New to Me: "Boer War-ish" MK V .455 pocket pistol

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Bought this on Gun Broker for only $625 buy it now.  It's a Mark V Webley in .455 with unshaved cylinder. Its like the MK IV "Boer War" model, but the larger cylinder for smokeless powder pressures.  It's been made into a pocket pistol, with the hammer spur cut off and the front of the trigger guard clipped. 



It's a Sherlock Holmes pistol. Probably a period conversion, maybe an old Scotland Yard Inspector gun. It will go great with my MK VI. 

Pistol came into the shop and started the 10 day "Commiefornia" DROS jail.  REALLY COOL.  The was an early 20th century 'gunfighter's' gun.  It looks like a Webley made into a "Fitz Special" Colt form the 30s.  Action tight when in full battery and hammer down.  It has a really nice smooth double action, compared to the full size MK VI I have. 

I may not bother with replacing the bobbed hammer, its so smooth in double action. It has original bakelite grips, a little loose and shrunk with age.  I'll get a set of replacement grips from NC Ordnance to use on it as my shooter, and save the fragile bakelite grips.
 

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I can't wait to shoot this snubby, and my full size MK VI (after I install the unshaved cylinder) with my 262 grain RNHB MK II bullets, over 4.3 grains of WW231.  From what I have seen on the web, from a 6" MK VI, should give right at 650 fps.  I imagine, it will be close to that from the 4" MK V Webley, as the WW231 is pretty fast burning.

As far as feeel, I WAY prefer the feel and pointability of the MK V "gunfighter"! I am going to bet that it is the better shooter!

[DeaconKC]

Ooh, I like that!

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I have to agree.  ait is the sexiest top break I have ever seen/owned.  With my recent acquisitions of the Queen's finest revolvers, I had top watch ZULU with Michael Caine on Prime again....  Sure, they should have been using .450 Adams (Chard used a RIC in .450, IIRC.  I think it is in the Royal War College museum....

[Major 2]

I started to watch it again myself tonight but got sidetracked
and did not get back to it.
Stanley Baker produced it and was Caine first credited roll,
both were sterling in performance.
Several inaccuracies, but a super film all the same.
Your Webley is too cool for school, Its one of the guns on my
dream list, and that it's been Fitz 'ed is Ober cool. The Fitz Special is another my wish list
 

[Coffinmaker]

   PLUS ONE for the DEACON you betcha!!

As a Poster Kid for Snubbies, atz one KOOL pistola   

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I've got 100 rounds of my .455 Webley loaded up.  262 grain, .454", round nose, hollow base .455 Webley bullet from Bear Creek Supply, Starline .455 brass, LEE .455 Webley dies, and 4.3 grains WW231.

[DeaconKC]

Now that's just plain pretty! 

[Tuolumne Lawman]

I would love to use my MK V and MK VI at a SASS match!  I believe NCOWS allows them, but no NCOWS in Northern CA.

BTW, got the unshaved cylinder for my MK VI Webley today! Woot woot

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Got the MK V.  SWEET. I mounted spare lanyard ring, and NC Ordnance replacement grips to protect the fragile original bakelites.  You can't tell them from  the originals, and they fit better as the originals have shrunk some.  I have seen original Colt 1873 bakelite grips shrink also.

I also found that the trigger guard is the same as the MK VI, so I ordered one. While the "Fitz Special" trigger guard looks cool, its hard for a two handed hold! It also looks like the MK VI hammer interchanges, so I have a hammer lined up.  The barrel holster guides have been ground off, so there is nothing I can do about that.  Pics tomorrow.

[Sedalia Dave]

Nice.

Somewhere I have a couple NOE bullet molds for Webley hollow base bullets.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Update:  The hammer and trigger guard on the MK V are identical to the MK VI.  I took them off the MK VI and tried them on the MK V and they fit, with the exception of the hammer need a bit of hand fitting where the hammer screw goes through a raised bushing in the hammer.  I ordered a trigger guard and hammer so I can restore the MK V if I choose.  Likely Ill use the trigger ga=uard, and the clipped trigger guard snags the trigger when holstering.  The hammer I will just keep for down the road.

[Major 2]

Project guns are the BOMB, I love having something hobbyist like yours to work on...
I about to start my FitzGerold Special after along quite search for a donor Colt Police Positive Special.

I'll be following your project too.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Headed to the range tomorrow with both the MK V and MK VI.  Will try both revolvers with .455 Cases loaded with 4.3 of WW231 and also 5.0 of Unique.  We will see which they like.  My Colt NEw Service in .455 HATED  5.0 of Unique, but loved the WW231.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

WOW! The reader's Digest version is that the 4" MK V shoots better double action, than the 6" barreled MK VI on single action!  The MK V gave a basic 4" group at 7 yards, off-hand, double action.  The MK VI was about half again bigger, even using single action.

As far as 4.3 of WW231 vs. 5.0 of Unique, it was a bout a tie in the 6 inch MK VI, maybe WW231 just a tad better.  In the 4: MK V, WW231 was the winner by a decent margin.

If I had to choose, I would not hesitate to carry the MK V as a personal defensive pistol, and I'd carry it with confidence.  The MK VI, not so much. While it would work, the MK V just points and shoot WAY better.

Ill post pics of some targets tonight.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

First, was the MK VI.  The first round tried was the 4.3 grains of WW231.  The first two shots were low, because I was using a 6 o.clock bullseye hold.  I recentered to mid-bullseye, and got a decent 4.5" group, single action.  Next was the 5.0 of Bullseye.  It had one called flyer, and was about 5" or so, also single action.  I tried double action, but it was awful...Nuf said!



                                                                                                                                                             



Then came the MK V with its 4" barrel.  The WW231 load gave a very nice centered 4" group for 19 shots, except for the last shot was a flyer.  On the second to the last shot of the WW231 loads, I pinched my finger in the trigger, and caused it to bleed. The last shot was fired in pain with a bleeding trigger finger.  All this shooting was done double action, and was still tight.  After using some masking tape to stop the blood, I switched to the 5.0 grains of Unique.  It came out 10 shots in 6 inches.







Here's my pair of English Gentlemen....

[Tuolumne Lawman]

It really is the guns.  I'm not a bad shot.  Heres the same distance with my .45 Schofield shooting full bore, 255 grain .45 Colt.

[DeaconKC]

Your "Gentlemen" are fine looking guns! I would be very pleased to own either. Hopefully you can dial in a load that will behave to your satisfaction without too much trouble.

[Tuolumne Lawman]

Got the new old stock MK VI hammer and trigger guard.  Installed both.  The hammer only need a tad of fitting.  I LIKE it!

[DeaconKC]

Turned out really nice!