December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/12/2024
During the Irish War of Independence, the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) requested Webley to manufacture a variant of the then-standard 6”-barelled Mark VI .455 revolver with a 4” barrel, since most of the police (and both “Black and Tans” and “Auxies”) rode in motor vehicles, and the long 6” barrel of the Mark VI did not ride well in lorries or Crossley Tenders. According to one source, less than only about 3,000 of these variants were ever produced—as opposed to 300,000 long-barreled Mk VIs. Front sight machine directly into rib, marked with typical legends throughout, including British proofs over each chamber of cylinder. Holster guides, iconic top break, and vulcanite grips make for the iconic Webley appearance. PROVENANCE: Kenneth Smith-Christmas collection. CONDITION: Excellent, retaining the vast majority of the original factory finish with distension still visible about the proofs on cylinder from application of stamp. Some thinning to silver at high edges, high traffic areas such as strap, trigger, and bottom of barrel are gunmetal grey with flashes of color. Mechanically fine, cylinder is not trimmed and still chambered for .455, bore excellent with strong rifling and very mild frosting.
Manufacturer
Webley & Scott