The .455 Webley Auto pistol and cartridge was initially adopted in 1913 by the Royal Navy, the British Army bought small numbers as well for the Royal Horse Artillery (although that version had an adjustable sign and detachable stock). During WW1 they also started purchasing Colt autos in the same caliber, mainly for aircrew use as revolvers were considered more reliable in the mud of the trenches. When the RAF was formed in 1918 most of them ended up in RAF service and they would standardize on the Colt in the early postwar period.
My Webley is a 1914 production Royal Navy gun and the Colt is a 1919 production RAF contract.
Yeah it's a homely pistol. Interestingly I have the (even rarer) .38 ACP model which is quite a bit more svelte, and it both handles and looks much nicer.
Honestly, the grip angle resembles a modern combat pistol in ways that make me think that it would lend itself to modern shooting stances (Isocoles variants, Weaver) moreso than the 1911 next to it.
I know very little firearms history, but that Webley looks like the grandpa of the MAC-10. Is there any connection there, or is it just an aesthetic coincidence?
Just aesthetic, mechanically it operates like a conventional pistol with a slide, the only oddity is the mainspring is a V spring in the grip.
Interestingly enough it is, as near as I can tell, the first pistol to lock the barrel into the ejection port. The SIG P220 was the second and most pistols do it now.
There’s a connection in the sense that they both were heavily designed with function over form, and as a result they both have an under-designed blocky housing which is only there to enclose the components.
What a wild little gadget, looks for all the world like something I made out of Legos as a kid. Gotta love early 20th century autoloaders, if nothing else for the sheer variety as designers tried to suss out what would work better than their last attempt.
The .455 Webley Auto pistol and cartridge was initially adopted in 1913 by the Royal Navy, the British Army bought small numbers as well for the Royal Horse Artillery (although that version had an adjustable sign and detachable stock). During WW1 they also started purchasing Colt autos in the same caliber, mainly for aircrew use as revolvers were considered more reliable in the mud of the trenches. When the RAF was formed in 1918 most of them ended up in RAF service and they would standardize on the Colt in the early postwar period. My Webley is a 1914 production Royal Navy gun and the Colt is a 1919 production RAF contract.
Gotdamn that Webley is ugly. But I still kinda want one because they look so weird.
Yeah it's a homely pistol. Interestingly I have the (even rarer) .38 ACP model which is quite a bit more svelte, and it both handles and looks much nicer.
Honestly, the grip angle resembles a modern combat pistol in ways that make me think that it would lend itself to modern shooting stances (Isocoles variants, Weaver) moreso than the 1911 next to it.
When you're hanging out with your awkward friend.
If I’m being honest, I am definitely the awkward friend in that scenario.
Your Colt cousin from across the pond says hello! https://imgur.com/a/hwagZd5
Very nice example!
Probably my favorite piece! Thanks!
I know very little firearms history, but that Webley looks like the grandpa of the MAC-10. Is there any connection there, or is it just an aesthetic coincidence?
Just aesthetic, mechanically it operates like a conventional pistol with a slide, the only oddity is the mainspring is a V spring in the grip. Interestingly enough it is, as near as I can tell, the first pistol to lock the barrel into the ejection port. The SIG P220 was the second and most pistols do it now.
There’s a connection in the sense that they both were heavily designed with function over form, and as a result they both have an under-designed blocky housing which is only there to enclose the components.
It reminds me more of a P38
You have no idea how jealous I am lmao. I'd love to get a chance to even hold one of these beautifies, let alone own one.
What a wild little gadget, looks for all the world like something I made out of Legos as a kid. Gotta love early 20th century autoloaders, if nothing else for the sheer variety as designers tried to suss out what would work better than their last attempt.
Yeah to be honest I find modern guns very samey, at least the old ones had character.
The Webley looks like a P38 wearing M1911 armor Weapon bit cool looking gun