WW1 British Contract M1911 in .455 Webley Self-Loading

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On the eve of World War One, the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Flying Corps had both adopted the Webley Self-Loading Pistol, chambered for a special .455 caliber semi-rimmed cartridge. With the needs of wartime, Webley deliveries of these pistols were too slow, and alternatives were sought. The obvious choice was the Colt 1911 pistol, already in service elsewhere with British troops. Colt had no trouble adapting the design to the .455 Webley semiauto cartridge, and between 1915 and 1919 some 13,000 of them were sold to Britain (plus more in .45 ACP). The .455 caliber guns are so marked on the slide, and all have W-prefix serial numbers to indicate their chambering. Purchases continued after the Royal Flying Corps was renamed the Royal Air Force in April 1918. While some were surplussed after the war, others would stay in service until World War Two.
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle #36270
Tucson, AZ 85740

[@luisnunes2010]

Casually flexing a Webley auto, like they grew on trees. Never change, Ian.

[@jeffreytam7684]

With original ammo no less

[@richardtaylor1652]

Doesn't top that time when he flexed not one but two FG-42's!

[@TorquilBletchleySmythe]

Yes, but it's God awful ugly. Like a P38 drawn by a preschooler. With crayon.

[@ryanslikker6135]

with a Johnson lmg in the background yet

[@throatpunch4789]

Its called forgotten weapons, he does this all the time. Even shows old flintlock kentucky rifles! 👍😉

[@lakrids-pibe]

British M1911, Self-Loathing

[@SLAD3]

Oh dear lord

[@sirtaylor2569]

British M1911, Self-Loving

[@tisFrancesfault]

@@sirtaylor2569 no true Brit could understand such an idea.

[@thomasschreiber1028]

Gun for people with low self esteem

[@grizzlyadams5410]

Damn it

[@jean-francoistremblay143]

When gun jesus says "Like this one" and casually pull out a rare gun..

[@jamietus1012]

I'm not sure they are that rare?

[@ericgrace9995]

@@jamietus1012 Blasphemy... You dare to challenge gun Jesus ?

[@jamietus1012]

@@ericgrace9995 my mistake, I did not mean it

[@Hermenie]

He did the same thing with a kolibri in a video about subcompact pistols

[@TenShine1productions]

He has access to an interdimensional portal and can just pull guns out of nowhere

[@mp3545]

A couple of years ago, I was at the Churchill War Rooms in London. In one of the displays was a Colt 1911 chambered in .455 Webley Auto, which the display said that Churchill had purchased during or shortly before the start of the First World War and carried as his personal sidearm for the rest of his life.

[@discerningscoundrel3055]

That sounds a lot like Churchill. He was somewhat forward thinking with his choice of personal weapon, and was a very early adopter of automatic pistols, carrying a C96 during his time in the Sudan, including at during the famous charge at Omdurman with the 21st Lancers, who were at this time still armed with lances.

[@stevenbobbybills]

Yeah, I definitely remember reading that his C96 saved his life when he used one rather than a sword whilst injured on horseback, and that he did carry a 1911 whilst serving as the prime minister.

[@MalikCarr]

@@discerningscoundrel3055 I believe he lost that same C96 during his time as a Boer prisoner. There's an interesting tale there about how he had some expanding "man-stopper" 7.63 bullets for it, which had just been made illegal for use in war by the Hague Convention, and had to cleverly dispose of them from his person so as not to give the Boers an excuse to shoot him as a war criminal. It was an interesting time for sure.

[@Autobotmatt428]

@@MalikCarr wait way was that cartridge band

[@trollofduty007]

@@Autobotmatt428 An expanding bullet is designed to widen in diameter (Flatten basically) upon impact, making the wound bigger therefore it does way more damage when it hits you

[@qingyunwang3802]

Kudos to the attention Colt paid to the details such as the British spelling "CALIBRE" instead of "CALIBER".

[@FLVCTVAT_NEC_MERGITVR]

Good eye

[@billbolton]

I think the Brits would have sent them all back if it was the American spelling.

[@silvirhunter3607]

Funny. Thought they would send them back for misspelling

[@jenkinsonian]

You mean Colt spelt the word correctly instead of the American version.

[@andrewmoore7022]

@@jenkinsonian and what makes British spelling the correct way instead of say old English?

[@svtirefire]

So this is the WAP I keep hearing about? Webley Automatic Pistol?

[@Garhunt05]

You win an internet

[@harrisonthecarguy3734]

i mean, its pretty sexy tho

[@The_Republic_of_Ireland]

You are a legend

[@damondiehl5637]

Cardi and Megan are coming over to discuss.

[@georgesheffield1580]

Not necessarily ,there are others very different .

[@Swindle1984]

"One of the only times Colt made them in a unique caliber." I've seen a couple of Colt 1911's chambered for 9mm Steyr; I believe they were for the Italian civilian market.

[@weswolever7477]

Several years ago I was at a gun show, one of the exhibitors had a .455 colt 1911 that had worn blueing (showing it had a history). Two men were looking at it and one said “well you could get it re blued”.... the murderous look in the exhibitors eyes still cracks me up

[@cerqy]

'they won't make a .46' how about a .455?

[@ozzone719]

Rounded up it works

[@andrewmoore7022]

How about 50GI?

[@davidgillon2762]

@@Sableagle Old India Hand: ".455 has its place, and .476 is even more useful, but, when the tiger's in the howdah with you, you really want .577" kzbin.info/www/bejne/aImliWWagrmYmNU

[@bremnersghost948]

@@davidgillon2762 Break out the Nitro Express

[@ryanm9105]

@@andrewmoore7022 I’d love a Thompson in 50gi.

[@hardlylivin6602]

Seeing that webley pistol gives you a new appreciation of just how good the 1911 looks.

[@tinlizzie37]

Hi Ian, I bought one of these in a Ft. Lauderdale pawn shop for $65.00 back in 1967. I didn't think it took a different bullet, so I used the US 45 cal ball ammo. It shot very well and I had no problems with the gun. Traded it for a WW2 M 1.

[@Marvinglep]

Saw one of these at the British Pattern Collection in Leeds. Also saw a German Luger P08 in .455 and other oddities and one of a kind there. Truly an unforgettable experience

[@AsbestosMuffins]

there's something entirely british about stubbornly refusing to adopt a self loading pistol this hard

[@jenkinsonian]

No point spending the money on a pointless weapon when it could be spent on more machine guns. A pistol was an even less effective a weapon than a bayonet in the grand scheme of things.

[@prd6617]

well during that time period, revolver are way reliable than any semi-auto/self loading handgun because of the quality of the cartridge. similar to how many army still prefer bolt action rifle than a semi auto rifle.

[@joelholzhausen8377]

@@jenkinsonian This is a ludicrous claim. Semi automatic pistols were some of the most effective weapons in trench warfare

[@rogerlibby14613]

@@jenkinsonian The point is an officer then has a shiny status symbol to wave about.

[@jiversteve]

@@rogerlibby14613 an officer that can be easily spotted and is a trophy target.

[@vaclav_fejt]

"I carry a .45, because they don't make .46!" "How about a compromise?"

[@themadscientest]

You carry a 45 cause you don't feel like hurting yourself with a 500 mag.

[@nickwaller8063]

Jokes on the fudds, they did make .46

[@ArcturusOTE]

@@nickwaller8063 More specifically, a 460 Rowland

[@matrix3509]

"I want a 1911, but I want one in a caliber that's impossible to find ammo for." *Looks at pandemic ammo shortage* "Ah, so .45 ACP it is."

[@unluckyirish2763]

I can find .45 relatively easily in my area. Affording it? Now thats the issue

[@khaaaaaaaaaannn]

"I carry a .455 because they don't make a .456"

[@ElijahDecker]

@Graham I carry a .460 because they don't make a .470. How's that?

[@angelsfallfirst7348]

@Graham Darn, you beat me to the .460 Rowland draw. One of my favorite 1911 chamberings.

[@georgesheffield1580]

They do make a .476 though

[@georgesheffield1580]

​@@ElijahDeckerI've got a .470 nitro express ,and a .577 nitro express . Both are NOT for pistols .

[@astridvallati4762]

Sorry, Ian, the "cp" mark is the commercial mark of the Honourable London Company of Gunmakers, the other Commercial Proof House ( other than Birmingham) The Northern Territor Police ( Australia) used .455 Colts ( viewed onein 2000 or so, too expensive) And NT also used Mod 712 Schnellfeuers in the 1920s ( HM Customs anti-Piracy use). I also had a request from Prague, for .455 cases some 20 yrs ago; from an owner of an RAF marked Colt, ??Czech RAF pilot? Returned to Prague after WWII, imprisoned by Red regime, pistol hidden or went to friend and into post- 1989 liberation collectors market? Interesting history...never did get to supply cases !!! Doc AV

[@somecoder3054]

There is one in UK out there for section 7 shooters, thought that one was super expensive. They're especially rare in UK.

[@maddmatt55]

I think it MAY be possible to own one of these without a firearm certificate. It is an obsolete cartridge and so may not be subject to licensing in the same way as a Smith and Wesson revolver chambered in Russian (can’t remember the calibre!) but if the cartridge is still available commercially then it’s a no no and has to meet the modern pistol modifications that you wouldn’t do to an historic gun like that!

[@somecoder3054]

@@maddmatt55 looool, my good man, the government have long made it impossible to own these as relics and they'll make your life living hell if you try it. If anyone you know has one, they should take it to a dealer and get it off british soils. DO NOT GIVE IT TO THE POLICE; they will destroy it. Give it to a dealer and actually save history. The chances of them destroying it rather than just sending it to the MoD is very little. Obselete calibre be damned if it looks like a 1911 to them. Also to any law enforcement officers reading this: I'm sorry but you know it's true.

[@fg42t2]

I had one of these in the 1970s. the conversion to shooter was just aBarrel and 45 ACP mags. shot it for a while then put .455 barrel and clip back and sold it for GOOD money.

[@This_Account]

I got one of these! My grandpa was showing my his "45 caliber" last Thanksgiving. I read the ".455 CALIBRE" and thought "Huh, weird." I searched the serial because I didn't notice the A1 features and figured it was old. I couldn't find mention of the "W" prefix to ther serial. Once I paud attention to the "R.A.F." stamp, I posted to reddit to figure it out and learned this history. I told my grandpa about the history and he , a Vietnam veteran, was fascinated as well. He gave it to me a month later. Oh, one issue... NO MAGAZINE!!!

[@neilhillis9858]

Surely a standard mag would fit the round and gun

[@Lrr_Of_Omikron]

You know a design is good when it still looks the same over 100 years.

[@Brawler_1337]

Indeed. Kudos to John Moses Browning (hallowed be thy name) for making a gun that can very much be called “The Gun,” both in looks and in function.

[@JAB6322]

USA: "Hey Britain, have you tried using our 1911 pistol? It has a .45 Caliber bullet that packs a punch." Britain: "Can you add another '5' to it?" USA: *Confused stare* "Eh???"

[@SergeantSarge]

Nah, it's the Canadians who go "Eh", I'm sure Americans would be much more colourful about it :P

[@trickshot646]

You know, it's like you use 0.450, but we want one in 0.455

[@alecblunden8615]

Only a military moron would confuse the supply chain even more by adding yet another cartridge.

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

@@alecblunden8615 We had far more Webley revolvers with shaved cylinders to take 45 ACP than Webley autoloaders, we both made our own 45 ACP and bought it from the USA.

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

@kevin lawrence But wouldn't exist for many years.

[@nbn461]

I usually never rush to clicking on a video, but when i saw 1911 on the title i busted through my mouse 1 button.

[@nathanielball365]

And I busted a Nut!!! LOL!!!

[@dondickerson9978]

I got to see one of these beautiful 1911's back in the early 80's. It was at one of the gub shops I went to. It was a bring back from a WW2 vet. It was new in the box, the vet never fired it. It was in consignment. Absolutely beautiful 1911

[@zzxxooooxxzz4964]

I now remember reading something on the internet a long time ago someone in Israel who was caught with a 1911 chambered in the 455 Webley cartridge and had lots of trouble finding that ammo so he supposedly had just figured out that he only had to convert the extractor and then he would actually be able to use 45auto with out many issues..

[@Khrrck]

That's what I was wondering... I presume the case just blows out the extra 5 thou and the bullet doesn't engage the rifling as well.

[@Rocketsong]

@@Khrrck Three thou actually. The .45 acp uses a .451 diameter bullet, and the .455 uses a .454. I think most bullets would obdurate that small ammount just fine.

[@warrenlehmkuhleii8472]

This is a Pan-Anglosphere fan’s dream right here.

[@user-qf6yt3id3w]

Pan Anglosphere can happen again if Americans don't vote for the globalist, anti-gun Manchurian candidate.

[@user-qf6yt3id3w]

@@akyloren10050 You might very well think that. I could not possibly comment.

[@tommothedog]

I cried when i saw this

[@88porpoise]

I think we need at least our antipodean friends to join in to be close to being pan-Anglosphere. One of my favourite things in the combination of the Allied efforts is the Sexton SPG: Canadian copy of an American vehicle but with a British gun, using the hull of the Canadian version of an American tank. With the Australians modifying the Sexton designs to fit their M3 hulls post-war to make the Yeramba. If only the Aussies had later replaced the 25-pdr with a 105 mm gun to compete the circle when they adopted it.

[@ultramarine0123]

I thought the title said the “self loathing” cartridge, which would quintessentially British

[@bs836]

FYI: KZbin unsubscribed me from this channel. I had to resubscribed this morning.

[@davidbrennan660]

KZbin has moments of blood rushing to its head and does skullduggery every so often.

[@thegoldencaulk2742]

KZbin sus af

[@philmccracken6134]

It's happening all over the place, YT is up to no good these days.

[@Excaliburumbra801]

Same !!

[@SecretMarsupial]

KZbin didn’t do anything. Google did.

[@waggy401]

Just for the fun of it, I was looking into availability of ammo in .455 Webley Self-loading. You can get one round for $30. Interestingly, .455 revolver is readily available. I hadn't heard of either before.

[@IanBurns]

Trait: Gun Jesus is able, one per encounter, retrieve a weapon from out of nowhere. This weapon must be related to the topic at hand and does not count it's rarity against an roll to acquire. At Levels 5, 10, 15, 20. Increase the number of times a weapon can be retrieved per encounter by one OR increase the rarity of the weapon by 10. example: A Level 20 Gun Jesus could retrieve 4 'somewhat rare' weapons or one 'tool room prototype' per encounter. Note: This trait(modifed) is also shared with GunTuber Historian class.

[@chrisclark5204]

British: We would like 1911s in .455 Colt: We can do that. How many do you want?

[@RamonInNZ]

"Yes" would be the reply to Colts "How many" c.f 200 per month ongoing order till end of war LOL.

[@B355Y]

Last time I came this early my wife was disappointed

[@ahuman2695]

It's been a while I suppose

[@leeboy29680-ol7gf]

really? my wife is just happy its over to get back to a reality program

[@billythepigeon7345]

Ha Ha!

[@4skintim962]

Nice guys finish last. BUT CHADS FINISH FIRST

[@nathanielball365]

Thank you for the only available knowledge on weapons that only you can show us!! I've learned to speak my own language in weaponry thanks to you Ian!!! Keep the videos coming!! Love these rare and unique pieces of deadly Art!!

[@crazyfvck]

"Horse Artillery." I suddenly had an image pop into my head, showing horses wearing uniforms and firing off artillery pieces :D

[@fechtbuch]

I never knew that this existed. Fascinating to think of these still being in RAF service in WWII.

[@letsgoraiding]

"Tally Ho and Yee Haw!"

[@letsgoraiding]

I'll admit I prefer the 1913 Webley... 😅🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@Spectral_Penguin]

Tally Haw? Yee Ho?

[@azure3354]

@@Spectral_Penguin Yally Ho!

[@thegoldencaulk2742]

Tally Ho, partner.

[@DH-xw6jp]

You just yee'd your very last haw, good sir.

[@colemanmoore9871]

Missed a great opportunity to have a "War were Declared" moment. *disappointed Othias sounds*

[@boymahina123]

Wrong channel but ok

[@Tokito935]

@@boymahina123 idk what channel this is refering to but it's just that, a reference, no such thing as "wrong channel"

[@DiggingForFacts]

@@Tokito935 If you don't know the channel, go check out C&Rsenal.

[@CptJistuce]

IN AD 1914 WAR WAS BEGINNING

[@benhislop1458]

I actually remember this pistol from A Bridge Too Far when it was wielded by Sean Connery’s character.

[@moritamikamikara3879]

Holy shit, that makes so much sense now. I watches a bridge too far yesterday and I noticed that, I was thinking "Why is he using a colt .45? He's not a yank." This makes so much more sense though now

[@davidgillon2762]

That's more likely to have been an actual .45ACP M1911A1, which was issued to the Commandos, paras and various special operations units.

[@AtheistOrphan]

@@moritamikamikara3879 - Unlikely. This one, being from WW1, would have been very obsolete by then.

[@88porpoise]

@@davidgillon2762 As Connery was playing a General (commander of First Airborne), it wouldn’t surprise me if it was either .455 or .45. My guess it it would be it is .45 in the film just for supply reasons. But in reality, a general carting an old .455 Webley 1911 would not be shocking.

[@Gameprojordan]

British used plenty of 1911s in .45 acp

7:35 The "E" stands for "Enfield" and an "A" stands for "America" - Makes so much sense. There is nothing beginning with "E" along the lines of "America" that it could signify...

[@MCYonazz]

Inches: + 0.005 Stopping power: + 300%

[@moritamikamikara3879]

@Infectious Legume I hate being that guy, but "Whooosh"

[@Tagawichin]

The .45 acp was designed from the .455 Webley performance in the trials to decide what to replace the .38 Army revolvers with.

[@Galahad_Du_Lac]

It’s actually just .45 Schofield modified for automatics.

[@dogsnads5634]

And in the UK we switched from .455 to .38...

[@robbrown5702]

Very interesting! I have always been a 1911 fan , but had never heard of this version! Thanks Ian!

[@comiketiger]

More unknown story and firearm for me! Love your work. Thank you and God bless all here.

[@CrazyPetez]

As a 1911 fan, I thoroughly enjoyed this video, Ian.

[@Khanclansith]

Always wanted one since I heard stories of WW2 RAF aircrews with .455 1911s

[@dean5699]

"Just have to be a little different... ". Very true. As a Brit I can confirm that for some strange reason that I've never fully understood, we sometimes have to be different and make things difficult for ourselves. Like using both the imperial and metric systems of measurement. Just one example of our quirkiness... 🤣

[@thomasball5432]

@das nah, metric is way easier to use. Same as decimal money, the old £,d,p system was daft.

[@davidsolyom5604]

Horse-artillery sounds like cow-catapult. Fetchez la vache!

[@davidgillon2762]

Everyone had it, simply designated the artillery meant to serve alongside cavalry units, with everyone either mounted on a horse, or with a position on the gun or the limber. So they had similar small-arms needs to the cavalry, but were likely to use them less, meaning a pistol might do rather than a carbine.

[@UTubeHandlesSuck]

Huh? "Get the cow!" Ohhhhh...

[@ThatGuy182545]

Of course I’m French! Why else do you think I have this outrageous accent?!

[@kenibnanak5554]

Years ago I had opportunity to examine 2 Interarms Silver Cups and both had W prefix serial #s.

[@parabellum9367]

Great vid as always, thanks you Ian

[@abdulqaderhaddad3815]

The 1911 looks like a Ray-gun next to that Webley...

[@moritamikamikara3879]

It looks like a glock had a three-way with a luger and a hi-point. It's so ugly.

[@bigmal1690]

My friends grandfather was issued 1, he was a motorcycle dispatch rider with 36th Ulster division, and they still have the pistol, which is nice, I've seen it and its in good shape, everyone thinks handguns and semi auto rifles r banded in the UK, but in northern ireland they r not and can also be used in self-defence

[@contactacb]

Semi autos are generally only allowed in .22 with a few specific exceptions (so not too different from the mainland) and the self defence use is only if your licence allows it and you have to provide a very, very good reason (if you can you get concealed carry rights too) and if you only have a normal license expect trouble if you carry & use it as a PP weapon. The main advantage between NI and the Mainland is recreational shooters can still use proper handguns, not those awful long barrel monstrosities or the black powder get rounds.

[@mauricewalshe8339]

@@contactacb Yeh if your considdered "crown services" civil service, BT etc you could/can get a PPW in NI as your where a potential target

[@jc5445]

“Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our own defense?” -Patrick Henry, 1736-1799 RIP

[@davidgillon2762]

@@jc5445 There was an overwhelming demand for the changes to the mainland UK firearm laws from the public after the Hungerford and Dunblane massacres.

[@Motorman2112]

@@mauricewalshe8339 BT?

[@kirksealls1912]

The British found that .455 Self Loading, despite being ballistically the same as the revolver round, did blow up some Webley revolvers (exactly which mark of Webley revolvers is not clear), which they would otherwise chamber in. I strongly suspect that is why the ammunition was so clearly marked “Not for revolvers.”

[@yousufakhtar9995]

always wanted a video on this version of the 1911

[@Iansea1967]

Technically it’s a Colt Government Model as 1911 was a US Military designation for the pistol in .45 ACP.

[@Gordonseries385]

Thank you Ian on the history take care

[@simplyandy1557]

Feels like yesterday shoving one of these into a weird machine and getting back 2 with some sickass engravings

[@troy9477]

Very nice. I have heard about these over the years. I did not realize that Colt had made quite so many. I always thought it was only a couple of thousand- almost like proof of concept. I wonder how many wound up at the bottom of the Atlantic in sunken Liberty ships. Odd that the Brits bought them in both chamberings- that must have created confusion. It would have made more sense to have all 1911's in 45 ACP, so you could know at a glance what ammo you needed. But this IS the Brits we are talking about. Great video as always. Thank you

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you ,Ian .

[@jonmeray713]

Interesting ive never heard of these before.

[@Vormulac1]

Fascinating! I actually had no idea these existed!

[@leehopkinson6824]

Another great info learning video for me , Thankyou

[@vthegoose]

One of my gun books mentions these .455 models, didn’t say anything about it but it mentioned that some were made in the caliber for the British

[@Hockeyfan9884]

Another from informative video indeed. Thank you for sharing.

[@zenzen9131]

When I was in the RAF 1970-1992 our pilots still carried a Remington version of this pistol chambered for 9mm

[@troy9477]

Really? Not the Browning P35 (Hi Power)? Very interesting. Never heard of that.

[@zenzen9131]

@@troy9477 My bad. You are correct it was the Browning hi-Power they used :)

[@mrmactknife]

I wish we were still able to own cool stuff like this in the UK :(

[@GilbertdeClare0704]

Yeah, me too. I used to LOVE my old Webley MkVI

[@kevinmugabe1468]

Eley was a manufacturer of ammo and Webley was a manufacturer of guns- I believe this is why we see the .455 eley calibre designation on colt pistols- colt was unwilling to put a rival gun manufacturer's name on their guns, hence they were marked with the calibre .455 eley rather than .455 webley. It's the same deal with the new service revolvers that colt made for Britain- they are designated. 455 eley when in fact the ammo is identical to the .455 webley round. Interestingly as well, the colt new sevices in this calibre had a slight step in the cylinder that would allow a .45acp to headspace perfectly on the rim to be used in an emergency. Not being cut for moonclips though it would require the empties to be removed with a pencil etc if necessary.

[@anthonyhayes1267]

I was not aware of such a perfect thing existing

[@NoosaHeads]

This isn't just a gun channel, it's a *history* channel, headed by a charismatic and knowledgeable expect who gives intriguing and fascinating presentations. Best wishes from Australia. - Come on over sometime.

[@NikeaTiber]

I like how you've got an example of how the ammunition was distributed 101 years ago.

[@johndallman2692]

That's presumably come with the pistol.

[@oftenwrong.]

Being a colt fan. It’s always nice to see him showing something with the rampant pony

[@josephsatricleofevillanuev3194]

I can't wait to see this Colt 1911 in .455 Webley when Othias does a video on it at C R arsenal.

[@DiggingForFacts]

The what now?

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@DiggingForFacts C&Rsenal YT channel. He's been doing deep dives in the history of various WW1 firearms, including MGs.

[@DiggingForFacts]

@@ScottKenny1978 If you know about C&Rsenal, you should know why I posted that comment ;)

[@camryhunt8673]

I like how Ian can make guns magically appear 😁

[@TylerSnyder305]

Don't forget CALIBER vs CALIBRE. Even if the pistol was pitted and one of the 5's was hard to see you'd still see the difference between ER and RE.

[@lukehenry6712]

For some reason I think that this is super valuable.

[@profrumpo]

UK viewer and about 30+ years ago I handled one of these guns once, though I think it was unusable as at some point someone could possibly have fired .45 ACP in it. The slide was slightly bowed up. Well I assume that was the issue, anyway it was just a wall hanger.

[@Skeeter51244]

I remember seeing one of these for sale in Connecticut in the mid-1960's.

[@maestromecanico597]

I had no idea. Very nice.

[@charles_wipman]

Very interesting 1911, didn't knew about this ones.

[@bubarowe]

I notice, and appreciate (as a Brit) that Ian clearly gets the difference between "English" and "British", whereas Colt, who marked the gun with and "E" rather than a "B" obviously didn't.

[@tango6nf477]

Back then no one gave a bugger about that unlike today where you cant say anything without "offending" someone

[@james_9190]

@@tango6nf477 Field Marshal Hague regularly referred to Britain or even the Empire as England despite being a Scot

[@ronalddunne3413]

Interesting stuff I didn't know. Thanks!

[@none3763]

I always thought the 1911 .455 Webley was made for the Royal Navy. Learn something every time i watch one of ian's vids. Thank you.

[@Silverback0687]

Fleet Air Arm was the flying wing of the RN.

[@kevinoliver3083]

It still is. But only since 1937.

[@kanesmith2855]

Beautiful man

[@blackoracle69]

all so if you notice on the forward lip on the baseplate you will see a small kings broad arrow thats a service mark

[@davidgreen40]

I recall at least one 1911 in .455 was imported in the treasure trove of firearms imported 1981-1983 by Odin International, Ltd. of Alexandria, VA. This treasure trove was comprised of firearms seized by the Mexican government after Mexico virtually banned private ownership of firearms in1968 (and from today’s narcoterrorism in Mexico we know how well that worked). It’s odd chambering stamped on the slide is why I recall that one gun among thousands. It bore no markings clearly indicating it was a military firearm, hence was importable. I’d be interested to know if this was stamped with OIL’s import marking, which went on the left side of the long axis of the magazine well opening.

[@brucemccreary38]

I wish he would have shown the chamber end of the barrel. I saw a little bit around his finger. It looked like Colt beveled the chamber hood.

[@blatherskite9601]

Excellent, as usual.

[@morganahoff2242]

I'm always amazed that some pistols made to the 1911 design don't align the grip cuts on the slide with the handle grips. Some examples, like the Coonan Arms 1911, angle the cuts, the same as the handle grips, but it doesn't look quite right.

[@jackdelancey248]

Very informative, thanks

[@tomalexander4327]

Gorgeous example

[@bluebluerailroad5664]

i was lucky enough to inherit one of these beauties with 20 rounds of the .455 what a gem

[@masterdiscovery7263]

I wonder what would happen if you put .45ACP in a .455W and vice versa? I'm sure someone made that mistake in the past.

[@trachemotac8309]

If you see old webley revolver can you 45acp also 455w

[@Galahad_Du_Lac]

matthew guthrige That’s likely to cause an explosion.

[@Bustin_cider00]

@@trachemotac8309 .45acp is non rimmed, it would just slide through

[@bigsmoke6189]

I've done it many years ago ,45 acp usually fires in the .455 chamber,the extractor held the case firmly enough for the firing pin to do its job and only slight bulging of the brass.I suspect not all guns would be the same.

[@bigsmoke6189]

@@Bustin_cider00 they were routinely supplied with halfmoon clips and some cylinders were shaved .

[@johnchristopherrobert1839]

Very cool ammo package 📦

[@thermobaric]

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure the .455 1911 is one of the very few centerfire handguns you can legally own in the UK without modifications due to the age and the obsolescence of the calibre.

[@mikeblair2594]

The proof marks are interesting. From the beginning of British proof law the marks were a form of crossed scepters with a V or a P for view and proof. Government proof houses had a crown over the scepters and I can't quite remember what the civilian proof mark was other than it was a variation of crossed scepters. As you might guess, my era of expertise is the muzzleloading era. So imagine my surprise when you showed the crossed banners and the mark with the banner part worn away or not properly struck, the staff of the banner was exactly the same as the handles of the crossed scepters. So from the early Georgian era to the (Edwardian?) era the proof marks for firearms and other martial weapons vary only a little. Proof marks alone make for an interesting study if that's what floats your boat.

[@AbananaPEEl]

ooo thats why mags are sometimes two toned.

[@rustlemyjimmys]

My Great Grandad was issued with one of these in the RAF. Always said that extra .005" makes all the difference. He did well with the ladies during the war so I guess he was right!

[@billdyke9745]

Didn't know that. The RNAS was reborn, btw, in 1937 and still exists. As a result of aircraft carriers, I imagine. The new navy.

[@The_Bermuda_Nonagon]

1911 or Webley self-loader - I wonder if the personnel they were issued to had a strong preference for one model over the other. (Hope to see a review some day on the sliding-breech Darne shotguns or the .577 Tranter revolver.)

[@jaimitodubs]

ooh... lanyard hooks for both formal and casual occasions.

[@gfarrell80]

whaaaaat the heck is the gun on the far right in the background. Now that thing looks like a true Forgotten Weapon.

[@teenaramsay2469]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M1941_Johnson_machine_gun

[@HoundDogMech]

Would have been nice if there were a couple of ilistrutations on the actual dimensional changes from the .45 ACP to the .455. but nice job.

[@clongshanks5206]

I don’t think I’ve ever clicked on a link so fast

[@marcusdeutschlander6629]

Hi Ian. After some of your videos I was thinking, it would be really nice if you could do some factory tours of some of the companies. Regards Marcus

[@martingardener90]

He got a tour of the FN factory but they wouldn't let us in too!

[@marcusdeutschlander6629]

@@martingardener90 that would have been cool to see... I can sort-of understand their reasoning behind it, but it would have still been cool.

[@osufan124]

I don't KZbin would be okay with showing tooling for gun manufacturing.

[@marcusdeutschlander6629]

@@osufan124 that is good point. Yes it don't think youtube would be happy although it would be nearly impossible for everyday people to get their hands on such tooling....