Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver

The Webley 1913 semiautomatic pistol is presented as an underrated firearm, offering a surprisingly pleasant shooting experience with recoil comparable to a 1911 despite its .455 Webley Auto chambering. Its unique magazine disconnect allows for single-fire operation by manually dropping rounds into the chamber. The pistol features a comfortable grip, an effective grip safety, and is noted for its soft shooting characteristics.

This review of the Webley Mark VI .455 Revolver highlights its historical significance and practical operation. The demonstration covers loading six rounds of .455 Webley ammunition, live-fire at steel targets showcasing its action, and the efficient top-break ejection mechanism. The video emphasizes the revolver's double-action/single-action capability and the unique simultaneous ejection of spent casings.

This expert-level examination of the Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver, presented by Brownells, details its unique recoil-operated semi-automatic action, a significant innovation for its time around 1900. The review highlights its historical context as a potential military sidearm, its availability in calibers like .455 Cordite and .38 Automatic, and its popularity in competitive shooting due to its soft recoil and consistent single-action trigger.

This documentary explores the Webley Self Loader Mk I N, Britain's first adopted automatic pistol, detailing its development from the Mars Automatic and its adherence to strict 1903 military requirements. It highlights the pistol's innovative but complex locking system, the development of the .455 Self Loading cartridge, and its limited WWI service due to high production costs and sensitivity to harsh conditions. The review includes technical specifications, field stripping demonstrations, and range testing.

The Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver, developed by George Fosbery, uniquely used recoil to cycle its action, cocking the hammer and rotating the cylinder. Initially prototyped on a Colt 1873, it was refined by Webley using their stronger break-action design. While impressive for target shooters due to its accuracy and rapid-fire potential, it was ultimately overshadowed by more efficient semi-automatic pistols.

The Webley Model 1904 was a rare early 20th-century attempt by Webley to enter the automatic pistol market, designed by William Whiting. Originally chambered in .38 and later upscaled to .455 to meet British Army requirements, it featured a unique short-recoil operation with dual locking blocks and a V-shaped recoil spring in the grip. Despite its innovative design, it faced mixed results in British military trials and only a few dozen were produced.

This video details the unique 'French Finger Trap' issue with the MAS-36 rifle's bayonet, where two rifles can become unintentionally locked together. A 1951 French arsenal memorandum identified this problem, proposing a simple modification to the bayonet handle. Drilling a small hole allows a tool, like a firing pin, to depress the internal spring, enabling the separation of locked rifles.

The M134 Minigun is a scaled-down 7.62 NATO rotary cannon, requiring 24V DC power and consuming 1.5 kW. Its high rate of fire (3,000+ RPM) is essential for aircraft engagement windows. The complex delinker mechanism is critical for feeding ammunition, and practical hand-held use is impossible due to weight and recoil. Live fire demonstrates rapid ammunition consumption and the need for indirect aiming.

The H&K G11 is a revolutionary prototype assault rifle designed in the late 20th century, notable for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt mechanism. Despite advanced features like a 2000 RPM burst fire rate and integrated optics, its development was ultimately halted by geopolitical shifts and cost concerns.

This video demonstrates the assembly and live-fire of the German 1936 pattern light mortar (L.Gr.W.36). It highlights the mortar's leveling mechanism for accuracy and the difficulty in visually tracking its 50mm projectiles after firing. The content showcases historical military hardware and its operational use.