Wobbly Webley - Got a "Safety"?

 This picture shows two of my 38 Mk.IV Webley revolvers .. you will see the one with the 5 inch barrel has a frame 'hump' behind the hammer where the factory fit the optional cross-bolt safety to the 'POLICE SAFETY MODEL' - whereas the 4 inch barreled unit is free of such nonsense.

Both Are Mk.IV .38" Webley Revolvers

 .. But The 5 inch Is An ex Singapore Police Force 'SAFETY' Model

"Safeties" on revolvers are clear examples of the stupidity that often goes with authority .. some managers - who no doubt were promoted to the level of their incompetence - "believe" that they are now so important that their opinions must gain respect as law.

I have read that many of these classic revolvers imported into U S were retro-fitted with a hammer blocking cross bolt for ATF points approval - I think this image may be of one such.

. there may be other different adaptations around ( but I'm no expert).

I guess this is not a total disaster - as you can always try to just ignore it being there as long as it's not obstructive .. but it is totally stupid in much the same way that the S&W revolver key-lock hole is.

However - that factory safety wouldn't put me off owning something as nice as this one below ..

IF I could afford one:

The rather rare Webley-Fosbery 'Automatic revolvers' were also fitted with a 'Safety' that might be justified by the gun - when fired - automatically cocking the hammer for the next shot ..

Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver Was a ZIG-ZAG Self Cocking Revolver.

Something else even more awful was done to the big .455 Webleys that fled from UK to U S .. they were "SHAVED" at the rear face of the cylinder to allow use of the American .45 acp cartridges that will go bang when loaded into moon-clips .. BUT they will also go >KABOOM< as the .45 ACP round is over the Webley's pressure rating ..

NOT A PRETTY SIGHT When SHAVED.

There is another tale of U S commercial butchery whereby Lend-Lease S&W Victory Model revolvers that were made for the WWII Brits in 38-200 (38 S&W) - were deported back to USA when no longer needed - and were adapted to fire the 38 SPECIAL cartridge by boring the chambers deeper! - Not a very useful adaptation due to the differences in both bullet diameter & the case diameters. It appears that Lee Harvey Oswald bought, and used one of those when he wasn't assassinating the U S President .. 

 Link: https://flicense.blogspot.com/2021/02/lee-harvey-oswalds-38-revolver.html

.. There are many things that can be tried eh - but they don't always satisfy.

The Hornady wax lubed .38 caliber 148 grain wadcutter pills I load currently for the 38-Mk.IV Webleys will fly from the muzzle in either loaded orientation .. that makes a BIG hollow-point eh.

.. If you look closely (- as you should) at a .38 Mk.IV Webley you'll see that the cylinder NOTCHES are right above the chambers and there isn't much metal thickness there - hopefully the brass cases are tough enough - but don't overload your ammo eh.

I just recently found this North Carolina outfit who offer replacement grip slabs. I have no experience with them:

https://gungrip.com/about-us.aspx

Marty K.