Webley Mk.1 Air Rifle - Etched

[Troubledshooter]

I have just uploaded some pictures of an early Webley Mk.1 Rifle, showing the etching in good detail.
This rifle does not belong to me, unfortunately, but was a recent acquisition by a fellow collector on the other side of the pond.
These pictures are published with his permission.

http://mynetimages.com/55bc20f3.jpg
http://mynetimages.com/14bb4c37.jpg
http://mynetimages.com/1074a627.jpg
http://mynetimages.com/8a7e7b89.jpg
http://mynetimages.com/b7834ef3.jpg
http://mynetimages.com/a3e00f75.jpg
http://mynetimages.com/19e4c436.jpg
http://mynetimages.com/af03b12f.jpg

[never too old]

Nice rifle and i would not hesitate to give him £50 for it but dont like the carpet

[Troubledshooter]

The background to the pictures is not ideal, but that's how they were sent to me.
I may try and clean them up a bit sometime.

[Garvin]

That's a beautiful example.

Out of interest David, do you know roughly what proportion of the total of these early Webley Mk1s have etching still visible like this?

The reason I ask is that Lakey recently estimated that around 5% of the inter-War BSAs had their etching still visible.

[hwvixen]

Wonderfull "etchings" David & Danny.

[slug-gun]

Try this depressing calculation for aspiring owners of an etched Mk.1 rifle:
500 etched Mk.1's made: of which perhaps a quarter remain, = 125 rifles. If we take Lakey's (BSA) figure of 5% survival with good etching that leaves 6 rifles available!
Alternatively let us be generous and assume half of all etched Mk.1's have survived (unlikely), ergo 250 rifles, and 10% remain etched, that still is only 25 rifles left in the world.
I reckon about 10 to 15 rifles max is about it, with readable etching?

[whitevanman574]

come on then whats a rifle like this worth ?????

[Binners]

come on then whats a rifle like this worth ?????

About half the price of a Britannia

[Troubledshooter]

That's a beautiful example.

Out of interest David, do you know roughly what proportion of the total of these early Webley Mk1s have etching still visible like this?

The reason I ask is that Lakey recently estimated that around 5% of the inter-War BSAs had their etching still visible.

As Chris has said in post #6, not many.
During my recent research on Mk.1's, I got to know of 3 examples across the pond, but Len's is the only one I've managed to get pictures of.
I did ask for pictures of the other two, but this request was met with a stony silence.
I would think there are some in the UK, but, there are some VERY secretive collectors about, so we will probably never know for sure.

[Garvin]

Thank you Chris and David.

As with the BSAs, it would be good if someone with the necessary skills could put together a re-etching service for these early Webleys. I saw a pic of a repro prewar BSA etching done by elanmac recently, which was very close to the original.

[psycho]

Thanks again Troubledshooter for providing such fantastic photos

question to all ---------does anyone know of anyone who has the expertise to make or do acid etching or transfers to the correct scale from these pictures???

ATB
paul

[Sam99]

Thanks David - something to aspire to ?
And Thanks to Chris for his reality check.

Sam

[Troubledshooter]

It would be nice to find one, Sam, but I'm not holding my breath.
I'm still looking for a good .22 version, etched, rolled or otherwise.

[Binners]

It would be nice to find one, Sam, but I'm not holding my breath.
I'm still looking for a good .22 version, etched, rolled or otherwise.

I should be looking at one in the new year Matey and if it turns out to be a .22 you will be the first to know