CODE – 01–131-912

NAME – Webley & Scott Mk I

NAME (NATIVE) – Pistol, Self-Loading, .455 Mk I, Mk I N

TYPE – Semiautomatic pistol

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – Great Britain

DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1912

CALIBER – 11.56x24mm (.455 Webley Self Loading)

OVERALL LENGTH – 21.6 cm (8.5 in)

BARREL LENGTH – 12.7 cm (5 in)

RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 6-Grooves, Right-hand twist, 1 turn in 50.8 cm (1 turn in 20 in)

BULLET DIAMETER – 11.56 mm (0.455 in)

BULLET WEIGHT – 14.51 g (224 grains)

MUZZLE VELOCITY – 216 m/s (710 fps)

MUZZLE ENERGY – 340 j (251 ft/lb)

WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 1.02 kg (2 lb 4 oz)

WEIGHT (LOADED) – 1.27 kg (2 lb 12.8 oz)

SIGHTS – Open, iron, adjustable for windage, Front sight – Blade, Rear sight – Combination V and round notch, adjustable for windage with screw slot

EFFECTIVE RANGE – (50 yards)

OPERATION – Short recoil, Single action

TYPE OF FIRE – Semiautomatic

RATE OF FIRE – 14 rpm

FEED DEVICE – 7 round removable box magazine, Single column, Single feed

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 0.09 kg (3 oz)

FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 0.25 kg (8.8 oz)

BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – 2-7 round magazines (14 rounds)

LOAD WEIGHT – 0.50 kg (1 lb 1.6 oz)

MANUFACTURER – Webley & Scott Ltd., Birmingham, England

STATUS – Obsolete

SERVICE – British Navy, Royal Horse Artillery, and the Royal Flying Corps in limited numbers, commercial sales

      This was a large handgun intended for issue to the British military. Though considered safe after extensive testing, the Webley Mark I self-loading pistol was not accepted for general issue, though it was accepted by the Royal Navy. Though a number of British officers also purchased the weapon, it was never really considered as a replacement for the venerable revolver. The design of the Mark I results in a very blocky outline with the pistol grip and a near right angle to the receiver. The pointing qualities of the Mark I are poor when compared to other weapons, notably the Webley Revolver Mk VI. It has a visible grip safety on the rear of the pistol grip and a very large hammer at the back of the slide. The weapon did remain in service with the Royal Navy until the end of World War II.