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strange revolver
- Thread starter gifted
- Start date
Dfariswheel
New member
There have been at least two brands of "automatic revolvers" built.
The first was the famous Webley-Fosbery Automatic revolver made from 1901 to 1939.
The second is the current Mateba pictured above.
These unique revolvers use the recoil of the gun to automatically rotate the cylinder to the next chamber.
When the gun is fired, the barrel and cylinder move a short distance to the rear, somewhat like the slide of an automatic.
As the assembly moves rearward than back forward, the cylinder is rotated to the next chamber, and the hammer is re-cocked.
The Webley-Fosbery was noted for it's failure to operate in the mud of the trenches in World War One, due to the complicated design.
Since the guns have no advantage over either the revolver or the automatic, but share the weakness of both, the Mateba is mostly an expensive oddity for collectors.
The first was the famous Webley-Fosbery Automatic revolver made from 1901 to 1939.
The second is the current Mateba pictured above.
These unique revolvers use the recoil of the gun to automatically rotate the cylinder to the next chamber.
When the gun is fired, the barrel and cylinder move a short distance to the rear, somewhat like the slide of an automatic.
As the assembly moves rearward than back forward, the cylinder is rotated to the next chamber, and the hammer is re-cocked.
The Webley-Fosbery was noted for it's failure to operate in the mud of the trenches in World War One, due to the complicated design.
Since the guns have no advantage over either the revolver or the automatic, but share the weakness of both, the Mateba is mostly an expensive oddity for collectors.
The Webley -Fosbery used to get credit for bailing out dumbbutt novelists who were prone to supplying their characters with Automatic Revolvers. Actually the novelists probably got the term from 19th century sears catalogues where the break-top auto eject handguns were called "automatic revolvers."
Webly had a ratchet/groove set-up on the cylinder kind of like a yankee drill.
Webly had a ratchet/groove set-up on the cylinder kind of like a yankee drill.
One interesting feature of the Mateba is it's firing from the bottom-most chamber instead of the top-most. I would love to see a major manufacturer try putting out a more conventional DA revolver with this configuration. With the barrel thus lowered, I can't help but wonder if that wouldn't help reduce perceived recoil.
FirstFreedom
Moderator
With the barrel thus lowered, I can't help but wonder if that wouldn't help reduce perceived recoil.
And particularly muzzle flip. Dave, that is not a half-bad little idea you've got there! At least in a defensive, relatively small-bored revolver, say .357 mag/ .44 spec / .45 acp / 10mm and under. In a big boomer, say .41 mag and up, you *want* that muzzle flipping, and the grip rotating in your hand, to absorb the recoil. But in a defensive revolver, that is a great idea to maintain maximum control during rapid fire.
Blue Heeler
Moderator
I have shot a Webley-Fosbery,thanks to our local Doctor who collects some very rare and even odd guns.He doesn't have much time to shoot,which is a shame.
The Webley was a real surprise to shoot--very smooth and the action was first class.Negligible recoil too.As I recall the caliber was unusual,around .40 cal I think--The ammo was factory Fiocchi.
The accuracy was perfectly adequate and acceptable.I remember thinking at the time that it would be good to shoot it in the FBI Combat Match--not practical though,you'd probably never find a set of speed-loaders to fit it.
The Webley was a real surprise to shoot--very smooth and the action was first class.Negligible recoil too.As I recall the caliber was unusual,around .40 cal I think--The ammo was factory Fiocchi.
The accuracy was perfectly adequate and acceptable.I remember thinking at the time that it would be good to shoot it in the FBI Combat Match--not practical though,you'd probably never find a set of speed-loaders to fit it.