Webley Mark VI Revolver
Many firearm experts have called the Webley Mark VI “the finest military revolver ever designed,” and there is much merit in that statement. The Mark VI, which first appeared in mid-1915, was actually the final installment in a series of top-break service revolvers that were first accepted into British military service in 1887. While Marks I through V were certainly reliable, robust arms, the Mark VI incorporated all of the virtues of the earlier models and added a few advantages of its own. It was chambered for the Mark IV .455 Webley cartridge, a smokeless-powder round with approximately two-thirds the puissance of a .45 ACP.
The revolver was loaded and cleared by “breaking” it open via a thumb-operated “stirrup latch” located behind the recoil shield. Dropping the frame exposed six chambers where cartridges could be loaded singly or by means of one of the patented “quick-loaders” of the period. The revolver was then closed and when the rounds were expended, it was again opened where a star extractor pulled the spent cases clear of the cylinder.
The gun was double-action, but could be thumb-cocked for deliberate shooting. The stocks were made of checkered vulcanite and were of a squared configuration rather than the rounded bird’s head style of the earlier Marks. The finish was blue. The barrel measured 6" and was fitted with a removable front sight, the rear sight being fashioned out of a notch on the top of the stirrup latch.
The Mark VI became a staple during World War I, and, while earlier Webleys were still seen in the trenches, it became the pre-eminent sidearm of the British soldier in that conflict. By the end of the war, approximately 280,000 Mark VIs had been manufactured. Some accessories were devised for the Mark VI, including a detachable shoulder stock and a bayonet that had a wicked-looking blade with a T-shaped cross section. As well, .22 LR training revolvers were devised, as were cutaway versions for firearm instruction. Target models were also offered in the inter-war years.
Mark VIs continued in production by Webley & Scott and (from 1921 to 1926) at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield. Despite being replaced by a smaller, less powerful .380/200 cal. revolver in 1928, the popular .455s were still being cataloged by W&S for civilian use as late as 1939.
Renamed “No. 1, Mark VI,” the Mark VI saw some use during World War II (and beyond) with British and Commonwealth forces where a good number of officers and men preferred it over the issue Enfield No. 2 Mark I.
Many thousands of Webley Mark VIs have been imported into the United States over the years. Some have had the rears of their cylinders ground down 1/16" in order to accept .45 ACP ammunition in half moon clips or .45 Auto Rim cartridges, and while this practice makes the gun more convenient and inexpensive to shoot, it does reduce collector value and interest.