them destroyed, and the cut down rifle was, of course never legal in the first place, even back in the 60's I think it was illegal, but not sure on that. It was one of those Stevens top break .22's with a small lever action, I loved that little gun, no sights but I could hit pretty well just aiming down the barrel If I recall, the barrel was about 10 inches long, and the home carved pistol grip was really very nice for what it was, reminded me of the old dueling pistols of the 18th century. I do remember that Webely though, I thought it a very nice little revolver, while not on line with the mighty .357 Mag that we were issued, in the guise of the S&W Model 19's that the City had recently purchased for us, mine was still new in the box when i received it, since I was the first 4th man on the previously 3 man police department. The only reason they hired me in the first place was because they had a grant from the Fed that paid 2/3 ds of my salary for 1 year so long as they kept me on the PD for 3 years total.

[@tamlandipper29]

I haven't heard a story that rambling but interesting since my godfather died. Thank you.

[@jasonshelby3228]

Yeah that would ver my guess, he was running around with one sock on for part of the afternoon.

[@Graham-ce2yk]

Thank you I have been waiting for this one for a long time.

[@Graham-ce2yk]

Just finished watching, I'd say that May gave both versions a fair assessment, of course I suspect if she could have gone through whatever training in use the British gave their officers back then, then that opinion might have been different. And am I right in guessing that the Webley Automatic Pistol will be next up?

[@ludditeneaderthal]

Mae sans cheaters!! quite a different look without them (not better or worse, of course, just different). also, i noticed no "blissfully goofy .32 grin" while detonating these micro-nukes, lol, though it did appear at string end in both clips. kinda like shooting a buick, no? ok, on to the revolvers. let's expand a bit on the grip variation between the mks V and VI, from birdshead to colt trooper-esque profiles. previously (i think even with another huge honking revolver, lol) i commented on the design difference between "ergonomics" and "dynamic kinematics", and this transition (as well as the earlier humpectomy) illustrates that fairly perfectly. the mk VI is shaped by ergonomics, shaping and profiling to fit as extension of human form in NATURAL motion and stances. practical use had found exactly what Mae did, a tad too much wanderlust in use when actually firing the mk V, so the grip was reangled to a more acute angle, and "stop surfaces" that naturally bore on hand common features were added. result, a "homebody grip", lol. it also points more naturally, and "feels more balanced" (like a coffee pot handle versus an iron skillet). ergonomic. our mk V is designed to conform to contortions already drilled into the anatomy of our soldiery. the grip is "idealized for presentation" ala sabers (which is, technically, what a pistol was in military arms, a real buck rogers style saber), in all forms of drill. it's a cutlass grip on the mk V, which is why the earlier "humpectomy" was performed, it "interfered with conformity of presentation". also, our late 19th century hussar had honestly small concern of "grouping" or even accuracy at range in "real world use", as their employment of pistols was against the same foes they would swing a saber at, or gore with a pike. as huckleberry hound said "i rarely miss at THIS range", lol. shoot foe a, downward club the skull of foe b, uppercut the skull of foe c, your grip is reset, lol. the grip is made to capitalize on the already required completely stylized, unnatural motions of "accepted drill practices", dynamic kinematics. of course, modern eyes give us the advantage to see the obvious folly of dynamic kinematics, but, like most "procedural doctrine", it's moribound antiquity was a creeping menace. it sprung forth when one handed firearms showed practicality, and tradition is HUGE in military drill doctrine. having to alter loading drill probably did more to stall acceptance of breech loaders among the "old beards" than any technical difficulties, honestly. pistols were the fodder of the mounted troops that fought close, so were designed to emulate employment of the "traditional weapons" those troops used. toss around that mk V and a calvary sword of similar vintage, you will find similar balance. pikes, same thing. calvary swords and pikes died in the trenches, so did the appeal of those pistols that imitated their handling. then the influences of those who had stood off colonial walls of angry flesh charging fixed lines of brits were able to influence design for obvious practical reasons. as for "shaved" cylinders, my opinion is highly influenced by that of nonte, in his tome on pistolsmithing. a well done example on a mk V or later will in no way be dangerous, even with mil-spec .45 acp. every one of those revolvers went through a brit proof house, and passed at pressures far exceeding acp spec. nitro proofed cylinders have all the oomph needed, plus. however, bubba got his paws on most shavers. many were shaved by draw filing, a process whose precision is entirely resting in the talented hands of the file wielding bubba, cheeto stained t-shirt and all, lol. but, tons of them were cut on lathes, so it isnt guaranteed that "bubba precision" rules. the problem is actually the acp round itself, the rim cut is entirely unsupported but for the clip, which only bears on half (outer, fortunately, lol). so 50% of the extractor groove is guaranteed unsupported, even if built by swiss clock makers. soft case head, powee! failure. arrrgh, doom? nope, a problem with an easy solution the .45 "auto rim" case (yes, still available). it is a .45 acp case with a rim of .45 colt diameter, but clipped acp headspace thickness. it was developed for our own 1917 revolvers, to obsolete the need for half moon clips. .45 colt WILL NOT WORK, the rim is not thick enough, it HAS to be auto rim, or clipped acp. also, with bright light to highlight, an auto rim case allows actually eyeballing how rough the fit is in individual chambers, so allows the mk I eyeball gauge to assess worthiness of investing in the gunsmith inspection before firing. if you see scalloped fit around the rims, accept the wall hanger status. flat planar breech end, pass the inspection. bubba topography? parts gun. of final note, i also cant help but notice the "harder yes possibilities" for the mk VI design Mae speculates about basically describe the replacement .38 caliber examples, so her opinion was obviously shared by many bigwigs, at the very least. of course, as usual, impossible to have a complaint. another superb episode from about the best channel on youtube! if you dont stop rocking, i wont stop watching, lol! edit: like # 950 even, lol

[@greghardy9476]

LOL, I ‘Webleyfied’ a percussion Colt replica. Fluted the barrel on top and rounded it on bottom. My testament to my feelings toward this revolver!

[@bartholemewmasterson6462]

Do you guys still need dyes for the gasser revolver if so contact me I know a company that makes all sortes of dyes.

[@Candrsenal]

pop us an email? [e-mail]

[@panzerabwerkanone]

Why do they need dyes? Are they going to change the color of the gun? How about some reloading dies so they can fabricate ammo for it? Lol

[@markknife1]

"Shaved" - Anger inducing. . . Also in the accessories was a .22 caliber trainer that was not popular, yet very interesting. Love to read david thomas' research paper on the use of sidearms in the first world war.

[@jamesburnett7085]

Mae: I rush to say that my enthusiastic appreciation of your contributions to the show have nothing at all to do with the increasingly glamorous changes in your appearance. Certainly not. Your new hair style (nice cut), your ditching of the frame glasses, and certain delicate "adjustments" to your costumes are all things I hardly notice. I continue to hold you in the highest esteem as a firearms expert, and in that regard, your keen analysis based on hands-on, visually documented range experience speaks for itself. My engagement with your academic approach is so complete that I totally failed to notice you saying, "You're a dick!" at 55:06 of current video. Kudos to you, Mae, and to that other guy, whoever he is.

[@JadeTigerFury]

You guys always do the coolest old gun stories and reviews. I love the history, and the parts where she fires the gun and then gives her opinions in review are just plain awesome. The visual examples and the CGI bits are a very nice touch. Not to mention the old period music playing in background, really helps with the feel of the old days you're talking about. I don't know if you're actually getting paid to do these episodes or not. But if you're not, I think you should be. These episodes rank up there with those of "Tales of the Gun" or that one of the "Top Ten Combat Rifles" I either own or have owned many of the weapons you guys have had episodes on, and I think that's pretty cool. I love the MkVI Webley revolver, I have one in the original (has not been shaved down) .455 Webley caliber. I've hit targets as far as 50 yards with it. It is without doubt my personal favorite revolver of all time. That's saying something when you think a what all is out there. I wish they were still making them today, with new metallurgy I think they could make a really cool new updated version & even one that still fired those good old man stopper .455 Webley MkII rounds. A real man stopper of a round, and the Webley MkVI just has such a uniquely old school British revolver look to it. I mean nothing else out there looks like it. When you see someone holding one, you know it's a Webley, with that mean old .455 caliber round that will put you on your butt if you're hit with it. Now I've served in Law Enforcement and I can say that when a .45 ACP flies past you it sounds like someone just threw a large heavy metal ash trey past your head at high speed. This thing fires a slightly heavier bullet moving a noticeable bit slower. I can only assume it would sound more like a loaded mini-fridge going by you instead of that heavy metal ash trey. For WWI I'd want the Webley MkVI no doubt however for WWII I'd have a hard time choosing which pistol/revolver I'd want to carry. If my choices were the Webley MkVI & the M1911A1.

[@Equiluxe1]

The army taught instinctive shooting from the hip with revolvers, maybe that has something to do with the Webley grip shape. I once borrowed a MK5 and entered a full bore shooting competition with it,never shot one before came second against people with modern weapons. The person who came first was using a Swiss made gun in a smaller bore with light hand loads, so the Webley can shoot well.

[@verfugbarkite]

Equiluxe1 Old Webley's predate hip shooting by a long shot (although not the WW2 webley/enfield 38s). I think the presenters are on to something with the bent elbow shooting stance; that stance can be seen in old Bisley shooting matches. The other point is that the curved grip facilitated better hammer manipulation for single action shots.

[@john-paulsilke893]

Maybe Ian and Karl need to enter a shooting match with a V and a VI. Stress shooting can reveal secrets and maybe answer the birds head vs square butt question. I have only ever shot a Mk VI so can't add to this question with any authority.

[@keithorbell8946]

Fair comments on usability, the final reference to Savage v. Webley, the size and weight is key. May is a very experienced shooter, and has shot all sorts of different handguns, but she is not he type of person the Webley was designed for, it’s perfectly understandable that she would go for a more handy weapon.

[@fleurdelispens]

mae got contacts (or lasik). whichever it is, mazel tov. and did I hear correctly that we're doing webley automatics next episode?

[@stevethomas5849]

Throughly enjoyed your presentation very informative. As being a Brit I am green with envy that you able to own and fire these national treasures that we can't.

[@neptune3569]

.455 Webley. For when you don't want just a wounded enemy.

[@Dapstart]

no

[@brianperry]

These revolvers had a nick name...a '+++ stopper' because of its stopping power...if you got hit by the .445 slug you didn't get up again.!

[@johnsmith-ce2tq]

@@brianperry what about a the smaller round

[@caseyjonessnr1200]

In 1966 I trained and qualified with the Wembley MK VI. I continued to use and qualify with the MK VI until 1971 when I was issued with the Browning 9mm pistol.

[@Gman-109]

How did I just find this channel now? Fantastic, keep it up - loved the Ross rifle video as well, I have fired and handled several here in Canada, but don't own one.

[@williamlloyd3769]

Do yourself a favor and work your way through the back catalog. Impressive!

[@johnf3f810]

Interested in you observations of the Webley WG at 10 mins into the video. I used to have a very similar one (serial No 1503) - the main difference was a knurled wheel to release the cylinder rather than the slotted screw on your one. As far as I could find out mine was made between May and July of 1886. Whilst the finish on mine was quite worn, mechanically, the pistol was effectively new and shot superbly. True it was not the most accurate revolver I have ever tried/owned, but it was the fastest functioning and most instinctive shooting revolver that I have ever held. At the time it was far ahead (in handling/functionality) of the modern Ruger and Smith & Wesson revolvers that I had at the time. I also liked the fact that, when it was made, British Service revolvers had to be able to use any British service cartridge so it would happily digest a wide range of cartridges from 450 Adams to the 476 + a few others. Unfortunately I live in the UK - so back in 98 this piece of history ended up being confiscated and melted down! All I am now left with is happy memories.

[@joelmuller358]

Sarah Davies might be the first woman to have hand in things even mentioned in these segments, which is still one more than I expected there to be. It's not exactly crowded with women in the 19th century arms industry so it's always interesting when one pops up!

[@danhicks684]

Thank you for educating me about the moon clips.

[@Sackpfeifer]

39:35 No it is clearly Boba Fetts Blaster from The Empire Strikes back and Return of the Jedi!

[@jacobduggan8008]

Boba Fett is a kiwi so it makes sense.

[@grahambull5802]

It was a " point and pull" for close range stopping power . I had the opportunity to shoot a few of the later .38 and .32 revolvers as well as work on some in the 70's at Webley's Park Lane factory .As a point of interest Webley reckoned to have made 75,000 Cassepot rifles .

[@Procket12]

The British decision to go to a .38 caliber round might have been excusable if they went to .38 Special instead of picking an already obsolete and underpowered cartridge in the form of the .38 S&W.

[@johnfisk811]

It was a deliberate choice. The .38 was for use by troops who got negligible pistol training so they began with a maximum balance of power to weight to allow both easy controllability yet a worthwhile impact on the opponent. .38 special would need just a bit more weight to control the recoil for the untrained user.

[@thetooner8203]

They didn't pick 38 S&W. The new Enfield service revolver could chamber and fire .38 S&W, but the service cartridge was the .380-200, with a 200 grain bullet. The extra bullet weight gave better effect, though .38 Special's higher velocity would have been even better.

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

The Tooner .38-200 is still garbage compared to .38 special or .455 Webley.

[@filianablanxart8305]

The .380 Revolver ( as Known over there ) was suitable length and pressure level for the Webley style Topbreak platform . In the era before effective hollow point technology , the 200 gr RN was comparitively more effective than 158 RN . ( In 1930s - 1950s US Law Enforcement , the ballistically identical " Super Police " 200gr loading in .38spl was not uncommonly issued . Notably , the East St Louis PD had whole buncha gunfights in the 1930's with this . With a 200gr bullet at 600-ish fps with 1:18.75 twist rate , they usually tumbled upon impact , making significantly larger wound channel sideways , than a 158gr RN penetrating point first straight thru . Being better than a .38spl 158 RN is a pretty low bar , and I'm not saying that .44spl , .45acp, .455 , etc wouldn't be far better than either , but the .38/200 wasn't giving anything up to the .38spl loads of the day .

[@Roflcopter4b]

@@filianablanxart8305 "The era before hollow point technology"? You sure you've thought that through? Hollow points weren't used in war (and _still_ aren't used in war today) because they're illegal under international law. The technology goes back at least to the 19th century.

[@simeondarke201]

Before our Government banned handguns I had both a Mk4 birdhead and a mk 6 which I regularly shot. I had no problems with either getting good grouping at 10 an 25 yards. I quite liked the birdhead grip.

[@pir869]

Yes our governments(north of the border i am) are arse holes,banned air guns,you can still get handguns in Northern Ireland,and other British outposts like the Falklands,or TBH NON MAINLAND,the rules are infuriating .........I miss my trigger time,and live next door to a very large farm.

[@aussiebloke609]

The idea of assembly lines starting as an automotive thing is a common misunderstanding. I was taught that firearms were first - because of the need for interchangeable parts - and fast, reliable, less-expensive manufacture of comparatively huge orders in times of war. Henry Ford's contribution was mostly to realise that even something as complex as a car could be build in the same fashion, when everyone else believed it had too many parts for them to all be interchangeable and reliable. if they were build in this fashion.

[@filianablanxart8305]

More subtlety to it than that . Mass produced interchangeable parts were indeed an innovation of the firearms industry . Henry Ford's contribution was the automated assembly line .

[@atlanticproducts]

Outstanding video! I've been eagerly awaiting an episode featuring the Webley, and your treatment of this iconic revolver was informative and fair.

[@jackmcgloin3709]

C&R please do the mosin nagant i know your probably going to do the m1911 but i think you could save that for after plus you have not done any russian weapons yet and you should take a little break from pistols for a bit

[@fdmackey3666]

One of the many things that have lead to changes/advancements in firearms design has always been the reality of field/combat usage. If the shooter/hunter/soldier finds a particular design or design feature hard to deal with/learn/use, word will, eventually (sometimes quickly) work it's way up the "food chain" and the offending design/design feature will be "tinkered with" until the end user(s) are satisfied or at least as happy as they can be with the change or changes that were made.

[@MilsurpMikeChannel]

I received my shirts on Saturday... Sweet!

[@Candrsenal]

Thanks for the support!

[@MrPh30]

Webley made shotguns and doublerifles for the Army and Navy store chain also. Many officers got their Webley pattern revolvers built by highend makers like Westley Richards also.

[@jims9249]

The shirts are great!

[@Candrsenal]

Glad to hear!

[@willienolegs8928]

Very good presentation,thanks.

[@JonManProductions]

Yaeh! First for bedtime story night!

[@JonManProductions]

Insert Zman screaming about crap here.

[@canicheenrage]

JonManProductions That would be completely out of character !

[@captapraelium1591]

knowyourmeme.com/memes/first

[@johnspencer626]

Got my shirt today and another video tonight. Thanks guys, great work!

[@Candrsenal]

thank you for the support!

[@Diebulfrog79]

Great video. Sorry about the hate mail. But the mark 5 was the old point blank and shoot era from the hip, either horse back or fighting CQB. The mark 6 was base on Bisley target match shootings before the war. Where tight groups at longer ranges. Also, 455. was a man stopper, compare to the 32. you needed one or two bullets of 455. then the whole clip of 32. 32's are considered coup de grace pistols.

[@admiralpercy]

Diebulfrog79 Clip

[@51WCDodge]

As late as 1937 the official Small Arms training Pamphlet No 11 give instruction of the .455 for cavalry. Probably in case the local foxes shot back at the Sandhurst Fox Hounds.

[@baker90338]

I mean, what do You expect, the bullets are light, accurate, though it is weak. If you’re at close range, it’s got everything you wanted, and if you can get a suppressor, and oh baby, you’ve got a decent concealable light execution piece, because it’s quiet, accurate, and cheap as f***.