Very early Webley Mk1

[Geezer]

For those of you Webley pistol lovers/experts who also frequent the other forum, a guy has popped up today on there seeking advice, info and (good luck to him….) spares for a very early Mk1 (3-digit serial, spring clip). I’m sure he’d appreciate it if you could pop over and give him better advice and info than I can.

[Troubledshooter]

The owner of said pistol had already been in touch with my Webley friend at HO, who in turn phoned me yesterday, but he had only sent one picture of the right side of the pistol, so no serial number was visible.
He had described the pistol's condition quite accurately, but without more pictures, such as those now shown on the AGF, it was impossible to give realistic advice as to value, which was the gist of his request to my friend.
Good advice is being given by others on the AGF regarding repairs and restoration, so it seems unnecessary for me to join in the conversation, as I couldn't really add anything further, although I would think a skilled metalworker could fabricate a replacement spring clip using the remaining original as a pattern, and as for the barrel, good luck with that.

[WebleyWombler]

Interesting.
another poster has put up pnotos of a very late tinplate junior. Serial no above 30000 and Birmingham 4 marked. There can not have been many of them made and I wonder if this variation of Junior is actually a rarer item than the spring clip MKIs.
Your comments would be greatly apreciated David, if only on here for my benefit. Please?

[Troubledshooter]

Interesting.
another poster has put up pnotos of a very late tinplate junior. Serial no above 30000 and Birmingham 4 marked. There can not have been many of them made and I wonder if this variation of Junior is actually a rarer item than the spring clip MKIs.
Your comments would be greatly apreciated David, if only on here for my benefit. Please?

I have never seen an original tin plate junior with the finish shown in the photographs, and I have had a few, although none in that late serial number range.
The condition of the box does not match the condition of the pistol, so in my opinion the originality of the finish could be in doubt. The finish is more akin to that applied by Webley to some of the pistols they refurbished for me in the eighties, and even then it appears to be a much deeper black, particularly to the grips which I have never seen in that finish, and I have two sets in my spares drawer.
I have had a few of that particular style of box but have never seen that sticker, so that is a nice find.

[Josie & John]

The shortened barrel and markings including Birmingham 4 are correct for a Junior in the J30*** range. I know of several and my own example also has a gloss black finish, which I've never been entirely convinced is original. The highest Junior serial numbers known to me are in the J34*** range but the weird thing is none are known between the mid J30***s and J34***.

Webley released a number of 'Anniversary' models to celebrate their 150th Anniversary in 1940 and marked the boxes by adding a sticker. I also have a boxed Mark 1 with such a sticker and have yet to find a boxed Senior with the sticker, albeit I am satisfied the latter do exist.

Kind regards,

John M

[Dutch]

One of our members on the Facebk. Vintage Webley airpistols page also turned up with an early Mk1 spring clip pistol. He will probably pop in later to demonstrate his incredible heirloom. Hopefully you knowledgeable gents can shed some more light on this piece!