Tatty Case

[Binners]

A lot of people do not realise that the Webley locks turn.

[Garvin]

Hello Danny,
True you do have to press the clasp to lock the case, but it would be easy to accidentally do this in an almost unconscious action.

Brian

I don't mean that Brian. Even with the clasp pressed you should still be able to move the slider, surely? Are you saying it locks automatically?

[Abasmajor]

I don't mean that Brian. Even with the clasp pressed you should still be able to move the slider, surely? Are you saying it locks automatically?

Hi Danny,
I only did it once when I first got the set many years ago. From what I remember, I accidentally pushed the clasp which resulted in the lock engaging. I remember I needed to pick the lock to reopen the case, not difficult but inconvenient.
I haven't tried it since to confirm the exact sequence of events.
Maybe as Binners has said, it might have opened if I had turned the clasp, bit I would have thought I would have tried the before picking the lock.
Brian

[Garvin]

Hi Danny,
I only did it once when I first got the set many years ago. From what I remember, I accidentally pushed the clasp which resulted in the lock engaging. I remember I needed to pick the lock to reopen the case, not difficult but inconvenient.
I haven't tried it since to confirm the exact sequence of events.
Maybe as Binners has said, it might have opened if I had turned the clasp, bit I would have thought I would have tried the before picking the lock.
Brian

It may be faulty Brian, except the piece with the key hole in the middle shouldn't turn, it should slide to the right I think.

[WebleyWombler]

I have 2 of these but I am certain they are reproductions and can never be as nice to own as the real thing. Has someone been turning out copies in the last 20 years?

[Binners]

A lot of people do not realise that the Webley locks turn.

maybe they do now....

[Abasmajor]

It may be faulty Brian, except the piece with the key hole in the middle shouldn't turn, it should slide to the right I think.

Hi Danny,
Just checked the lock and whatever the technical term is for the bit where the key is inserted does turn. So, if I take a chance and close the clasp, do you think it will it will release on turning with a key only being needed to prevent this happening ?

Brian

[Troubledshooter]

I have 2 of these but I am certain they are reproductions and can never be as nice to own as the real thing. Has someone been turning out copies in the last 20 years?

Dave Lewis has been making excellent reproduction Webley pistol cases for quite some time, and he always tries to obtain as near original locking mechanisms as possible, but this has more recently proved difficult, as the manufacturer no longer produces these in the UK.

[Garvin]

Hi Danny,
Just checked the lock and whatever the technical term is for the bit where the key is inserted does turn. So, if I take a chance and close the clasp, do you think it will it will release on turning with a key only being needed to prevent this happening ?

Brian

It's an incredibly simple mechanism, Brian. You should be able to see before you try it for real whether, when the knob is turned (or slid, or whatever), that the bar that retains the clasp is retracted, allowing the clasp to spring open.

If you can simulate closing it first with a watchsmith's screwdriver and the bar doesn't retract, then don't risk it. Locking the case with the key should merely isolate the locking bar from the knob.

At worst, the springs that open the clasps sometimes fail with age and you can mechanically (ie. with a thumbnail - think 'brand new briefcase') pull the clasp open.

[micky2]

Some times these type of lock will seize up. a little bit of oil should to the trick. it has for me in the past.

[Abasmajor]

It's an incredibly simple mechanism, Brian. You should be able to see before you try it for real whether, when the knob is turned (or slid, or whatever), that the bar that retains the clasp is retracted, allowing the clasp to spring open.

If you can simulate closing it first with a watchsmith's screwdriver and the bar doesn't retract, then don't risk it. Locking the case with the key should merely isolate the locking bar from the knob.

At worst, the springs that open the clasps sometimes fail with age and you can mechanically (ie. with a thumbnail - think 'brand new briefcase') pull the clasp open.

Hi Danny,

I must admit I haven't bothered to investigate the lock issue further, but will take another look proceeding with care.

Brian

[Abasmajor]

Just had proper look at the Webley case lock following Danny's advice and it seems it really is simpler than I originally believed. I remember fiddling with the case in the car park at Bisley when I first bought the set many years ago and accidentally locked the lid. I must have assumed it automatically locked as turning the lock cover failed to release the clasp. I remember I finally managed to release the catch with a pin and have left it well alone since. Thanks to Danny, I now know the latch can also be pushed to the right to release the catch which it does perfectly.
Troubledshooter has kindly offered to send me a selection of keys (thanks David) that would have been similar to the original to see if one of them fits the lock.
At least I can now close the lid without fear of not being able to open it again without damaging the case. Sometimes the obvious things don't enter your mind in the heat of the moment when these things happen.

Brian