Webley Mark II Info .455 - Sale Price

B

Buugey

Inactive
Anyone know where to sell this gun. It has bunch of proof marks and Royal Navy mark on top. I spoke with 2 "antique firearm" dealers and they offered $50 and "lucky if get $75". Also gave me a bunch of BS reasons for low value which I vknew was BS based on my limited knowledge (i.e. worn bluing, made in Canada, no ivory handles - what govt issues ivory handled sidearm) I know it has value based on this forum and limited research. It is .455 and was clearly carried by someone in service (i.e. scratches, dings etc.). Based on serial number it was issued in approx 1894 to Royal Navy

It was not rechambered. It is still .455
 

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Add a zero to those numbers and you'll be close.... $500-$750 is not unheard of for good examples. Condition drives the price.

What you were quoted stands as a perfect example of overt dishonesty.


Where to sell? It's a national/global market for collectable guns of that nature. You can sell it on Gunbroker at auction and realize it's value with fair ease.


Laws: There is an exception for firearms made before 1898: If you are certain that it was made before then, you can essentially sell it to someone in any state by sending it FEDEX (shipment is another topic, let's take that up if/when you actually need to send it to someone).

If it was made after 1898, the following rules are the basics:


You should only deliver it in person to a resident of your own state, complying with any state laws regarding same (let us know what state and some advice can be given there), or sent to a Federally Licenced Firearms Collector or Dealer, either of which would need to send you a copy of their license (FFL = Federal Firearms License) for any sales outside of your own state of residence.

This revolver is considered a "Curio or Relic" under federal law, and as such the buyer, if out of state, can meet the legal requirements by provding you a copy of their federal collectors license if they are not a true "dealer" in firearms. Sale to an unlicensed individual across state lines is a federal offense. Depending on the state, a face to face sale to a resident of your own state can be very easy (most states) or require that the buyer have a permit (few states).


Willie

.
 
OK....

DEFINITELY not made in Canada, Webley revolvers were never made in Canada.

Worn bluing... well what does that moron expect for a gun that's well over 100 years old?

No ivory handles? Damn, that person is an idiot.

I agree with Willie, that's at least a $500 revolver.

Mk IIs just don't surface all that often, and when they do they've normally been butchered. One that's still in the proper .455 chambering is probably rarer than ones that have been "perverted" to .45 ACP.

Word to the wise...

NEVER EVER fire this gun with smokeless powder ammunition!

It is simply NOT strong enough to withstand it. When the British introduced cordite (smokeless powder) in 1892, it didn't take long to figure out that the low pressure rounds that they were using were still too strong for these guns.

NEVER NEVER NEVER EVER NEVER consider having it "converted" to .45 ACP. The .45 runs quite a few thousand PSI hotter than the .455 blackpowder (possibly more than double), and I have no doubt that just a few shots would literally destroy it.
 
Thank you for the responses. It is still .455 and I have the original holster. Neat bit of history. Everything is original and it has matching serial numbers and proof marks. I has notches on grip. I think the user did it for a better grip. According to family legend (My great uncle got the gun from his friend - that is a fact) the user was in the Royal Navy and it was used in combat during the Boar War. The notches are for kills. I doubt this because the notches are not uniform, but are spaced in a manner on all 4 sides to make it have a better grip. I forgot about the gun store owner who told me "it was as valuable as a paper weight". Of course he was willing to take it off my hands since it was "unregistered" for no charge.
 
Paid $900 for a Mk I a year or so ago, about 95%, the early type with the holster guide and recoil shield forged as part of the frame. I thought I got a very good deal.

Jim
 
I agree with others, your revolver is worth at least $500 if not considerably more. The dealers who low-balled you at best had no idea what they were looking at or talking about at best and were trying to royally rip you off at worst.
 
Thanks. It is amazing that in this day and age (Internet, many publications about older models) that there are still folks that are out there trying to pull a fast one. I guess the fact that they're still out there means they do find the ocassional sucker.
 
I would try to remember and revisit the gun store that attempted robbery on you and ask them for a written estimate of value.

Then I would post it on the internet in as many forums as I could find.

Be prepared for complaint from the store, but remember, against libel charges, "Truth is a defense."

Lost Sheep (not a lawyer, but misbehavior begs for correction)
 
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