In the vast world of firearms, no two words could be more at odds with one another than ‘semi-automatic’ and ‘revolver’. Leave it to the British to try and join these two under one unorthodox design—the Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver. Measuring nearly a foot long and weighing in at a far-from-delicate three pounds (unloaded!); she was a heavy, unwieldy piece of hardware done up in quintessential British form.
Where you’ve seen it:
Though most folks are at least somewhat familiar with the classic film The Maltese Falcon
—where Humphrey Bogart erroneously identifies the Webley-Fosbery as an eight-shot .45 caliber “Foresby”—here’s a photo of Sean Connery as Zed in the film Zardoz
, gripping one in all his hairy chested glory (right). You’re welcome.
History:
The year was 1896, just prior to the time when semi-automatic pistols began making their entrance onto the world stage en masse. Lieutenant Colonel George Fosbery of the Queen’s British Indian Army’s 4th Bengal European Regiment [takes deep breath], winner of the Victoria Cross, and wearer of an immaculate moustache—designed and patented a revolver of his namesake that did away with the characteristically long trigger pull common to double-action revolvers. He sold the design to the renowned pistol manufacturer Webley and Scott, and upon its introduction to the public in 1900, the Webley-Fosbery quickly became a favorite of competitive pistol marksmen. Word was, the automatic revolver could be fired very quickly while still maintaining excellent accuracy. It wasn’t long before the design was pitched to the military as an ideal cavalry sidearm. Though never formally adopted by the British army, some officers purchased examples privately and went on to carry them in the Boer Wars and World War I. Reports from the field suggested that, because the action needed to stay clean to function (it turned out to be a great deal more sensitive to dust and grime than other revolvers of the era) wartime conditions rendered it largely undependable. In total, less than five thousand Webley-Fosbery’s were manufactured from 1901 to 1915.
Design:
One of the instantly recognizable design features of this revolver is the unusual zigzag grooves machined into the cylinder. After the revolver is charged (actually pulling the cylinder and barrel assembly back like you would if it were a semi-automatic pistol—a somewhat clumsy, two-handed operation) and fired, the inertia produced by the weapon’s recoil causes the cylinder to move along those grooves, rotating it to the next chamber as the hammer is cocked for the subsequent shot.
The cartridge:
The Webley-Fosbery was chambered to the stout, if a little slow-moving, .455 Webley caliber, as well as an eight-shot model chambered to .38 Colt ACP. The .455 Webley was the preferred caliber of British sidearms through WWII, and was largely considered a “man-stopper.” Its 265-grain bullet delivered about 250 ft/lbs of energy—on par with a modern .38 Special. Not much of a “man-stopper” by today’s standards.
The verdict:
All in all, chaps, this is a bloody ace weapon that just had some hard lines (bad luck) in regards to timing—day late and a dollar short, as it were. Had it come out a decade sooner, every Tommy proudly sporting the colors of the Union Jack would have been clamoring for one. Personally, I think it’s the mutt’s nuts, even if its design was a bit arse about face, eh?
Featured image courtesy of the National Firearms Museum.
So, the primary purpose of the design was to help manage trigger pull? Oh and thanks for that image of Connery that is now BURNED into my brain forever. lol
JoeFabeetz I think that was the argument for the design’s practicality. My personal hypothesis? The Brits just wanted to make a semi-automatic revolver. Just to say they did it. Because, that’s why.
Nice old revolver and a good detailed write up as usual. I think once people moved on from black powder Britain fell out of the race to produce good side arms.
peter3101 They clung to the revolver long after it was obsolete (as did the Russians). I’ve got a Webley MkIV in .38 S&W with a 1943 stamp on it, and the revolver’s design is straight out of 1880.
You wonder how much the class system played into that, officers commissions could be bought and they usually paid for their own uniforms and side arms.
NateGranzow peter3101 You forgot to state how well that Webley works. My Enfield looks the same but those Webly and Enfield top breaks are much sturdier then many others. I enjoy shooting mine and quick loaders are readily available.
NateGranzow peter3101 Are you sure about the Webly-Fosberry also being produced in 38 Colt ACP? I would expect it to be available in 38 SW.
Yes, it was .38 ACP. They even used moon clips for loading.
Here is a page from the manual. It clearly states .38 Automatic.
I have always wanted a top break revolver, unfortunately they are in old weird calibers. I could have lived to be 100 without the sean connery in the mankini picture
hartcreek NateGranzow peter3101 Don’t get me wrong—I love these old British revolvers. I wouldn’t own one if I didn’t—they’re robust, fun to shoot, and witnesses to historical events I can only imagine. That said, I would still take a Browning Hi-Power before one of these revolvers in a firefight.
hartcreek Every piece of literature I’ve come across refers to the chambering as a .38 Automatic or a .38 ACP. Never held one (those chambered in .38 are rare as hen’s teeth) or shot one in that caliber, so I’m just going off the reports of those who have.
Another cool wierd one. I’ve seen a couple of these, but never had the oppurtunity to handle one. That would be fun.
superdave1953 Agreed. The good news is, a large amount of those built have survived in private collections (probably due to their limited battlefield exposure). Maybe someday, right?
NateGranzow superdave1953 Darn skippy, I’ll be in line for that as long as Sean Connery doesn’t show up in that outfit./
I am thinking that it could a British terminology thing in the writups for this Webley- Fosberry. I have held Webleys in my hand that were .455 and 38 SW. I just chose to purchase the Enfield instead. I ran the history of the 38 ACP and on Wikipedia it lists the Webley – Fosberry as being chambered for 38 ACP.
Either round should work though as they both headspace on the rim it jus does not make sence that Webley would have offered this auto calibre in a wheel gun..
hartcreek What made sense at the turn of the previous century may not make sense at the turn of this century. The Brits usually refered to the 38 S&W round as the 38/200 ( 38 calibre 200 grin bullet wieght) so that may add yet another layer of mystery to the conversation.
superdave1953 hartcreek And if I recall, the 38/200 (200 grain .38 caliber bullet, hence the nomenclature) was intended to replace the .455 caliber Mk I-VI Webleys under the pretense that the recoil would be easier for untrained troops to handle and to shoot accurately, while ostensibly providing the same “knock-down power” of the larger calibers given the heavier bullet weight.
Wasn’t the .476 a first try at replacing the .450 Adams caliber of the previous century? I thought I’d read that they only really saw use with the Enfield Mk IIs (also a really weird gun I’d like to get my hands on someday).
Thanks for the input, Dave!
NateGranzow superdave1953 hartcreek Didn’t know that tidbit about the 38/200. It failed miserably to measure up to the 455 by their own criteria. Thanks for the additional info. I’ll file that away in the old Noggin file.
hartcreek What made sense at the turn of the previous century may not make sense at the turn of this century. The Brits usually refered to the 38 S&W round as the 38/200 ( 38 calibre 200 grin bullet wieght) so that may add yet another layer of mystery to the conversation.
PS. Webleys were made in way more calibers that 455 and 38. I own a webley 32 and a 25 auto, as well as a 455 auto was built (not standard 455 rimmed). The revolvers were also built in 476 and several other calibers over the years.
PS. Webleys were made in way more calibers that 455 and 38. I own a webley 32 and a 25 auto, as well as a 455 auto was built (not standard 455 rimmed). The revolvers were also built in 476 and several other calibers over the years.
I want one. …The revolver, not the Sean Connery in fabulous garb.