Graham Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 Does anyone amongst this knowledgeable forum have any weapon, like my Webley MARK "VI" 1918, have a badly punched serial number. I assume the workers were under pressure to produce these weapons quickly and we all make mistakes but is it something you have seen before. In my case it looks like an attempt to correct a '2' which had been punched upside down. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 First question, are you sure it is a Webley and not an Enfeild? The two are so close that Webley sued Enfeild for patent infraction. There were a number of chnges to the Webley throughout production. With many earleir types upgraded to newer standards. So your Webley Mark 6 should have A) A six inch barrel, B) Removable foresight C ) A squarer cut grip. Internal there were redesigns of the lock for manufactuering speed. So lock parts are unique to this mark. Although described as .455 the actual bore is .441. The Mark 6 becane a sealed pattern on 24th May 1915. They were replaced in Army service in around 1929/30 by the Enfeild models in .38, which were again blatant copies of a Webley design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 First question, are you sure it is a Webley and not an Enfeild? The two are so close that Webley sued Enfeild for patent infraction. There were a number of chnges to the Webley throughout production. With many earleir types upgraded to newer standards. So your Webley Mark 6 should have A) A six inch barrel, B) Removable foresight C ) A squarer cut grip. Internal there were redesigns of the lock for manufactuering speed. So lock parts are unique to this mark. Although described as .455 the actual bore is .441. The Mark 6 becane a sealed pattern on 24th May 1915. They were replaced in Army service in around 1929/30 by the Enfeild models in .38, which were again blatant copies of a Webley design. If its got a 1918 date it has to be a Webley as Enfield only made the MkVI from 1921 to 1926. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted October 22, 2012 Author Share Posted October 22, 2012 First question, are you sure it is a Webley and not an Enfeild? The two are so close that Webley sued Enfeild for patent infraction. There were a number of chnges to the Webley throughout production. With many earleir types upgraded to newer standards. So your Webley Mark 6 should have A) A six inch barrel, B) Removable foresight C ) A squarer cut grip. Internal there were redesigns of the lock for manufactuering speed. So lock parts are unique to this mark. Although described as .455 the actual bore is .441. The Mark 6 becane a sealed pattern on 24th May 1915. They were replaced in Army service in around 1929/30 by the Enfeild models in .38, which were again blatant copies of a Webley design. Thank you, yes it is a Mark V1 with all the features you describe. Now as to the serial number.....................? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted October 22, 2012 Author Share Posted October 22, 2012 Thank you, yes it is a Mark V1 with all the features you describe. Now as to the serial number.....................? Oh I was being so clever - sorry it is a Webley Mark VI with all the features you describe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 (edited) If its got a 1918 date it has to be a Webley as Enfield only made the MkVI from 1921 to 1926. Thanks Chris, the number sounds like a bad strike. Any chance you can post a picture of it? I have seen rather badly struck numbers occasionally. Unless the serial was put over some other component mark. Edited October 23, 2012 by Tony B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Hall Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 I can't comment on Webley serial numbers but I do have a few odd Brens. I have a Lithgow Bren that the 6 in the serial number has been remarked with a 9 above the 6. These were marked with a pantograph so mistakes really should have been spotted but they must have happened. I also have another Lithgow Bren where the serial numbers all match where one is prefixed with a B whereas the other numbers are prefixed with a A, this mistake was never corrected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted October 24, 2012 Author Share Posted October 24, 2012 Thanks Chris, the number sounds like a bad strike. Any chance you can post a picture of it? I have seen rather badly struck numbers occasionally. Unless the serial was put over some other component mark. Photo attached - it should be a '2' which in this photo it seems to be if a bit mangled. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Looks like a Friday afternoon serial number. May have had to go to the Armourer for work/ repair and numbered by hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.jpg.181d77f7f70b3ba65da0a695e4e41742.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.