Webley Premier. Which one to keep?

[Mach 1.5]

Over to the experts on webley pistols. Have two but only really need one but which one.
1st one has no markings on the one side but flipped her over as premier mk11 on the other. Steel construction but not blued so the black coating they did to save money. Underneath grip 10 / 74.
Next one as The Webley Premier stamped on the one side nothing on the other. 9 / 73 under the grip. Same finish as the above.
Both .22 cal and boxed.
Which I do i keep and which one to sell? Regards Mach 1.5

[Geezer]

Bit confused.

The numbers aren’t dates. They should be (slightly random) batch numbers.

A Mk2 should have the more stepped-looking alloy body, not steel.

Any letter stamped on the left grip frame of the apparent Mk1? If a Mk1, should be an E.

[Troubledshooter]

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.

[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

[I. J.]

[WebleyWombler]

come, come sir! It isn't really fair to hijack a Webley pistol thread with a photo of your new high technology Weirauch gun safe.

Just isn't cricket my dear chap.....

[Modski66]

come, come sir! It isn't really fair to hijack a Webley pistol thread with a photo of your new high technology Weirauch gun safe.

Just isn't cricket my dear chap.....

Possibly perfidious.

[I. J.]

Possibly perfidious.

No. No. Its definitely a Wobbly pistol storage unit.

[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