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LOT 1401
Very Scarce Union Fire Arms Lefever Patent Zig-Zag Automatic Revolver
in Nickel - Serial no. 117, 32 cal., 3 inch solid rib bbl., nickel finish, plastic grips.
Manufactured around 1909-1912, the Union Automatic Revolver bears a strong mechanical
resemblance to the Webley-Fosbery Automatic to the point where the base principles are
virtually identical: a top-break revolver frame is mounted in a spring-loaded housing and
grip assembly, and on discharge, the frame is driven backwards by recoil, revolving the
cylinder and re-cocking the hammer. The main deviations are that the hammer is mounted
to the housing on the Union, no manual safety is included, and the mechanism is capable of a double
action fire. Only a limited number (less than 300 by some sources) were made, and much like the
Webley-Fosbery it had a hard time competing with standard revolvers and automatic pistols. Fixed
sights, with “117” on the barrel, cylinder, frame, and housing catch, two-line address on the right
sideplate (offset a bit to the left, causing part of the marking to be lost) and checkered grips with eagle
motifs and “U.F.A.” banners.
CONDITION: Very good, with 85% plus original nickel finish, showing some light scratches, dings and
flakes. The grips are good, with flat spots on the left panel, chipping on the right, and minor scratches.
The ejector and trigger mechanism need work, and the recoil assembly functions.
Provenance: The Collection of Clive Cussler.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1400
Rare Small Frame Target British Webley-Fosbery Model 1903 Automatic
Revolver in .455 Webley Mk. II - Serial no. 4323, 455 Webley cal., 7 1/2 inch solid
rib bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. This .455 chambered Webley-Fosbery Model 1903 Small
Frame Target revolver was manufactured c. 1906-1919 according to production figures listed on
page 85 of the book “Webley & Scott Automatic Pistols” by Gordon Bruce. This Small Frame Target model
features a longer 7 1/2 inch length barrel with 6-groove Metford rifling, and was built at the factory as a Model 1903 using a smaller
sized frame leftover from the .38 caliber guns adapted to .455 caliber, with a shorter cylinder measuring 1.3 inches in length, for use with the
shorter .455 Webley Mk. II cartridge, as opposed to the longer .455 Webley Mk. I cartridge used in other standard Model 1903 Webley-Fosbery
revolvers. Manufactured in limited quantities, with approximately 4,000 total between all of the variations, the Webley-Fosbery revolver was
meant as a counter-point to the early semi-automatic pistols then emerging on the market. Many of these revolvers were known to have been
purchased by officers, with some also used for target shooting such as ones like this example. 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. Patridge blade front sight and notch rear sight. Full and partial
matching visible serial numbers on the barrel, cylinder, right side of the frame, and a few internal components, “’WEBLEY FOSBERY’” on the left side of the top strap, “330” along
with faint remnants of the “flying bullet” trademark above “W&S” (Webley & Scott) and “455 CORDITE” on the left side plate of the lower frame, and checkered hard rubber grips
with “SAFE” at the top of the left panel.
CONDITION: Fine as factory refurbished, retains 60% plus blue finish with smooth brown/gray patina on the balance, scattered light freckling and handling marks. Grips are also
fine with a few light handling marks, a cracked area on the bottom surface of the left panel, and a few wear spots concentrated on the right panel with otherwise crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Collection of Clive Cussler.
Estimate: 13,000 - 19,000