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Webley Mk VI ‘Battlefield’

The original revolver and history

The Webley Revolver (also known as the Webley Top-Break Revolver or Webley Self-Extracting Revolver) was, in various marks, a standard issue service revolver for the armed forces of the United Kingdom, the British Empire and the Commonwealth, from 1887 to 1970.

The Webley is a top-break revolver and breaking the action operates the extractor, which removes spent cartridges from the cylinder. The Webley Mk I service revolver was adopted in 1887 and the Mk IV rose to prominence during the Boer War of 1899–1902. The Mk VI, introduced in 1915 during the First World War, is perhaps the best-known model.

Firing large .455 Webley cartridges, Webley service revolvers were among the most powerful top-break revolvers ever produced. The .455 calibre Webley is no longer in military service, it was retired in 1947. Webley’s records show the last Mk VI was sold from the factory in 1957, with “Nigeria” noted against the entry.

The Webley Mk6 revolver

TV and film

This iconic revolver pops up just about everywhere, there are hundreds of TV and film sightings but some of my favourites are Dunkirk, The Land That Time Forgot, The Monuments Men and The Hound of the Baskervilles. TV showings include many episodes of Peaky Blinders, Endeavour and Sherlock Holmes.

Specifications

  • Calibre: .455 Webley MkII, .45 ACP
  • Capacity: 6 rounds
  • Weight: 1200g
  • Length: 286mm

The CO2 replica

It seems only fitting that Webley & Scott themselves supply this accurate replica of such an icon in the firearm world. This is a very close copy of the actual revolver, the only really noticeable departure being the little safety button on the right side below the cylinder.

The version I have is the 6″ in “Battlefield” finish – It has a lovely blued look and appears older than it really is. The frame features original Webley stampings for the patents mark on the left side. It comes with 6 dummy cartridges into which the pellets are loaded, loading these cartridges into the cylinder really gives a feel for the original item. The double/single action trigger is pretty heavy in double action as to be expected but nice and responsive in single.

Webley even added the loop to the end of the grip for securing the revolver to its owner with a lanyard – this also doubles as the CO2 securing screw – a nice idea.

The Webley & Scott Mk6 CO2 revolver right side
The Webley & Scott Mk6 CO2 revolver left side

Loading a 12g CO2 is easy – flip off the left grip piece and slot in the cartridge, tighten up with the lanyard loop.

CO2 is held in the grip

The ‘ammunition’ is loaded after pressing the break lever on the left side just forward and below the hammer. The action opens with a nice smooth, well engineered feel to it. Slot in the 6 loaded cartridges, close the action and you’re ready to go again – exactly like the original firearm.

Loading the cartridges

In use, the Webley Mk6 is as good as it looks, it is accurate and packs a fair punch. CO2 usage is very good as there is no blowback action in a revolver. I use flat nose or “wadcutter” pellets in all my pellet firing replicas, they seem to be very reliable and more than accurate enough over the distances used.

Specifications

  • Calibre: .177 pellet
  • Capacity: 6 rounds
  • Weight: 1150g
  • Length: 285mm
  • CO2 usage: around 60 with full power