Today for Gus’ Gear I have an interesting Webley revolver. The Royal Irish Constabulary was a quasi-military organization that supported British rule in Ireland until 1922. These constables were armed with firearms; revolvers and carbines. This is a Webley RIC revolver with its original holster (numbered to the revolver) that did not serve against Germany but has a loose connection. Germany shipped arms to Ireland to support the movement for self-rule, and because of that, this revolver would have opposed the German supported Irish Volunteers.
Field stripping the revolver is fairly straight foreward. By withdrawing the ejector rod from the cylinder pin, it can be rotated up and to the right, out of the way to remove the cylinder pin from the front of the frame. With the hammer at half cock and the loading gate opened, the cylinder can be lifted out of the right side of the frame. The cylinder has the last three digits of the serial number and the chamber size (.442) stamped on the back of the cylinder.
The right side of the revolver shows the loading gate at the back of the cylinder. The ejector rod is stored in the hollow cylinder pin and serves as the retainer for the cylinder. It locks in place with a quarter twist, and can be withdrawn to the front and then rotated up and to the right to line up with the cylinder to eject the spent cartridges. The front of the holster is visible here, it has a simple strap and stud closure and no provision for spare cartridges.
This Webley 6 shot revolver is chambered for the .442 Webley cartridge. On the left side of the frame in front of the cylinder it has the Webley & Scott logo with the text “Webley’s R.I.C. No.1 .442 CF”. The serial number is below the markings and the service number is above. This is a well made double or single action revolver chambered for a moderately powered cartridge. The .442 was a popular self defense cartridge, and is very close to the .44 Bulldog cartridge. The holster shown is a right handed holster with the revolver’s service number stamped into the leather flap that covers the butt of the revolver.
The question as to why I would acquire a R.I.C. revolver when the connection to the Great War is questionable has been asked. I have always picked up holsters when they turn up, and the holster on the right is for the R.I.C. revolver, made of the same type of leather used for the Pattern 1914 leather equipment, it is a left hand holster, implying it is for a mounted soldier as the right hand would have a saber or cutlass in it, requiring the handgun be accessible with the left hand. It was common for a left hand holster to be worn on the right side, making it possible to draw the weapon with either hand effectively. After acquiring the holster, the search was on for a revolver. In a short time, a friend who likes to help me spend my money, found the above example in very nice condition for a very reasonable price. The only downside is it came with its own holster, and one that is most likely original to the revolver. So now I have an extra holster that requires a small frame Webley to fill it.
And for Sabina, two kittens in Maggie’s shoes. Joe, you need to avert your eyes or run the risk of being stressed by the wild vermin in the photo.
