Webley MKVI

[auchonvillerssomme]

Of all the items in my collection if I could have one that spoke, this would be it.

2.

3.

[BottsGreys]

That is a sweet looking weapon. Have you had it long?

Chris

[tipperary]

If RUC is Royal Ulster Constabulary it would be 1922 on who had it from 1915 it would not have been in store as i beleive every one was needed.You would often wander if walls could speak what tales they could tell.john

[auchonvillerssomme]

I've had it about 10 years I think, it has spent a long time holstered in its life, it has wear on the barrel tip, guides and chamber. I can't even remember where I got it from.

[auchonvillerssomme]

I do have one question to put to you lot though, on the base of the frame in front of the trigger guard is stamped ORION.

[tipperary]

HMS Orion perhaps.john

[auchonvillerssomme]

I'm not sure because the stamp looks slightly more recent in its script than the other stamps, I was wondering if it was a previous ownership stamp.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Auchonvillerssomme,

I know exactly what you mean, if only some of these historic items could talk!

I have the complete Officer's side-arms set named to, and belonging to 2nd Lieutenant Stanus Vernon Deacon Douglas-Jones of the Coldstream Guards, who fought with the Coldstream Guards in France during WW1.

His Webley Mk.V1 has factory fitted Walnut grips. The revolver is still in its original .455 calibre, and is in superb working order, I still fire it from time to time to keep it fully functioning.

[spconnolly007]

Nice bit of kit LF, live fire as well, should of kept that quiet, you'll have all the anti's after you now regards Sean

[BottsGreys]

I do have one question to put to you lot though, on the base of the frame in front of the trigger guard is stamped ORION.

Federal law here in the United States requires that guns imported here have the importing firm's name and the weapon's country of origin stamped on it. Perhaps your weapon was once imported into the States and the importing firm was named Orion (for instance, there is an Orion Arms Corp. in Jeffersonville, Indiana). Of course, that theory would also require that your gun have "England" or "Made in England" or something similar stamped on it, so that theory could be easily disproved.

Here is an example with the importer being in St. Albans, Vermont: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=268203518

Chris

[auchonvillerssomme]

Thats an excellent possibility, I will take a pic tomorrow (its nearly my bed time).

LF, what a lovely complete set, from my previous posts people will realise I'm no longer a shooter, but I recognise that a working pistol needs firing, that must give you a fantastic connection to the previous owner.

Mick

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Mick,

Yes, you are perfectly correct, when holding the revolver, and or firing the revolver, you certainly think back almost 100 years to those brave Officers, pistol at the ready, blowing their whistle and leading the charge over the top, it is hard to fully imagine their thoughts at that horrendous time.

There was a previous post today by member Graeme Clark, which coincidently referred to the Battalion records for a battle in which the Coldstream Guards were in action, and the records note that at the end of the action, no Officer's survived, and when replaced, out of those replacement Officers, none survived the next days action!

" On the 27th October 1914 the battalion arrived at Gheluvelt, South East of Ypres - the Battalion War Diary of the 1st Coldstream Guards is brief and lacks detail, but the entry for the day of John's death is as follows:

October 29th 1914 - GHELUVELT

'An attack by the Germans of which notice was received was beaten off at 5.30am in dense mist but was successful further S. at crossroads E.S.E. of GHELUVELT: the result being that the battalion trenches were almost immediately afterwards attacked from the right rear. A retirement appears to have been ordered and a small portion of the battalion re-formed covering a battery of Royal Field Artillery. At night the battalion was withdrawn and bivouacked in woods W. of GHELUVELT in Brigade Reserve.'

The diary is unclear on the number of casualties, with no mention of NCOs and other ranks, but among the dead was the Commanding Officer, Major The Hon. Leslie D'Henin Hamilton MVO. However an official history of the battalion is more explicit:

'On August Bank Holiday 1914, Great Britain declared war on Germany and the Coldstream were immediately involved. The 1st Battalion, as part of 1st Guards Brigade, and the 2nd and 3rd Battalions, as part of 4th Guards Brigade, all moved to France immediately. The Regiment suffered heavily throughout the War; on 29th October 1914, at Gheluvelt, for example, the 1st Battalion suffered such casualties that it had no officers left and only 80 men. Four days later, after reinforcement, it had once more been reduced to no officers and 120 men only ".

If only these revolvers could talk !

[tipperary]

LF you have a lovely set there may i ask about the rope is that the lanyard for the revolver.john

[Lancashire Fusilier]

John,

Here is a better photograph of the revolver with its lanyard and the lanyard fittings, I shall be delighted to answer your questions if I am able.

[tipperary]

Thanks LF never realised the lanyard would have been as strong as it is again you have a rare piece of history in its completeness.john

[smleenfield]

Federal law here in the United States requires that guns imported here have the importing firm's name and the weapon's country of origin stamped on it. Perhaps your weapon was once imported into the States and the importing firm was named Orion (for instance, there is an Orion Arms Corp. in Jeffersonville, Indiana). Of course, that theory would also require that your gun have "England" or "Made in England" or something similar stamped on it, so that theory could be easily disproved.

Here is an example with the importer being in St. Albans, Vermont: http://www.gunbroker...?Item=268203518

Chris

I have a very large collection of Enfields and only about 25% of them have the import stamps. Many were probably imported prior to the stamp requirements and I am sure some were bring back war trophies. Therefore, to not have import stamps is not that unusual. There is also no requirement that weapons already in the USA have the stamp retro fitted.

Auchonvillerssomme,

I know exactly what you mean, if only some of these historic items could talk!

I have the complete Officer's side-arms set named to, and belonging to 2nd Lieutenant Stanus Vernon Deacon Douglas-Jones of the Coldstream Guards, who fought with the Coldstream Guards in France during WW1.

His Webley Mk.V1 has factory fitted Walnut grips. The revolver is still in its original .455 calibre, and is in superb working order, I still fire it from time to time to keep it fully functioning.

Outstanding collection you have there.

[MikB]

There's a small screw sticking out backward from the top of the stirrup catch - it looks as if it's a pinch screw to secure a windage-adjustable rearsight notch. I can't recall having noticed anything like that on Mk.VIs before - though I've never owned one.

Is this standard? Is the screw original or a replacement? The knurling on the head makes it look like a small socket-head capscrew of more modern type.

You'd have expected a smaller grubscrew with only the slotted part standing proud.

Regards,

MikB

[auchonvillerssomme]

I would suggest it isn't original to the piece but don't know enough to say for certain. The screw itself possibly isn't ( I don't know the history of Allen screws), it fits though a hole in the rear site but is easily removeable by hand and will fix the rear site for windage. A 5/64, Allen (Hex) key will fit.

The little orange spots aren't rust, the leather of the holster has perished slghtly and is flaking.

Mick

[BottsGreys]

I have a very large collection of Enfields and only about 25% of them have the import stamps. Many were probably imported prior to the stamp requirements and I am sure some were bring back war trophies. Therefore, to not have import stamps is not that unusual. There is also no requirement that weapons already in the USA have the stamp retro fitted.

Outstanding collection you have there.

I should have noted the import stamp requirement came in with the Gun Control Act of 1968.

Chris

[auchonvillerssomme]

stamp

[532SQN]

Excellent looking weapon Mick there should be a few of those floating around Canada.

Cheers

Rick

[BottsGreys]

AS:

Apparently, like the United States, Germany also has a requirement that imported guns be marked with the name of the importing firm.

See this firearms forum thread, especially posts #6 and #9 quote, "orion" is or was a German import/export company, for sure on business untill '90's."

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?236163-Picked-my-first-Arisaka-today

also:

http://forums.gunboards.com/archive/index.php/t-38382.html

Chris

[auchonvillerssomme]

Excellent looking weapon Mick there should be a few of those floating around Canada.

Cheers

Rick

Hi Rick, yes it fits nicely on that Sam Browne! Many thanks.

[auchonvillerssomme]

AS:

Apparently, like the United States, Germany also has a requirement that imported guns be marked with the name of the importing firm.

See this firearms forum thread, especially posts #6 and #9 quote, "orion" is or was a German import/export company, for sure on business untill '90's."

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?236163-Picked-my-first-Arisaka-today

also:

http://forums.gunboards.com/archive/index.php/t-38382.html

Chris

Looks like the German company is the right one, as thoer poster on that forum says, it has had an interesting journey.

[TonyE]

A couple of points about your pistol, Mick.

The adjustable rear sight is an after market addition, by milling a slot in the stirrup, as the service pistol had a fixed rear sight

Also, on Page 210 of Gordon Bruce/Chris Reinhart's book on Webley revolvers, there is a picture of a Mark VI with an identical adjustable sight and screw and it comes from a German collection. Co-incidence?

Regards

TonyE