Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver

Published on November 12, 2012
Duration: 2:59

The Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver, designed in 1902, featured a unique recoil-operated slide mechanism that automatically re-indexed the cylinder and cocked the hammer. While popular with some British officers before and during WWI, it was not officially adopted by the army. Its complex design proved unreliable in harsh trench warfare conditions due to susceptibility to mud and dirt.

Quick Summary

The Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver, designed around 1902, featured a unique recoil-operated system where the upper half recoiled to automatically index the cylinder and recock the hammer. While innovative, its complex mechanism proved unreliable in harsh trench warfare conditions due to fouling.

Chapters

  1. 00:14Introduction & Mechanical Overview
  2. 00:48Historical Context & Caliber
  3. 01:37Reliability in Trench Warfare
  4. 01:56Safety Mechanism
  5. 02:18Reloading & Indexing Pin

Frequently Asked Questions

What made the Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver unique?

Its primary innovation was a recoil-operated system where the entire upper frame and barrel assembly recoiled. This action utilized a cam mechanism interacting with zig-zag grooves on the cylinder to automatically rotate it and recock the hammer for the next shot.

Was the Webley-Fosbery adopted by the British Army?

No, the Webley-Fosbery was never officially adopted by the British Army. However, many British officers purchased them privately as sidearms, particularly before and during World War I, appreciating its automatic action combined with trusted calibers like .455.

What were the reliability issues with the Webley-Fosbery?

Despite its advanced design for the time, the Webley-Fosbery suffered from reliability problems, especially in the harsh conditions of trench warfare. Its complex mechanism was easily fouled by mud and dirt, leading to frequent malfunctions compared to simpler, standard revolvers.

How did the Webley-Fosbery reload?

Reloading was similar to other top-break Webley revolvers, featuring automatic extraction of spent cartridges. The unique aspect was how the recoil cycle facilitated the cylinder's rotation and re-indexing via an internal pin engaging the cylinder's cam grooves.

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