Webley Premier. Which one to keep?

[Geezer]

The numbers quoted are production dates.
The batch numbers, or part thereof, are stamped on the front of the spring guide, as per Senior.
I would suggest keeping the slightly earlier model.

OK, got that wrong.

Isn’t 10/74 pretty early for a MkII? I thought they were officially a 1975 model?

For how long did Webley date-stamp these things?

[WebleyWombler]

Get rid of the crap MkII, fairly useless unreliable things anyway.

The earlier one sounds interesting. It should be 'E' marked on the left hand side on the frame behind the trigger but not that many painted ones were stamped with the model name , most of that series had it printed on a label stuck in a recessed panel on the R/H side as Webley found that paint often filled the stampings and made the markings difficult to read.

What's the batch number please? it will be stamped at the front on the spring guide as well as possibly under the left grip. It sounds like a candidate to be added to the serial number list on here.

[archer24]

If it’s steel and dated, it sounds like a transitional Premier

[Mach 1.5]

Thanks Guys. Yes the later one is the same as in the pic above. Both are steel construction. The early one 9 / 73 as a batch No. but hard to see due to the coating applied to it but it's 4**. The letter by the trigger guard is either an E or F again hard to tell. The one dated 10 / 74 as batch No. 621.Thanks guys great insight to these pistols. Mach 1.5

[WebleyWombler]

I'm a little confused by the descriptions and numbers you have given. would it be possible for you to show us some photos please?

Pictures of the right hand sides of both pistols and then pics showing the left hand grip frame area of each pistol would make things much clearer

[hwtyger]

Wouldnt let us decide what to keep. Which one shoots best? Or do you like shooting the best?
Which one do you like the looks best? Or makes you most proud?
Imo, theres more to a gun than its (collectors) value. Choose from the heart.

[archer24]

The 9/73 should be a SUNCORITE version, not very rare, although I don’t have a good one ��
The 74 as said is a Transitional, a bit more rare, I have 2 good ones of these dated 74 & 75.
73 without the Suncorite

[Josie & John]

Wouldnt let us decide what to keep. Which one shoots best? Or do you like shooting the best?
Which one do you like the looks best? Or makes you most proud?
Imo, theres more to a gun than its (collectors) value. Choose from the heart.

Now that is excellent advice.

As a huge Premier fan, I'd be tempted to keep both.

John