Gus’ Gear the Webley MKI automatic pistol

Today for Gus’ Gear I have an interesting British pistol, the Webley MKI automatic pistol in .455 caliber produced for the navy contract. This is a short post as I am lazy, it is haying season and Joe is on vacation and I think I can get away with being a slacker until he gets back.

On the left side it is marked Webley & Scott Ltd. Pistol self loading .455 Mark I N 1913. After trials in 1912 between the Colt 1905 and Colt 1911 pistols in .45 ACP and the Webley & Scott pistol in .455 this pistol was adopted by the British Royal Navy. Production started in 1913 and continued into the 1930s. This was the first self loading pistol adopted by the British services. Later in the war it was supplemented with Colt 1911 pistols chambered for the .455 cartridge.

The markings on the right side of the pistol just behind the top of the right grip indicates that this pistol was placed into service in 1913. I have delayed posting this pistol for several months as I have been trying to locate an affordable holster for it. The navy holsters are unique from the general service holsters because they were assembled with copper rivets rather than stitching as the salt water would cause the stitching to break down.

And because Sabine is afraid of birds I have included a photo of a stray chicken that showed up at our place a few days ago. When I first saw it, I naturally thought it was a rooster pheasant, but as I walked through the yard it followed me and that is not normal for a pheasant, so I second guessed myself. After it attacked me and bit the snot out of my hand, I came to the conclusion that I had either been working too hard, or had consumed too much Norwegian beer. The only other reason for the behavior of this crazed chicken would be that it is rabid. My quarantine for rabies will be over in another week, I will let you know how it goes. But from now on I will have to agree with Sabine and stick to kittens and Pterodactyls in the future