Scottarms
Originally Posted by
Troubledshooter
It is extremely difficult to tell, but there are certain characteristics to look out for, such as the fitting of component parts which need to be modified before plating, and the numbering of such parts, plus the polishing needed to prepare the gun can dull the rolled impressions, whereas the factory produced model should be crisp and clear.
It's difficult to explain, but one gets the feel about these things.
Mine has been seen by several collectors who know a lot more about these things than I do, and the general consensus is that it's a factory produced model, plus, the collector who originally owned it, and the engraved Senior, would not knowingly have bought an after market plated model, and he knew his guns.
I also have a plated Junior, acquired from a different source, which I believe to be a Webley plated gun.
I did knowingly buy an after market plated Senior, long since sold on, and the difference is obvious if the two are side by side.
The funny thing is, that in spite of being told repeatedly the gun he was buying was an after market plated model, and the price reflected this, I know for a fact the buyer spent the next few months trying to get other collectors and dealers to authenticate it as an original Webley produced item.
Scottarms auction house had a brass plated Webley (senior?) in their last sale. Acording to the blurb in the catalogue it was originally a factory silver plated example, the silver having been worn off/removed, leaving the brass under-plating. Would it even be possible for plating to wear out like that? I would have thought that with the thicknesses of material involved any wear would take off both platings. Is it possible to plate onto an already plated surface with another type of metal? I can't remember what price the pistol went for as I wasn't bidding on it.
The South of England has 2 good things, the M1 and the A1. Both will take you to Yorkshire.