Webley Mark 2 Target - first variation - walnut grips?

[45flint]

Hi All,

The Mark I Webley air pistol was patented in 1924 and big game rifle distributors The Hoffman Arms Company exhibited one at Camp Perry the same year. The Webley was a popular pistol both in the U.K and around the world as it was made to the same standard as the company’s well respected firearms. Numerous Webley Mark I and Mark II target models were imported into the U.S.A., where they proved popular with reviewers such as Julian Hatcher. The top of the range Mark II was fitted with hand chequered walnut grips and inset Webley medallion for the fortunate Americans rather than the standard vulcanite for the rest of the world.

Initially the walnut stocked Mark IIs were distributed by Hoffman but not marked as such. Stoeger took over the Webley agency in 1927 and marked their name on walnut stocked pistols from then on. The 1928 Stoeger catalogue stated all the latest models were stamped with the Stoeger name and prospective purchasers were warned to beware of older models, confirming that others had previously imported Webley air pistols.

The 'unmarked' walnut stocked pistols are therefore not Stoegers but Hoffman imports. There are less of them than Stoegers, so they are a little scarcer.

Kind regards,

John

Thanks much, great forum to find out questions like this. My gun fits what you are saying, since the gun I have coming is the first pattern Mark II Target which would fall into the Hoffman time frame you describe. The walnut grips really are a great plus to these. It is my first straight grip which fits nicely into my prewar blued pistol collection. Will post pics which it arrives, got three day inspection so hope is it is as good as the pics. Also interesting to me that this is that rare instance where being in the US actually is an advantage to collecting a UK airgun. Most of the time I look at the guns offered here and just get depressed. Lol