Webley & Scott
Origins
Webley traces its origins to Birmingham, England, in 1790.1 William Davis founded the predecessor business in Weaman Street.2, 3 Philip Webley took it over in 1845.4
William and Charles Scott founded W. & C. Scott in 1832, specialising in shotguns.5, 6 In 1897 P. Webley & Son amalgamated with W. & C. Scott & Sons and Richard Ellis & Son.7, 8, 9
Factories and partners
Webley's predecessor business stood in Weaman Street, Birmingham.3 Later premises stood in Park Lane, Handsworth.10 Webley & Scott's UK contact address is Highland Outdoors Limited in North Kilworth.11
Fuller Group trades publicly as Fuller Global.12 Fuller describes the brand as made today through international joint-venture partnerships.13
Webley India names Sial Manufacturers Pvt Ltd. as its partner for firearm production and sales.14 The factory is in Sandila, Hardoi.15 Webley India dates its manufacturing from 2019 and describes its 800 Semi Auto as made in India.16, 17
Families and models
The earlier numbered range included the 400, made from 1900 to 1946, and the 300, made from 1922 to 1939.18, 19 The 500 ran from 1925 to 1946, and the 600 from 1927 to 1946.20, 21 The 700 followed in 1947 and stayed in production until 1979.22 It is a side-by-sideA side-by-side is a gun with two barrels mounted next to each other.Glossary: Side-by-side with Anson & Deeley boxlock lockwork and Southgate ejectorsEjectors throw fired cartridge cases clear when a break-open gun opens.Glossary: Ejectors.30, 31
The 701 and 702 have higher finishes than the 700, and the 701 cost more than the 702.22, 32 In a February 1966 test, GUNS Magazine described the 701 as a best-grade boxlock.23, 24
The current Imperial is a boxlock with sideplatesSideplates are decorative plates on the sides of a boxlock that give more room for engraving.Glossary: Sideplates and a colour case-hardenedCase hardening adds carbon to the surface of steel to give it a hard outer layer.Glossary: Case hardening actionThe action houses the mechanism that loads, fires and unloads a gun.Glossary: Action.33, 34 The Kilworth is a black-finished boxlock side-by-side with scroll engravingEngraving is decoration cut into a gun’s metal surfaces.Glossary: Engraving.35, 36, 37 The 900 B is a boxlock over-and-under that Webley describes as designed in the UK.38, 39 The 812 Hybrid semi-automaticA semi-automatic reloads itself after each shot and fires once for each pull of the trigger.Glossary: Semi-automatic uses a hybrid gas systemA gas action uses propellant gases to unlock and cycle a self-loading gun.Glossary: Gas action and a rotating locking bolt head.40
Reading the names and numbers
In the 1000 series, the 1012, 1020 and 1028 are 12, 20 and 28 boreGauge is the number of lead balls, each the diameter of the bore, that together weigh one pound.Glossary: Gauge guns.27 The older 701 and 702 numbers mark higher finishes within the 700 range.22 The 900 B name places the gun in the Black series.41
Marks
The W&S winged-bullet trademark appears on a Webley & Scott Mk 1 pistol in the Australian War Memorial's collection.42, 43 The 900 B carries fleur-de-lys steel-shot proofSteel-shot proof tests a gun for use with high-performance steel-shot ammunition.Glossary: Steel-shot proof.44 The British proof-year stampA proof date is the date a gun was proved or reproved, which may fall in a different year from its manufacture.Glossary: Proof date records the year of proof or reproof.45 Arms Research lists a W&S Double Gun Register for 1975–1980 and Greener GP shotgun sales for 1972–1980.46, 47
Sources
- History, Origins. Webley India. maker website
- Webley & Scott history, Origins. Webley & Scott. maker website
- Webley & Scott history, Location. Webley & Scott. maker website
- Webley & Scott history, Takeover. Webley & Scott. maker website
- London gunmakers, Scott founders. Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford. magazine
- London gunmakers, Scott date and work. Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford. magazine
- The Webley Story, Merger year. Commonwealth Heritage Foundation, 1987. book
- The Webley Story, Webley. Commonwealth Heritage Foundation, 1987. book
- The Webley Story, Merger. Commonwealth Heritage Foundation, 1987. book
- The Webley Story, Handsworth. Commonwealth Heritage Foundation, 1987. book
- Contact information, Address. Webley & Scott. maker website
- About Fuller Global — group identity, Group name. Fuller Global. maker website
- Our Story — Webley & Scott joins the Fuller Group, Manufacturing. Fuller Global. maker website
- About Webley, Partnership. Webley India. maker website
- About Webley, Factory. Webley India. maker website
- History, Indian production. Webley India. maker website
- 800 Semi Auto Shotgun, Manufacture. Webley India. maker website
- Mechanisation in the Gun Trade, 400. Vintage Guns, 2018-06-28. magazine
- Mechanisation in the Gun Trade, 300. Vintage Guns, 2018-06-28. magazine
- Mechanisation in the Gun Trade, 500. Vintage Guns, 2018-06-28. magazine
- Mechanisation in the Gun Trade, 600. Vintage Guns, 2018-06-28. magazine
- Mechanisation in the Gun Trade, 700. Vintage Guns, 2018-06-28. magazine
- The Model 700 Webley & Scott, Date. GUNS Magazine, 1966-02. magazine
- The Model 700 Webley & Scott, Grade. GUNS Magazine, 1966-02. magazine
- Webley Mk. VI Revolver, Webley and Greener ownership. NRA Museums. magazine
- Webley & Scott 1000 series 20-bore shotgun review, Date. ShootingUK, 2008-01-17. magazine
- Webley & Scott 1000 series 20-bore shotgun review, Models. ShootingUK, 2008-01-17. magazine
- Webley & Scott 1000 series 20-bore shotgun review, Type. ShootingUK, 2008-01-17. magazine
- Our Story — Webley & Scott joins the Fuller Group, Group membership. Fuller Global. maker website
- Webley & Scott 700 shotgun review, Type. ShootingUK, 2008-09-10. magazine
- Fall and Rise. Part 2, Action. Vintage Guns, 2022-04-01. magazine
- Fall and Rise. Part 2, Grades. Vintage Guns, 2022-04-01. magazine
- Imperial Series, Action. Webley & Scott. maker website
- Imperial Series, Sideplates. Webley & Scott. maker website
- Kilworth Series, Finish. Webley & Scott. maker website
- Kilworth Series, Action. Webley & Scott. maker website
- Kilworth Series, Type. Webley & Scott. maker website
- 900 B (Black) Series, Action. Webley & Scott. maker website
- 900 B (Black) Series, Design. Webley & Scott. maker website
- 812 Hybrid Shotgun, Action. Webley & Scott. maker website
- 900 B (Black) Series, Name. Webley & Scott. maker website
- Webley & Scott Mk 1 Pistol, Model. Australian War Memorial. magazine
- Webley & Scott Mk 1 Pistol, Mark. Australian War Memorial. magazine
- 900 B (Black) Series, Proof. Webley & Scott. maker website
- Rules, regulations and scales for proof of small arms 2006, Proof year. Gunmakers’ Company and Guardians of the Birmingham Proof House, 2006. proof house
- The Webley & Scott Archive, Double gun register. Arms Research. maker website
- The Webley & Scott Archive, Greener register. Arms Research. maker website