Webley 1905

Published on June 12, 2016
Duration: 10:35

This guide details the disassembly of the Webley Model 1905, focusing on its unique recoil system. Expert Ian McCollum highlights the pistol's straight blowback action, external hammer, and single-action trigger. Key features include a sliding barrel recoil buffer and a trigger guard that functions as a large compression spring, a design later simplified in the Model 1908. The internal mechanics reveal a V-shaped mainspring and transfer lever system.

Quick Summary

The Webley Model 1905, designed by William Whiting, was Webley's first successful civilian self-defense pistol. It features a straight blowback action, a unique recoil buffer with a sliding barrel, and a trigger guard that functions as a large compression spring. This early .32 ACP pistol was competitively priced and established Webley's presence in the automatic pistol market before the simplified Model 1908 took over.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to the Webley 1905
  2. 00:52Designer William Whiting
  3. 01:44Market Context and Development
  4. 02:55Markings and Operation
  5. 03:45Unique Safety Mechanism
  6. 04:17Recoil Buffer System
  7. 06:22Internal Mechanics
  8. 07:39Comparison with Model 1908
  9. 09:18Historical Pricing and Rarity

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the Webley Model 1905 unique compared to other early pistols?

The Webley Model 1905 features a distinctive recoil system where the trigger guard acts as a large compression spring, and the barrel slides slightly. It also incorporates a unique hammer decocker safety mechanism.

Who designed the Webley Model 1905 pistol?

The Webley Model 1905 was designed by William Whiting, a dedicated employee of Webley & Scott who rose from apprentice to lead designer, responsible for all of Webley's self-loading pistol designs.

What was the market context for the Webley Model 1905?

The pistol was developed to compete in the civilian self-defense market for .32 and .25 caliber pocket pistols, which was largely dominated by John Browning's designs at the time.

How does the Webley Model 1905 compare to the later Model 1908?

The Model 1908 simplified the 1905's design by removing the complex sliding barrel and trigger guard spring, and replacing the decocker with a simpler lever safety, making it more cost-effective to manufacture.

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