Webley mk1 100 year anniversary video

[Binners]

Having just read all the previous posts, I have saved a lot of time one finger typing. I waited until I had some uninterrupted time before I clicked on the link.
From start to finish I was glued.
Worthy of TV coverage for sure and you do our hobby proud Matt.
Thank you

[ptdunk]

Having just read all the previous posts, I have saved a lot of time one finger typing. I waited until I had some uninterrupted time before I clicked on the link.
From start to finish I was glued.
Worthy of TV coverage for sure and you do our hobby proud Matt.
Thank you

Thanks mate,
See you at Kempton.

Matt

[ptdunk]

You are such a great shooter you really value all the characteristics that add to the pistol’s accuracy etc. To me the HP being a 1907 and so well built is a treat just to hold and look at! Same appreciation I have for 1800’s black powder pistols.

To me it’s about closing the circle as a collector.

Research & history, pride of ownership, servicing them (taking them apart and to see how they work and get them working at their best) and then seeing how accurately they deliver a pellet down range, as after all, that’s what they were designed for.
That’s the full circle for me.

Take out any of those four things and I wouldn’t enjoy it so much.

Even if a group is the size of a dinner plate, I think shooting them is still an important part of the process. I appreciate not everyone is into shooting them though.

Cheers,
Matt

[Evostu]

To me it’s about closing the circle as a collector.

Research & history, pride of ownership, servicing them (taking them apart and to see how they work and get them working at their best) and then seeing how accurately they deliver a pellet down range, as after all, that’s what they were designed for.
That’s the full circle for me.

Take out any of those four things and I wouldn’t enjoy it so much.

Even if a group is the size of a dinner plate, I think shooting them is still an important part of the process. I appreciate not everyone is into shooting them though.

Cheers,
Matt

Superb video,finally had the time to sit down and watch it and totally agree with the above,I find it very satisfying to rebuild a pistol and get it shooting as it should,I love how easily the webleys are to sort compared to say a bsa scorpion
I have mint ones I rarely shoot as then they wouldn't be mint after a while I guess and not so mint ones of the same models that I shoot alot

[Josie & John]

I'm embarrassed to say that I have only just got round to watching Matt's excellent video.

As a Webley-aholic, I wanted to ensure I could watch the hour long presentation in peace and with a growing GSD pup in the house, that time was harder to find that I initially thought.

Anyway, the video was well worth the wait and I enjoyed it immensely. It's great to watch Matt shooting these vintage pistols as he is a gifted marksman that does the pistols true justice in terms of the levels of performance that can be expected from them.

I also found the early Highest Possible accurate and a good performer. According to my records, the example I last owned averaged 449 fps with Excite Econ II, so not that shabby.

I also found the ABAS Majors to be less than accurate in my hands when I tested them in the past and I too expected more from them. This lack of accuracy in my hands is why I don't currently own an ABAS.

It was good to see the Mark Is beat their competition; one minor point is Matt mentioned slant gripped Mark Is had a wider air cylinder than the straight gripped pistol used in the presentation. Matt's straight gripped Mark I was an early production model and the cylinder diameter and length increased not long after it was made. The Breech Block length was increased along with the air cylinder length and diameter between numbers 1883 and 1994 according to John Atkins (AGW 06/83).

It is strange the way my experiences with some of the pistols tested is similar to Matt's as I also found that HW45s can randomly throw pellets way off. I think this may be due to the way I hold mine as with the HW45, I find I have to hold it very consistently for every shot as even a slight variation in hold can result in inconsistency down range far more than with other pistols. I tend to favour a lighter hold than normal, as I find this easier to replicate time after time.

Anyway, a belated well done Matt for a very well presented and edited video that was a pleasure to watch and well worth waiting for.

John M

[45flint]

I'm embarrassed to say that I have only just got round to watching Matt's excellent video.

As a Webley-aholic, I wanted to ensure I could watch the hour long presentation in peace and with a growing GSD pup in the house, that time was harder to find that I initially thought.

Anyway, the video was well worth the wait and I enjoyed it immensely. It's great to watch Matt shooting these vintage pistols as he is a gifted marksman that does the pistols true justice in terms of the levels of performance that can be expected from them.

I also found the ABAS Majors to be less than accurate in my hands when I tested them in the past and I too expected more from them. This lack of accuracy in my hands is why I don't currently own an ABAS.


John M

Matt’s videos are the best and his shooting skills are indeed beyond my efforts to compete. He does inspire me to compare the pistols he shot as well and to add one he neglected. Your comments about the Abas Major mirror his and I wonder if it can be made to compete better. Having just obtained an example I am eager to find how it shoots with a spring with less preload? Mine is also a later one with a single sear. I wonder if the double sear caused some of Matt’s trigger issues? Most of all I am adding the Hy-Score. So my post 1946 group will be: the Webley Senior, Abas Major and the Hy-Score. I think the class of that era? My target won’t be 10 meters like Matt’s, maybe 20 feet! Lol (springs for the Abas Major are in the mail - fingers crossed)

I am also adding another category that Matt failed to judge. “The cool factor”. Owning air pistols isn’t always about performance, some just are designed to make you smile, and make you want to own one.

[ptdunk]

I'm embarrassed to say that I have only just got round to watching Matt's excellent video.

As a Webley-aholic, I wanted to ensure I could watch the hour long presentation in peace and with a growing GSD pup in the house, that time was harder to find that I initially thought.

Anyway, the video was well worth the wait and I enjoyed it immensely. It's great to watch Matt shooting these vintage pistols as he is a gifted marksman that does the pistols true justice in terms of the levels of performance that can be expected from them.

I also found the early Highest Possible accurate and a good performer. According to my records, the example I last owned averaged 449 fps with Excite Econ II, so not that shabby.

I also found the ABAS Majors to be less than accurate in my hands when I tested them in the past and I too expected more from them. This lack of accuracy in my hands is why I don't currently own an ABAS.

It was good to see the Mark Is beat their competition; one minor point is Matt mentioned slant gripped Mark Is had a wider air cylinder than the straight gripped pistol used in the presentation. Matt's straight gripped Mark I was an early production model and the cylinder diameter and length increased not long after it was made. The Breech Block length was increased along with the air cylinder length and diameter between numbers 1883 and 1994 according to John Atkins (AGW 06/83).

It is strange the way my experiences with some of the pistols tested is similar to Matt's as I also found that HW45s can randomly throw pellets way off. I think this may be due to the way I hold mine as with the HW45, I find I have to hold it very consistently for every shot as even a slight variation in hold can result in inconsistency down range far more than with other pistols. I tend to favour a lighter hold than normal, as I find this easier to replicate time after time.

Anyway, a belated well done Matt for a very well presented and edited video that was a pleasure to watch and well worth waiting for.

John M

Cheers John,

I thought this one would be right up your street.

Interesting to hear we’re on the same page for a lot of these pistols, I think your previous posts about the Abus are some of the only reports I’ve read regarding accuracy, and I know your a decent pistol shooter.
There must be some good ones out there, I know John Atkins said he’s had an accurate one, but if between us we’ve had four different examples that don’t group well then maybe it’s a bit of a trend.

Regarding the HW45, I have customised some Gamo Compact match grips to fit my 45, that should make the hold more repeatable, I must get round to testing that. So many fun projects to do!

Atb,
Matt

[Josie & John]

Hi Matt,

I've just found this scan on Danny's excellent VAG of a review I wrote in 2009 on the ABAS. I was younger and thinner back then!

https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery....istol-12-2009/

John

[ptdunk]

Hi Matt,

I've just found this scan on Danny's excellent VAG of a review I wrote in 2009 on the ABAS. I was younger and thinner back then!

https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery....istol-12-2009/

John

Interesting, easy to cock and low power, sounds like someone put a weaker spring in, considering how hard to cock both the ones I tried were.
Hope Steve's project to fit a weaker spring in his results in a bit better accuracy. Your 2'' group at seven yards tallies with my larger groups at 10 yds.
Funny I never noticed the obvious similarity with the Webley grips.

Cheers,
Matt

[45flint]

Interesting, easy to cock and low power, sounds like someone put a weaker spring in, considering how hard to cock both the ones I tried were.
Hope Steve's project to fit a weaker spring in his results in a bit better accuracy. Your 2'' group at seven yards tallies with my larger groups at 10 yds.
Funny I never noticed the obvious similarity with the Webley grips.

Cheers,
Matt

I also recrowned the barrel of the Abas, it didn’t look great. That could just be mine but this can’t be easily seen unless you take the pistol apart.

[ptdunk]

I also recrowned the barrel of the Abas, it didn’t look great. That could just be mine but this can’t be easily seen unless you take the pistol apart.

Hope you got an accurate one there, it’s certainly in fantastic condition

[Binners]

I think they are very over rated.

[45flint]

I think they are very over rated.

It’s interesting how collectors rate pistols vs how shooters rate pistols. I know that the object of any airgun would be to get the pellet on target, but for the collector I think that it maybe far less important. Reasonable accuracy comes to mind. I know when I bought a Highest Possible, I could care less about its accuracy but rather its historical nature and its crazy build quality. I think for me it will probably be the same with the Abas Major, it is just so unique with the concentric barrel couple with a loading tap. Built with milled steel. The later Acvoke demonstrated better accuracy but I have one and as a collector I find it a little cheap, a Haenel clone, and uninteresting to me. To me the most interesting comparison will be the Abas Major and the Hy-Score. Both concentric both pretty innovative for the time. The Webley will be in the mix but I already know it is a superior shooting pistol.

[Josie & John]

It’s interesting how collectors rate pistols vs how shooters rate pistols. I know that the object of any airgun would be to get the pellet on target, but for the collector I think that it maybe far less important. Reasonable accuracy comes to mind. I know when I bought a Highest Possible, I could care less about its accuracy but rather its historical nature and its crazy build quality. I think for me it will probably be the same with the Abas Major, it is just so unique with the concentric barrel couple with a loading tap. Built with milled steel. The later Acvoke demonstrated better accuracy but I have one and as a collector I find it a little cheap, a Haenel clone, and uninteresting to me. To me the most interesting comparison will be the Abas Major and the Hy-Score. Both concentric both pretty innovative for the time. The Webley will be in the mix but I already know it is a superior shooting pistol.

For me, both accuracy and condition are important. An airgun may be in pristine condition but if it does not shoot accurately, then it doesn't stay. I may not use an airgun for 10 years but knowing it will work when I decide to pick it up for a plink is a must.

I'm twice as hard to please I guess. Still, your ABAS will shoot well Steve. I can feel it in my bones.

John