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LOT 405
Very Fine and Desirable Webley-Fosbery Model 1903 Automatic Revolver - Serial no. 2686,
455 Webley cal., 7 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in limited quantity
(approximately 4,000 total, all variations), the Webley-Fosbery revolver was meant as a counter-point
to the early semi-automatic pistols then emerging on the market. These innovative revolvers cock
and rotate the cylinder automatically under recoil allowing them to have a rate of fire similar to a semi-
automatic pistol while firing the more powerful revolver cartridges of the time and retaining the light trigger pull of a single action revolver. This large frame .455 Model 1903 Webley-Fosbery was manufactured circa 1906 per production figures listed on page 85 of “Webley & Scott Automatic Pistols” by Gordon Bruce. Patridge blade front sight and drift adjustable raised notch rear sight. Full and partial matching visible serial number “2686” on the barrel, cylinder, right side of the frame, and left side of the grip strap and a few internal components, with “688” (possible factory error) stamped on the underside of both grip panels, “3127” stamped on the bottom flat of the left grip panel, “’WEBLEY FOSBERY’” on the left side of the top strap, the “flying bullet” trademark above “W&S” (Webley & Scott) and “455 CORDITE” on the left side plate of the lower frame, and checkered walnut grips with “SAFE” at the top of the left panel.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 75% plus original blue finish with some light edge wear, the grip straps turned to a smooth gray patina, and a few scattered patches of light freckling. The grips are also very fine with a few scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering with a few small absent diamond panels. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000
LOT 406
Webley-Fosbery Model 1902 Automatic Revolver in Scarce .38 ACP - Serial no. 1065, 38 ACP
cal., 6 inch solid rib bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Produced in limited quantities at the turn of the
century, the Webley-Fosbery uses a novel recoil driven operating system. The pistol is divided into
two main components, an upper frame carrying the barrel, cylinder and the hammer, which is
mated to the lower grip frame and single action trigger and disconnector assembly on a spring loaded track. On discharge the recoil energy drives the entire upper frame back along the track recocking the hammer and advancing the cylinder. While this mechanism combines many of the positive features of both a revolver and an automatic pistol, it did not catch on, and the revolver was supplanted by the automatic as the primary sidearm of the military, police and civilians. Blade front and notch rear sights, with the one line Birmingham address on the barrel rib, full and partial matching visible serial number “1065” on the barrel, cylinder, right side of the frame, left side of the grip strap, a few internal components and stamped on the underside of both grip panels, “’WEBLEY FOSBERY’” on the left side of the top strap and “38 AUTOMATIC” (a rarely seen caliber for this model) next to the “flying bullet” trademark above “W&S” (Webley & Scott) on the left side plate of the lower frame. The hammer is checkered on three sides, with Birmingham proofs, a safety switch on the left side of the lower frame, a pair of checkered walnut grips with “SAFE” at the top of the left panel and a lanyard swivel on the butt.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 40% original blue finish with smooth brown and gray and brown patina on the balance, an “X” carved on the left of the muzzle, and sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. The grips are also fine with some light wear, a few light scratches and dents, and mostly defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
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