The Webley–Fosbery Self-Cocking Automatic Revolver is a recoil-operated

automatic revolver An automatic revolver also known as semi-automatic revolver, is a revolver that uses the recoil energy of firing for cocking the hammer A hammer is a tool, most often a hand tool, consisting of a weighted "head" fixed to a long handle ...

Webley & Scott Webley & Scott is an arms manufacturer founded in Birmingham, England. Webley produced handguns and long guns from 1834 to 1979, when the company ceased to manufacture firearms and instead turned its attention to producing air pistols and air ...

company from 1901 to 1924. The revolver is easily recognisable by the zig-zag grooves on the cylinder. The handgun was offered in both .455 and .38 calibers and, somewhat unique for a revolver, features a manual thumb safety.

History

Semi-automatic pistol A semi-automatic pistol (also called a self-loading pistol, autopistol, or autoloading pistol) is a repeating firearm, repeating handgun that automatically ejects and loads cartridge (firearms), cartridges in its chamber (firearms), chamber afte ...

s were just beginning to appear when Colonel Fosbery (1832–1907) devised a revolver that cocked the hammer and rotated the cylinder by sliding the action, cylinder and barrel assembly back on the frame. The prototype was a modified

Colt Single Action Army The Colt Single Action Army (also known as the SAA, Model P, Peacemaker, or M1873) is a Trigger (firearms)#Single-action, single-action revolver handgun. It was designed for the U.S. government service revolver trials of 1872 by Colt's Patent Fi ...

revolver. However, Colt was uninterested in the automatic design. Fosbery patented his invention 16 August 1895 and further improvements were patented in June and October 1896. Fosbery took his design to P. Webley & Son of Birmingham. P. Webley & Son, which merged with W.C. Scott & Sons and Richard Ellis & Son in 1897 to form the Webley & Scott Revolver and Arms Co., was the primary manufacturer of service pistols for the

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

as well as producing firearms for civilian use. Webley further developed the design and the Webley–Fosbery Automatic Revolver was introduced at the matches at Bisley in July 1900. In civilian use, the Webley–Fosbery was popular with target shooters. Because the trigger mechanism did not rotate the cylinder, shots were smooth and consistent, permitting rapid and accurate shooting.

Walter Winans Walter may refer to: People and fictional characters * Walter (name), including a list of people and fictional and mythical characters with the given name or surname * Little Walter, American blues harmonica player Marion Walter Jacobs (1930–19 ...

, a famous contemporary target shooter, preferred the Webley–Fosbery, and in 1902 he used it to place six shots in a bull's-eye at 12 paces in seven seconds. Using a Prideaux

speedloader A speedloader is a tool, device used to reduce the time and effort needed to reload a firearm. Speedloaders come in a variety of forms for reloading revolvers, or the Magazine (firearms), magazines used with other types of firearms such as rifle ...

he was able to fire twelve shots into a bull's-eye in approximately 15 seconds.

Wartime usage

Though Webley viewed this weapon as an ideal sidearm for cavalry troops, the Webley–Fosbery was never adopted as an official government sidearm. At over long and weighing some 44 ounces (1,239 grammes) unloaded, the Webley–Fosbery was a heavy and unwieldy sidearm even by the standards of the day. Several models of Webley–Fosbery revolvers were produced, and the type saw limited action in the

Boer Wars The military history of South Africa chronicles a vast time period and complex events from the dawn of history until the present time. It covers civil wars and wars of aggression and of self-defence both within South Africa and against it. It i ...

as well as

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, where some privately purchased examples were carried by British officers in the .455 service chambering.Webley-Fosbery automatic revolver
. World Guns, Modern Firearms. Retrieved 31-03-2011. Reports from the field suggested that the Webley–Fosbery, with its precisely machined recoil surfaces, was more susceptible to jamming in wartime conditions of mud and rain than comparable sidearms of the period. It has been commonly alleged that the Webley–Fosbery required a tight hold in order for the cylinder to properly cycle and cock the weapon. Production ceased in 1924, with a total production of less than 5,000. Many revolvers remained unsold, and the model was carried in Webley's catalogues as late as 1939.

In popular culture

A Webley–Fosbery figures prominently in the 1941 picture '' The Maltese Falcon'', starring

Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart ( ; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American actor. His performances in classic Hollywood cinema made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film Institute selected Bogart ...

and

Mary Astor Mary Astor (born Lucile Vasconcellos Langhanke; May 3, 1906 – September 25, 1987) was an American actress. Although her career spanned several decades, she may be best remembered for her performance as Brigid O'Shaughnessy in '' The Maltese ...

Gallery

Webley-Fosbery Patent.jpg, Webley-Fosbery patent 1897 Webley-Fosbery.png, Webley-Fosbery .455 Webley-Fosbery short bbl.jpg, Webley-Fosbery .455, short-barreled variant 455in SAA Ball - Webley 455 Ammunition.jpg, .455 SAA Ball ammunition

References

External links

Instruction ManualMajor Fosbery's Automatic Revolver: History and MechanicsVideo of a Webley–Fosbery, showing self-cocking action
{{DEFAULTSORT:Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver .38 ACP firearms Automatic revolvers Early revolvers Military revolvers Revolvers of the United Kingdom World War I British infantry weapons Short recoil firearms Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1901 Single-action revolvers