Why did Webley put a slot in the end plug of its pistols?

[45flint]

How many Webley endcaps have you seen with the end plug slot chewed up? They put “do not remove” in red for a while? At one time they put a pin in it so it couldn’t be turned. Seen those screwed up as well. I just bought a 1925 Mark II Target and there is no end cap slot. Why did they get away from this? See pic.

https://i.imgur.com/dHVmX5X.jpg

[I. J.]

The slot is there so you know which end to drop in the dustbin first.

[gingernut]

They did it to annoy everybody.

Their descendants are still designing and making parts for cars.
Strangely many of them seem to have moved to Japan.

[mrgeoff]

They had to have a form in the part to turn it with.
Slot is fairly cheap. Flats would be 2 cutters, or 2 operations minimum.

As the centres are quite close, a multi spindle tool would have struggled, and this is before the days of CNC.

[45flint]

They had to have a form in the part to turn it with.
Slot is fairly cheap. Flats would be 2 cutters, or 2 operations minimum.

As the centres are quite close, a multi spindle tool would have struggled, and this is before the days of CNC.

How was this 1925 made? In examining it there appears to be no end cap at all. Was it milled from solid steel? Was it cheaper to ream it clear through and end cap it?

[Abasmajor]

How was this 1925 made? In examining it there appears to be no end cap at all. Was it milled from solid steel? Was it cheaper to ream it clear through and end cap it?

Hi,

I would definitely recommend you try to obtain a copy of 'Webley Air Pistols Their History And Development' by Gordon Bruce which thoroughly covers the Webley range including the Mk2 Target.

The book tells us that at an initial stage of its manufacture, instead of boring and reaming out the cylinder from the rear and then sealing it with a circular plug, they decided to approach that operation from the other end of the forging. It was thus possible to combine the repositioned sealing plug with the spring guide already existing at the front. That process, while economisng in the manufacture of components, also produced a more permanent closure at an important region of the air cylinder. Various elements of the main assembly were then revised accordingly. Due to the new manner of construction, it was no longer possible to drill the air vent hole at an angle from the rear and so a vertical drilling had to be made from top of the breech unit. That hole was then sealed externally by a small grub screw and eventually obscured by the barrel catch.

Hope this helps.

Regards
Brian

[Aimstraight]

Just obtained a copy of the publication mentioned above - it is indeed a very interesting book/reference material.