Evolution of Webley Top Break Revolvers

In this video, I’ll take you through the evolution of Webley’s military top break revolvers.
This is a history documentary.
Nothing in this video is for sale, nor is anything in the video sought for purchase.
Sources:
The Webley Story: A History of Webley Pistols and Revolvers, and the Development of the Pistol Cartridge, by William Chipchase Dowell
The Webley Service Revolver, by Robert Maze
Mike Beliveau links:
Patreon - / duelist
Website - mikebeliveau.com/

[@duelist1954]

I’ve answered several individual comments about why I didn’t cover other Webley Top-Break revolvers, especially the Webley-Pryse. As I said at the beginning of the video, for the sake of time management, in this video I concentrated on the military top-breaks. It seemed like a good idea, at the time. But, obviously, that was a bad call on my part.

[@skiphinson8620]

I like your choice of models to cover in this video.

[@saskafrass1985]

Still a great video. You just left things open for a different installment.

[@jedcurry8560]

Mike,...we Brit's don't mind at all you making videos on British firearms. The thing is,..you bring us such a lot of information in an enjoyable way that a lot of others don't. So keep up the great work.

[@johnlea8519]

I'm a British fan of the channel and love all your videos, just a shame we don't have a second amendment over here....🇺🇲🇬🇧

[@richardprice5978]

as a loyalist/nationalistic scot we did after the civil war/1600's/pre1860's~ but boomer or zoomer-gen( unfortunately i was one sorry, i haven't ever lived under London's-city law/tax but still poignant-point )/Londoners thought it was wise to forget Benjamin-F/other's warning's to the point that speaking/other against government politics and or loyalists/anti-immigration can be dangerous and or welding or hunting ect also same-ish, and it didn't even work as stabbing-ect are still a thing if not worse-off ect USA is slowly forgetting that lesson's as AFT and NFA-ect as currently enforcing

[@ChristopherLambert-m7q]

The UK has a history of some really beautiful firearms. I can't remember the name exactly i get it mixed up with the general store in rdr2 but Wheeler something....are building the old Webley top breaks in .357 Magnum. Webley themselves are manufacturing in India, we aren't currently getting them imported here in the US but i have my fingers crossed.

[@stacydrain9613]

Move to the U.S. Every one else is!

[@kholt275]

The very fine citizens of the UK need to force the MPs of Parliament to rescind the firearm ownership ban and amend the UK constitution to restrict the government from infringing on the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

[@TXGRunner]

Curiously, our 2nd Amendment originates from the English 1689 Bill of Rights. I'd argue the real difference is your lack of a written Constitution and a parliamentary system without any checks and balances against a simple legislative majority. I'm just splitting hairs though 😉

[@LewisSkeeter]

As a Brit, I'm happy to see you appreciate and discuss our weapons.

[@monarchist1838]

Just a shame we can't legally own them.

[@66smithra]

@@monarchist1838is that true you can’t even own a break top revolver? Yeeesh. I feel badly for you guys. British firearms are really neat. I’ve got an Enfield No. 4 rifle and a No. 2 breaktop revolver as part of my WW2 collection. They are certainly fun to shoot and appreciate!

[@monarchist1838]

@@66smithra Indeed it is. Gun rights for law-abiding are not absolute. The UK proved that in 1997 because of one maniac our police failed to handle. Now only criminals can obtain handguns. The good people of the United States must protect the Second Amendment.

[@earlshaner4441]

Brother you just keep sharing your wisdom on firearms and weapons and history

[@earlshaner4441]

Outstanding video brother and Congratulations on getting our country back brother

[@RetroSteamTech]

Mike, I'm a born and bred Englishman, you make as many videos as you want about British weapons. Like all your other videos I find them very educational and entertaining.

[@jmwnhlhk]

I love Webley revolvers! I currently have four: MKV 455, MKVI 455, MKIV 38/200, and MKIV pocket model 38/200.

[@davidkachel]

Mike, please clone yourself. I just can't get enough of these excellent videos. And thanks for filling the historical gap for me re the change from 45 to 38. I've owned several of these sisty uglers in the past. They have a strange attraction. I don't own any at present, but if I should acquire another, you will be the easy choice scapegoat! Thanks again.

[@70selvisfan]

I was just checking for pricing on Gunbroker on some of these. They're not all that expensive, surprisingly. I might have to have one of these babies!

[@jackgreenstalk777]

Thankfully! They made 500k so that helps 🙏

[@SuperMarshall2009]

Glad to see another video Mike. Have a 38 Webley and love it. The 38 S&W isn't common but have a lot of fun with it.

[@tomcurran8470]

Great historical vid as usual. I love top break revolvers. My dream gun, when I was a kid, was an H&R 999 Sportsman top break .22. I never did get one. Never too late. Greetings from Mayberry, NC.

[@myfavoritemartian1]

I owned a Mk4 for ten years. I shot it in competition regularly for three years. I reloaded all the ammo for it and used .45ACP/185 Gr SWC and 700X powder at a reduced loading. I shot 300 rds/Mo in a monthly practice, also every Wednesday night at the National Guard Armory and a monthly match. It totals over 15,000 rds in the three year period. It was cleaned after every outing and detail cleaned once per month. It worked flawlessly. I sold it to upgrade. I bought a Smith 586 L frame and hated it. I can't afford another any more. I now shoot a .38 Webley that has the cylinder chambers lengthened to fit a .38 Spl case and load HBWC bullets flush with the case. It is quite tame and fun to shoot.

[@barefoofDr]

I love the Webley top break revolvers. I have the Mark I, II, III, IV, V, VI, and a WG Army. I sleep with a MarkV under my pillow every night.

[@kmorris180]

I've had a longstanding love for top break revolvers. My current ode de joy is a Belgium Clement revolver in 44-40. It's great to see someone else who loves the top breaks.

[@tompuckett9937]

Thanks Mike for this video!!! Webleys have always been my absolute favorites! I’ve had four Mark 6’s and six Mark 4’s. My last Mark 6 was dated 1917 and on the left side of the barrel flat it was stamped “MAIL” in 2.5mm high letters. I’ve was never able to find a Webley collector which could tell me how and when the revolver might have been used. My very last revolver was a special edition of the last of the Mark 4 production run. It came from the factory in a wood presentation felt lined box. The gun had a beautiful polished blue finish and my favorite feature of the revolver was the inscription on the barrel flat, “THE SUN NEVER SETS ON THE WEBLEY MARK 4”. As I remember there was 500 guns made with this inscription. Haven’t seen another one in over 40 years. I’m 77 now and now only shoot .410 SXS at sporting clays and skeet.

[@stevejorgensen5274]

My MK VI has been shaved. I also shoot a lot of 45ACP and 45AR. I came up with a lot of 45GAP brass. It is the same size as 455 Webly brass. i load the GAP brass with Webly loads. It shoots very well. I also havr a 38-200. The Brits were concerned the Germans would complain about the lead bullets so they went to a 185 grain fmj bullet. The Indian government ran out of parts for the ,38 Webleys. They bought 38 S&W chambered Security six revolvers because they had thousands of rounds of 38 S&W ammo. As usual great video.

[@shootingwithmitch5921]

I've been watching your videos for a long time now. They're always interesting and informative. I love seeing you plinking with Webley! keep on shooting!

[@robertpresley6414]

You mentioned the Hi-power. I don't believe that you've ever done a video on that gun. It would be great to see one about it. Always enjoy your vids, Mike.

[@JarmoLaakso]

Webley with a birds head grip is one of the best looking guns ever.

[@mtslyh]

I have always loved top break revolvers. Thanks for sharing this info.

[@RamonMarais-k2k]

Thank you. I find the English top breaks some of the most ellegant revolvers made.

[@catyear75]

Arguably the most elegant and effective revolvers of their day !

[@1boortzfan]

I always love your videos Mike. I'm also glad to see you out and giving yourself some much needed therapy. Keep up the great work. God bless.

[@lets-allplay]

Always a good morning when I see a new Duelist1954 video. Hope things have been improving there. Thoughts and Prayers !

[@smilingwolf1980]

So happy to see you back at it. As always, another great video

[@TheGrenadier97]

9:48 - That makes a lot of sense in a context of rifles with magazine cut-offs. Even a later boxy british pistol had a cut-off too!

[@bobbyrobinson757]

Very good history lesson Mike. Thanks

[@TheGrenadier97]

Fine presentation as always & great guns. Cheers!

[@CHRISTIEMALRYLIBRARY]

excellent stuff, but dont forget the webley pryce , kaufman and WG models which were top break going back to the mid 1870s in the case of the pryce, and 1883 in the case of the kaufman

[@duelist1954]

I guess I should have mentioned them. I stuck to official Military models to keep the video manageable.

[@CHRISTIEMALRYLIBRARY]

@@duelist1954 i realised as i hit post ! great video

[@derekp2674]

Also, I believe Webley's first revolvers were percussion models made in the 1850s...

[@rapidrrobert4333]

We meet again, thanks Mike.

[@JamesThomas-gg6il]

Digging the bowler. Cheerio chap

[@stancassada2461]

Great video. I found it very informative.

[@mikereinhardt4807]

Thanks Mike, great video...

[@hettro-cv6082]

Good video! Love the Bowler or derby hat!

[@PeterSt1954]

It's a shame I can only like this video once.

[@andreleger2001]

Good vid - keep up the good work

[@jfbft5007]

Hi Mike, nice video, and a historical gun. I had, 20 or 25 years ago a 38/200 model bought at low prices. I didn’t keep it for long, too hard to find the ammo, and I never got to shoot right with it. Otherwise it is an interesting weapon.

[@---bp8jd]

It's funny, I've seen more .38 S&W/.38 Colt New Police ammo than something like .357 SIG in my travels. Definitely not very economical or the best use of the cartridge to shoot factory loads, though!

[@Hibernicus1968]

I used to have a Webley Mk. VI in the original .455 chambering. I ended up selling it, and I sort of miss it, but it had a _very_ heavy trigger pull, and I guess I am too spoiled by my Colt and Smith & Wesson revolvers. One thing I will say in favor of the Webley is that it had excellent combat sights -- a wide U notch and front blade -- much better than on other handguns of the period. It also had superb, hand-filling grips. One thing I never understood about Colt and S&W revolvers is why they always made them with grip frames that are much too skinny, and don't fill the hand well at all, which is why things like Tyler T grip adapters, and aftermarket grips came along to correct this deficiency.

[@galenhisler396]

Another great video, as always .

[@daviddiffenderfer6963]

Keep the videos coming mike

[@robertburford6039]

We British love Amrican guns, we are glad you like ours. in the past I had .38 4" barrel a .22 6" barrel both I enjoyed also I have used a Webley Frosbury semy auto revolver that was good, pluss they made a 9mm.auto pistol .bob

[@Steve-ed1nh]

Thanks ‘brother’, another great video. I’m another Brit who enjoys your content, and as one of my country cousins has spoken highly of the 22 air gun version I may get hold of one. Incidentally, as a teenager i always fancied handling the Wembley Fosberry. Have you ever shot one?

[@duelist1954]

I wish! They are both scarce, and pricey on this side of the pond.

[@paulbervid1610]

A Webly Fosbey would be fantastic.

[@Schlachtschule]

Great video, thank you. I have long wanted a Webley.

[@halfcan-nitafan5207]

You have at least one irish fan sir

[@rookriflerookrifle8286]

Excellent video 👍👍

[@frankjenkins3871]

Thanks Mike, very interesting.

[@nickwebb9290]

Well here in the UK we can’t own the real thing but I have a Webley Mk.VI co2 .22 model. It looks authentic and is fun to shoot. The originals had such a long service making them part of our firearms history. An excellent video, some interesting facts in there that I didn’t know about, many thanks

[@mypetvelociraptor]

Yay❤, I didn’t even see you posted a video on my day late!

[@jackgreenstalk777]

I'm really glad the comments section seems to be in just about total agreement. You rock mike. Your videos are great, we all really appreciate you. Truly!

[@Yosemite-George-61]

Great subject, love the hat!

[@phileasfogg1645]

Thank you MIke, very nice video. The Indian government does still produce a version of the Enfiled No 2 Mk I , it is a .32 revolver made by the IOF (Indian Ordnance Factory), nice but rather pricy at around 1500 USD or so.

[@jeffgrier8488]

Loved the video Mike, and we appreciate all the time and and research you put into the videos.

[@ar6985]

Good to see you back in action Mike!!!

[@WK1745]

Thanks Mike, great video. As another Brit I really enjoyed learning more about Webley revolvers than I knew before.

[@ol1guy994]

Thanks I love your work

[@bearray57]

Mike, the Mk4 was the first pistol I bought myself when I came of age!! Thank you for another great video!

[@Gunner40Five]

Nice job Mike! Keep up the good work.

[@TheGunfighter45acp]

Zulu did it for me, too. These are fabulous guns and a nice contrast to American offerings. 👍👍

[@skiphinson8620]

A Webley MK-IV is one of my prized pieces that my Pop collected years ago. It’s a war finish made in 1943 I think. It’s been a while since I researched the serial. It’s a good one. Lock up is tight. Frame is tight. Perfect bore. It’s truly a joy to shoot. This one had its chambers reamed to .38 special dimension at some point. Reaming didn’t take the step completely out of the neck area in the chambers and .38 S&W cartridges still fit and fire perfectly but I can also use .38 special cases with wadcutters loaded flush or crimped in the ring. I mostly shoot .38 special cases loaded with 148 wad cutters at .38 S&W velocities and it’s on target and very accurate. The .38 Spl cases do swell to the .38 S&W case dimensions but at these low pressures, the cases last a very long time before developing any cracks. The .358 lead wadcutters that I cast from either the Lyman or the LEE mold are both very accurate even though they are a few thousandths smaller than the .38 S&W lead bullets. At any rate, it’s just so much fun and history to be enjoyed owning my Webley MK-IV. Great video!

[@robertburford6039]

You are very informative in your discription of the revolvers, I had the .22 6in target revover that was nice to shoot all so I fired the Webley Frostbrey revolver that was interesting. Bob

[@OldlineWayne]

So very thankful you are doing well!! 🙏🙏

[@uttaradit2]

I have the co2 .22 pellet version of the Webley mk6......well I live in the UK ...otherwise tru copy using the original specs

[@nickwebb9290]

Aren’t they good. I too have .22, it has the 6” barrel and Battlefield finish. Very satisfying to use with the build and looks than seem pretty authentic. Happy plinking 😁

[@awiedevilliers1288]

Wesley revolvers are part of our South African history used by our police and military for a long time very interesting thanks Mike I have seen some other people that also had issues with ammo from the same company they used 45-70 some rounds were way under powered

[@pilgrimm23]

Great presentation Mike. The only Webley Mk IV "War Finish" marked, (not an Enfield Mk II) I have is the 38-200. Wish I had a bigger one and a few earlier ones.

[@alaskaruss1]

Always enjoy THANK YOU!

[@woodsmanforlife1677]

At 11:30 you mention the Boer war. To clarify: you are meaning the second Boer war. Unfortunately, the first Boer war is always ignore/forgotten because the Brits lost. If the Enfield would have been made in .38 Special, that would be a big seller!

[@ewathoughts8476]

One great thing about top breaks is, if you have a cylinder rotation blocking squib you just open the action and pull the offending case out. then you can tap the blocking projectile back into the empty chamber and never have to worry about the projectile heal being caught by the mouth of the case and preventing the projectile from moving backward. A hand ejector type may be locked up by this, and cause much more difficulty in clearing.

[@joemiller9632]

Thanks for sharing this video Mike Ill have to look for you video on reloading ammo

[@Eric-the-Bold]

1976 when I joined the London Met Police , a gun cabinet containing four Webley 38 revolvers were retained for use if and when required. Authority of a superintendent or above. By 1982 S&W model 10 was in use, but firearm units had been established. My father North Africia 1943, the sergeant had a Webley 45. Both Royal Artillery.Pitch black they heard a noise in the desert. My father was given the revolver who then fired off all rounds. A lone German emerged, Dehydrated and was taken as a POW. Two days later the news came down how the Captain had single-handedly caught the German. Oh hum no medals then.

[@ar6985]

I love the old Webleys...they are fun to shoot....I've got a really neat WG that has the sales invoice provenance and a bit of history on the officer who bought it in London ..5lbs I think he paid for it....and some mention of him in dispatches in the Orange Free State. Fun stuff to collect!!!

[@josiel152]

interesting history of the Wesley. I had a 38 caliber model only thing I remember about it was the very heavy trigger pull

[@P_RO_]

One of my few regrets in life was not making an even-swap trade for an Enfield rechambered to 38Spl for a cheap 22 pocket auto I'd just bought which turned out to be unreliable junk. I'm sure that Enfield is still shooting superbly somewhere. The 38/200 lacked penetration through any light cover. A common 'wives tale' from WW2 was that it wouldn't penetrate the standard issue German heavy winter coat, which was untrue but anything more substantial could stop it. That's why they went with a lighter faster bullet when they switched to FMJ bullets. Most use the ejector improperly with the large-bore Webleys. It was found that if you fired a partial cylinder full, then held the frame horizontal while breaking the barrel open downward, occasionally a loaded cartridge on the bottom would slip from the extractor star and fall back into the chamber which would prevent closing the action until you used a knife or rod to get that cartridge out from under the star. The correct procedure as taught by the British military is to hold the barrel horizontal, then break the action downward.

[@jamesmcclenin9804]

I had an Enfield and, being essentially double action only, I couldn't wait to get rid of it.

[@Majorrogerragland48]

Thanks for warning in the postscript, I load both 45 AR and ACP brass to Webley pressure for my Mk.6. I actually, have not seen Webley use factory ammo in my area for sale, and now won't seek any on line.

[@julieanddavidmyers6641]

I have a WW2 vintage 455 Webley that I shoot 45 auto rim reloads at safe pressures. I'm not a fan of those blasted moon or half moon clips which are a pain to load the cartridges in. My 38/300 British revolver is actually an Enfield. Somehow Webley got ripped off by Enfield on that military contract. Both are fine shooters and are so heavily overbuilt. It is odd to me that these revolvers were in service so long in British common wealth agencies ...which speaks to their robust nature and if it's not broke...don't fix it mentality. Mike, great historical video!

[@marklessley7097]

Good video... cool hat

[@davefellhoelter1343]

100%! Qualified, and Proven!

[@traviscochran6280]

I am a fan of the British top breaks. I have a .455 MkIV, a .380 MKIV, and an Enfield MKII.

[@Melmac1975]

Mike, you should let Fiocchi know about those squibs. They may issue a recall that could potentially save someone out there some damage to a historical weapon or (much worse) damage to the shooter or someone innocently standing by them.

[@drno4837]

My Webley is a 38 SW made in 1946, the great thing about post war Webley 38s is that due to having no cash after WW2 the British government did not want to buy rounds from America, the allocation for practice for those issued Webleys was 2, yes TWO a year, so they are not exactly over used,

[@Bill-xx2yh]

Thanks good to see you

[@operator1192]

I really wish Uberti or someone would make modern day copies of the Webley revolvers. I have some originals and I love them but I always fear wearing them out.

[@rene-davidduplessis8766]

Great overview, as always. I know it’s a ridiculously niche curiosity, but I’d love to know more about the development of the Webley Mark I, mainly because I own a Belgian top-break Warnant revolver (patents dating to 1877) that appears in nearly every particular identical to the Webley Mark I!

[@rene-davidduplessis8766]

…and now that I look at it, *even more* like the Webley-Pryse…which preceded my Warnant by one year.

[@earlshaner4441]

Good morning from Syracuse NY brother and boiling hot coffee time brother

[@duelist1954]

Hi Earl!

[@stevenjohnson2610]

Great video... I have a Webley that somebody fitted with a .45Colt cylinder. A gunsmith told me it was safe to shoot with low powered reloads. The barrel is bored somewhat larger than .45 caliber, more like .477, so it is horribly inaccurate I retired it about 20 years ago.

[@davidwilliam6331]

That was a very interesting and informative video. Thank you. Would you provide the link to your videos, regarding how to load the .45 ACP cartridge for Webley revolver? Also loading the .38/200 cartridge? Thank you

[@derekp2674]

At, ahem, "Fenland Polytechnic" in the late 1970s we used an assortment of war surplus .38/200 revolvers for target shooting. As a club, we owned a Lee(?) bullet mould for a 110 grain bevel based full wadcutter. Cast bullets from that worked nicely if seated about 2/3rds of the way into the case. Ordinary commercial .38 semiwadcutters also shot very nicely. For both, we used ordinary .38 S&W reloading dies and powder loads slightly less than .38 Special recommended loads. Keyholing was a common problem, especially on our most used / most worn revolvers. But tailoring handloads to give the bullets a nice gentle start seemed to help eliminate it. Thus excessive crimp was something to avoid, and nice low power charges also helped. Not using a very fast burning powder like Bullseye may also help but I never got to try that out. Mike was lucky that his factory Fiocchi shots did not include any double charged rounds. Back in 1980, we were unlucky enough to fire one of those in our Webley MkV. It bulged the cylinder and stretched the top strap. Luckily, our local gunsmith was able to source the parts needed for the required repairs.

[@TheMatm12345]

I don't know why no major manufacturer make top breaks now. I think they are much superior than swing out cylinders.

[@Se7enBeatleofDoom]

Webley revolver from the Boy and his dog.

[@MourningConstitution]

Thanks!

[@edelarth8320]

I had a Webley revolver with 9rounds. Cool

[@Stargazer80able]

Always wondered why the British changed from the 455 to the 38/200 in its time. There were a plethera of cartridges to choose from, and easy enough to invent one.

[@robertlittle7407]

Cool man cool

[@firestorm8471]

I have a #2Mk1* ENFIELD in .38/200 . I have several dozen of the 178 grain FMJ rounds left for nostalgia, but I load inverted and unsized hollow based 148 grain wad cutters normally for .38 Spl. In mine. I have found this to be a relatively nasty little loading. I keep it as a hidden house gun (no kids) . My nightstand gun is an Argentine 1937 model S&W (1917) which I keep loaded with 45 AR loaded with 262 grain pure lead bullets from a .455 webley mold. This one is a thumper and I feel in no way undergunned with this accurate revolver. These old guns are just as effective as ever in competent hands.

[@ericstevens8744]

Custer carried a Webley. Bulldog revolver at the Little Bighorn

[@VillyVassel-eo3qo]

I have seen the John Chard, Revolver

[@arthurekman8281]

Along the lines of British Revovers? What Revolver did Sherlock Holmes gun down the hapless hound in the Hound of the Baskervills. Did he face charges for this dasterdly deed.

[@ObservingObservatory]

Not sure if I may have missed it,but have you ever done a vid on the Bulldog? Actually considered carrying a brace of them...

[@willbar1961]

I've had a 38 DA for decades.