Holts March Auction

[Abasmajor]

Hi,

Noticed a Webley Mk1 air rifle is included in Holts March 2016 auction. No pictures yet, but description would seem to reflect its estimate although it still appears to be very much on the low side.

http://auctions.holtsauctioneers.com...6049&saletype=

Regards

Brian

[guy]

Doesn't seem a lot in there this time!

[Lakey]

Two months to go yet, so presumably they will add more by the time the catalogue is published, not to mention what will be listed in their sealed bid auction.

Lakey

[Abasmajor]

Hello,

Photo of the Webley Mk1 air rifle now available on the website.

Also listed is a Webley Mk1 air pistol which is described as having a black crackle finish, possibly being one of an unspecified number of MKI air-pistols purchased by the military for training purposes that were subsequently re-finished post-war by Sterling Armaments. It does state however that this has not been fully confirmed.

Any Webley experts aware of this particular supply of air pistols to the military ?

http://auctions.holtsauctioneers.com...6575&saletype=

Regards

Brian

[harvey_s]

Hello,

Photo of the Webley Mk1 air rifle now available on the website.

Also listed is a Webley Mk1 air pistol which is described as having a black crackle finish, possibly being one of an unspecified number of MKI air-pistols purchased by the military for training purposes that were subsequently re-finished post-war by Sterling Armaments. It does state however that this has not been fully confirmed.

Any Webley experts aware of this particular supply of air pistols to the military ?

http://auctions.holtsauctioneers.com...6575&saletype=

Regards

Brian

Not heard of this before... Interesting if true, but the model shown seems at odds with Gordon Bruce's book which suggests that the barrel knurling was introduced post-war.

[ashf9999]

Does seem interesting, but I'm not sure why the military, if it was them, would have bothered with a crackle finish. Unless I'm wrong, this finish was only applied to commercially sold Sterling SMGs, and not UK milspec ones. As the air pistols, if they were indeed ever used for training, they would not have been exposed to 'combat conditions', what would have been the point of such a finish? Surely they'd have just been booked back into the armoury and given a quick wipe over. I've not seen them before, but I guess they could have been either a test at Sterling, a paint manufacturers, or maybe from when Webley were playing with Suncorite and the likes. If Mr Edmiston is on the forum, maybe he'll shed some light...