Webley Air Pistol Batch Numbers

[Josie & John]

I examined the letter stamp with a jeweller's loupe, and there is absolutely no trace of any sort to indicate a light, or mis-stamped "E" - it definitely appears to me to be an "F".
I snapped this close-up pic to support my finding.
http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/u...eriesFPrem.jpg

Thank you Len. That is the earliest F known, to the best of my knowledge. Strange Webley stamped the pistol with an F in 1970 and then continued with the blued E Series for some 2 years. It certainly seems to be an anomaly but this is the kind of thing that makes for interesting research.

Kind regards,

John

[webman]

Do you think that Webley could have had a number of "odds and ends" of steel bodies from several years, and used them up just prior to introducing the MK 2 aluminium-bodied model? I seem to have read that the only difference between the blued "E" and "F" was the new 12-groove rifled barrel, as fitted to the MK 2. This could explain why a lot of "F" model pistols have dates before some "E" models.

[Josie & John]

Do you think that Webley could have had a number of "odds and ends" of steel bodies from several years, and used them up just prior to introducing the MK 2 aluminium-bodied model? I seem to have read that the only difference between the blued "E" and "F" was the new 12-groove rifled barrel, as fitted to the MK 2. This could explain why a lot of "F" model pistols have dates before some "E" models.

Not impossible at all. However Webleys experimented with several different coated finishes during the early/mid 1970s to save the expense of bluing and particularly polishing beforehand. They carried on making blued pistols alongside coated pistols and the former became the F Series according to Tom Cooper from notes I took after one of our conversations.

The Premier certainly makes for a fascinating study as there are so many different models.

Kind regards,

John

[Josie & John]

Hi John here are my numbers from sold and still have ones.

Junior 217,260,649,807,1261,1600.
Senior 132,257,380(SA99),404,436,1043,1997
Mk1 304,353,436,872,1286.
Prem 83,117,614,1391,1539.

regards,
Mick.

Thanks Mick,
Can you confirm Premier letter codes?

Many thanks,

John

[micky]

Thanks Mick,
Can you confirm Premier letter codes?

Many thanks,

John

Hi John l will try to look at them over the weekend regards,

Mick.

[Big Seth]

Webley Senior stamped vertically at muzzle (spring guide according to parts manual) 1601
on the flat of the frame above the trigger left hand side is's stamped SH454

[Andy40S&W]

I have a Birmingham 4 Mk1. At the muzzle is stamped 093. Under the LH grip panel is stamped 10 93. Also under that panel, scratched freehand into the frame is the date....25/10/49.

VBR

Andy

[Josie & John]

I have a Birmingham 4 Mk1. At the muzzle is stamped 093. Under the LH grip panel is stamped 10 93. Also under that panel, scratched freehand into the frame is the date....25/10/49.

VBR

Andy

That sounds like an interesting example Andy. Any chance of a few pics including close ups of the markings?

Kind regards,

John

[Josie & John]

Webley Senior stamped vertically at muzzle (spring guide according to parts manual) 1601
on the flat of the frame above the trigger left hand side is's stamped SH454

Thanks Big Seth,

I wonder what the SH454 signifies?

John

[thenightstalker]

Hi,
I have Junior's 4100
1530


Senior 1261


Premier 'B' 690 (12'4)
Premier 'E' 152 (1'71)


Nick.

[Josie & John]

Hi,
I have Junior's 4100
1530


Senior 1261


Premier 'B' 690 (12'4)
Premier 'E' 152 (1'71)


Nick.

Thanks Nick,

If/when convenient, can you email pics of the stamps on your Premier B? That's a very early variation, compared to other known Bs

Kind regards,

John

[thenightstalker]

Hi,
I will try photo's but although it's 12 on one side the 4 is very faint but I can't see what other number it will be.

Nick.

[Josie & John]

Hi,
I will try photo's but although it's 12 on one side the 4 is very faint but I can't see what other number it will be.

Nick.

Thanks Nick

[micky]

Hi John here are the prem letters you asked for. all of them blued models = 87 not 83 as l said earlier F, 117 D, 1391 C, and a Mk2 614 painted but no letter, all of them are boxed.
l can't give you 1539 letter as l no longer have it and didn't put the model letter down.
regards,

Mick.

[palmerclassic]

Hi here is mine
premier 77 (B)
mk 1 938
senior 831
junior 598