September 20th 2015 Premier Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/19/2015
Serial no. 4833. The caliber is .476. Barrel length is 6 inches. Offered is a scarce Webley Model 1892 W.G. (Webley-Government) once owned by Captain J. Summers, R.A.F (engraved on left side plate). This fine condition revolver is standard in all respects with the high post front sight, blued finish, six shot, double action, top break with smooth walnut grips and lanyard ring. The octagon barrel retains approximately 85 percent of the factory blue finish with the balance a smooth gun metal gray with high edge wear. The top of the barrel is stamped with the retailer; Boss & Co 75. St. James's St London. The cylinder retains approximately the same amount of brilliant blue with the B.V crown proofs stamped on each flute. Left side of barrel has the B.V crown proof as well. The frame retains 70 percent original high polish blue. Left side of frame is stamped Webley Patents W&S with their winged bullet logo. Caption J Summers engraved on the left side. Right side of frame has the B.V. crown proof. Grip straps have grayed out. Perfect bore. Cylinder indexes and locks up as new. This revolver comes in an original brown flap holster that has four factory attached cartridge loops. The W.G. Army revolver with 6" barrel was a favorite with the British officers due to its accuracy and dependability. The Royal Air Corps became the Royal Air Force in 1918. What makes this revolver special is the historical significance of events surrounding Captain Summers and his place in history. Captain J Summers was born in Shameen, Canton China in 1894 and was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in April of 1915. He was a commissioned second Lieutenant and received his aviator license # 2154 of Dec 13 of that year. While flying his Sopwith Camel on a mission on August 12 of 1918, he was shot down by none other than Lothar Von Richthofen, the brother of the famed Red Baron, Manfred. The victory was to be Von Richthofen's last. Summer's survived the crash and was sent to the German prison camp but this was the age of chivalry and cavaliers and Summer's was actually entertained by Von Richtofen and the entire Flying Circus that had gained so much fame under Lothar's brother, the Red Baron. Summer's was released in December of 1918 but remained with the RAF and was commissioned Captain in August of 1919 and retired from the service in 1943. During his exploits as a flyer in WWI, he was recorded with 8 victories and was awarded the military cross. A brief history of Lothar shows he was active as a flyer from 1914 to 1918. Historians regard Lothar as the better of the two flyers. He scored 24 victories in the skies in 47 days while flying with the Red Baron and was awarded with 40 confirmed kills. His victory over Summers on August 12, 1918 was to be his final one, occurring less than four months after the death of his brother at the hands of another British ace Albert Ball, who was also a member of Summers 209 Squadron at the time. A beautiful revolver with a storied history. Since Captain Summers spent the remainder of the war as a P.O.W it is unknown if this revolver was carried and returned to him or was purchased soon after. He did not have a revolver in his possession as a P.O.W.