Webley Air Pistol Batch Numbers

[Leonardj]

Premier date codes added to my post on pg1.

Interesting - my "E" and "F" series Premiers share a common date code - 1/0.

[Leonardj]

I posted a request for batch number info over on the AVA forum, to perhaps expand upon the numbers already submitted.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/40594...ol+enthusiasts......

Also, not sure if everyone is aware of it or not, but a point worthy of note in my post on the AVA:

As well, with some guns bearing a three digit batch number, you should remove the LHS grip to ensure that the batch number stamped into the front of the gun is not just the last three digits of a four digit batch number. For example, on one of my own Seniors, the front of the gun is stamped with "009" (which could also be misread as "600"), but upon removing the LHS grip, the batch number on the frame reads "1009".

[le frelon]

Hi John, a few more post war to add.

Juniors: 5048, 2558, 3102, 455. Mk 11: 504.

Senior: 054, 972.

Mk1: 435, 250.

Premier: E/coated. 392. Mk 11: 582.


rgds Carl.

[Josie & John]

I posted a request for batch number info over on the AVA forum, to perhaps expand upon the numbers already submitted.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/40594...ol+enthusiasts......

Also, not sure if everyone is aware of it or not, but a point worthy of note in my post on the AVA:

Thanks for spreading the word Len and for pointing out the full batch number appears under the grip. You are quite correct of course. Sometimes the last 2 digits appear stamped on major components such as the trigger guard and stirrup catch.

Thanks also to all for recent updates

John

[Josie & John]

Premier date codes added to my post on pg1.

Interesting - my "E" and "F" series Premiers share a common date code - 1/0.

Thank you Len,
The F seems rather early as most others are dated 1972. At the risk of asking a daft question, is there any possibility of the letter code being a lightly stamped E?

Kind regards,

John

[Leonardj]

The F seems rather early as most others are dated 1972. At the risk of asking a daft question, is there any possibility of the letter code being a lightly stamped E?

I examined the letter stamp with a jeweller's loupe, and there is absolutely no trace of any sort to indicate a light, or mis-stamped "E" - it definitely appears to me to be an "F".
I snapped this close-up pic to support my finding.
http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/u...eriesFPrem.jpg

[micky]

Hi John here are my numbers from sold and still have ones.

Junior 217,260,649,807,1261,1600.
Senior 132,257,380(SA99),404,436,1043,1997
Mk1 304,353,436,872,1286.
Prem 83,117,614,1391,1539.

regards,
Mick.

[Josie & John]

Hi John here are my numbers from sold and still have ones.

Junior 217,260,649,807,1261,1600.
Senior 132,257,380(SA99),404,436,1043,1997
Mk1 304,353,436,872,1286.
Prem 83,117,614,1391,1539.

regards,
Mick.

Thanks Mick,
Can you confirm Premier letter codes?

Many thanks,

John

[micky]

Thanks Mick,
Can you confirm Premier letter codes?

Many thanks,

John

Hi John l will try to look at them over the weekend regards,

Mick.

[Big Seth]

Webley Senior stamped vertically at muzzle (spring guide according to parts manual) 1601
on the flat of the frame above the trigger left hand side is's stamped SH454

[alhungie]

Senior

2246

H stamp on trigger guuard

[Josie & John]

I examined the letter stamp with a jeweller's loupe, and there is absolutely no trace of any sort to indicate a light, or mis-stamped "E" - it definitely appears to me to be an "F".
I snapped this close-up pic to support my finding.
http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/u...eriesFPrem.jpg

Thank you Len. That is the earliest F known, to the best of my knowledge. Strange Webley stamped the pistol with an F in 1970 and then continued with the blued E Series for some 2 years. It certainly seems to be an anomaly but this is the kind of thing that makes for interesting research.

Kind regards,

John

[webman]

Do you think that Webley could have had a number of "odds and ends" of steel bodies from several years, and used them up just prior to introducing the MK 2 aluminium-bodied model? I seem to have read that the only difference between the blued "E" and "F" was the new 12-groove rifled barrel, as fitted to the MK 2. This could explain why a lot of "F" model pistols have dates before some "E" models.

[Josie & John]

Do you think that Webley could have had a number of "odds and ends" of steel bodies from several years, and used them up just prior to introducing the MK 2 aluminium-bodied model? I seem to have read that the only difference between the blued "E" and "F" was the new 12-groove rifled barrel, as fitted to the MK 2. This could explain why a lot of "F" model pistols have dates before some "E" models.

Not impossible at all. However Webleys experimented with several different coated finishes during the early/mid 1970s to save the expense of bluing and particularly polishing beforehand. They carried on making blued pistols alongside coated pistols and the former became the F Series according to Tom Cooper from notes I took after one of our conversations.

The Premier certainly makes for a fascinating study as there are so many different models.

Kind regards,

John