About how many pistols were part of a typical Webley batch post War?

[45flint]

Just curious if there is a thought as to how many pistols are represented in a batch number?

[Josie & John]

Just curious if there is a thought as to how many pistols are represented in a batch number?

I suspect batches varied but honest answer is I have no clue!

John

[webman]

A survey was carried out a few years ago that asked for batch numbers of post-war pistols. It was confirmed by John Atkins (highly respected Webley expert and author) that the batches were not numbered. The numbers on the pistols represent the number of a pistol in a particular batch that is being worked on in the factory. The survey contained the following information:

Type Highest number

MK 1 2290

Senior 4486

Junior 5048

Junior MK 2 909

Premier 4219

Premier MK 2 962


I happened to save this information at the time in case it came in useful!

[45flint]

Good information kind of shows the uselessness of these numbers?

[Geezer]

http://www.airgunbbs.com/showthread....-Batch-Numbers

I haven’t re-read the 11 page thread, but my recollection of it is that, with the possible exception of Premiers, batch numbers mean absolutely nothing except that someone stamped a number on a gun.

I’ve commented on other threads about some of the Webley rifle “serial numbers” that appear to be more numbers than a series.

Makes you wonder why they bothered. What utility was served by “batch numbers”? Was it perhaps that some jurisdictions require a serial number, so numbers get stamped on guns to make them legal for sale (I somewhere have a rubbish Chinese rifle that has a “serial” number stamped on the stock - I am confident it is not part of a series but simply a random collection of numbers to meet a legal requirement)?

[archer24]

The way it was explained to me, in a article in Airgun World I think was.
Each piece that had to be unique to the gun, body, screw in spring guide, trigger guard and barrel catch, were put together pre bluing.
Then machined to fit, then stamped with a batch number, taken apart and send for bluing.
When they got back the batch number was used by the assemblers to identify which parts went together.
This is why buying these bits are a lottery on how well they fit.