Webley Mark 1

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   I have just aquired an old Webley Mark 1.   Condition is a bit rough but should clean up OK.

I beleive this gun was manufactured between 1950-1958 This is based on it having an elevation adjustment on the rear sight and having Birmingham 4 engraved on the right hand side of the compresion tube.

Does anyone know if replacement breach and piston seals are availble in NZ?   The barrel has a lot of play at the breach and it has to be loosing air presure.   Currently it is only running at 37fps - I could just about throw a pellet faster!   It has resonable cocking presure but  feels a bit clunky so in need of a good clean and re-lube with Moly paste.  Not sure what the piston seal is like as I havn't taken it apart yet, but at the very least it will need oiling but at at least 67 years old I suspect it will also need to be replaced

Edited by -Ec - 31 Oct 2025 at 5:19pm

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-Ec Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 02 Sep 2025 Location: Matamau Status: Offline Posts: 52	Post Options Post Reply Quote -Ec Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Webley Mark 1 Posted: 31 Oct 2025 at 5:17pm
	I have just aquired an old Webley Mark 1. Condition is a bit rough but should clean up OK. I beleive this gun was manufactured between 1950-1958 This is based on it having an elevation adjustment on the rear sight and having Birmingham 4 engraved on the right hand side of the compresion tube. Does anyone know if replacement breach and piston seals are availble in NZ? The barrel has a lot of play at the breach and it has to be loosing air presure. Currently it is only running at 37fps - I could just about throw a pellet faster! It has resonable cocking presure but feels a bit clunky so in need of a good clean and re-lube with Moly paste. Not sure what the piston seal is like as I havn't taken it apart yet, but at the very least it will need oiling but at at least 67 years old I suspect it will also need to be replaced Edited by -Ec - 31 Oct 2025 at 5:19pm
	Regards -Ec

Myson Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 07 Mar 2016 Location: Feilding Status: Offline Posts: 224	Post Options Post Reply Quote Myson Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Yesterday at 6:55am
	Blimey! Haven't seen one of those for many years!!! Had one in the 1960's - I used to try shooting ears of wheat with it as they nodded in the wind! Nice one EC....
	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq7jVyBfFqE Air Arms S510 US .22 Air Arms S410 .22 Weihrauch HW97KT .177 Weihrauch HW95 .177

-Ec Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 02 Sep 2025 Location: Matamau Status: Offline Posts: 52	Post Options Post Reply Quote -Ec Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Yesterday at 9:28am
	I found it on TradeMe when looking for a "better" pistol for 6 the yard challenge. After looking at various youtube videos on this and other model Webleys I decided to see if I could buy it. It is a bit rough but should clean up OK. After looking at vidios on replacing the breach seal and having a closer look, the seal is completely missing on my gun - no wonder it is only making 37fps on the crony! I also can see that is also is missing at least one of the guide rings from the piston. The good news if that the barrell looks OK - not bent like many of them are but I beleive this may be more common with the 22. Also almost all the parts are availble reasonably cheaply from the UK I may take it apart and check out the internals in the next day or so and see what else I will need to get this working properly. Not in any hurry as I want to do a decent restoration on it. Not looking to make it look new as it is not new - as I was born in 1958 it is most likely older than me!
	Regards -Ec

kruzaroad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 03 Jul 2022 Location: Hastings 4 now Status: Offline Posts: 2617	Post Options Post Reply Quote kruzaroad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 hours 14 minutes ago at 10:46am
	Be keen on pics as you take it apart,if your keen. Sounds like a fun project!

-Ec Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 02 Sep 2025 Location: Matamau Status: Offline Posts: 52	Post Options Post Reply Quote -Ec Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 hours 26 minutes ago at 11:34am
	I intend documenting the rebuild of both this and the cheap 177 springer I bought a while back. From what I've seen on YouTube the Mark 1 Webley is very simple to disassemble - check out this for example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ydoymV8g3U&list=WL&index=3
	Regards -Ec

J-S Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20 Oct 2014 Location: Auckland Status: Offline Posts: 484	Post Options Post Reply Quote J-S Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 14 hours 13 minutes ago at 7:47pm
	They’re well made machines, no wonder they’re still going after nearly a century. Seals may be available from Youngs; they’re leather, so they will last decades, and will need a bit of oil.. being all steel they feel good in the hand and they smell good when you fire them to, that mild detonation smell from the oil..
	J S Airguns Air Arms TX200('s) Theoben Sirocco HW77 FWB 300s Webley Patriot One or two others... Current projects: Too many..

-Ec Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 02 Sep 2025 Location: Matamau Status: Offline Posts: 52	Post Options Post Reply Quote -Ec Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 2 hours 13 minutes ago at 7:47am
	I have already contacted Youngs to see if they have any seals - awaiting a reply. Not a big deal as they are availble from the UK. I may see if I can pick up a .22 barrel as well as it's so simple and quick to swap the barrel it would be fun to compare. I did take the gun apart yesterday - so simple to do! the piston seal looks to be in resonable condition, but probably will replace it . What I had thought was a missing guide seal from the piston was actuallly acumulated crud - the piston apears to be in very good condition. I will give everything a good clean and remove the worst of the rust with a bit f WD40 and a scouring pad. Looks like the most of the bluing has gone from the barrel. Will know more one it has been cleaned, but may need to look at cold blueing it. Not trying to make it look new but bare metal will just rust again. Looking forward to getting this working as it should again and seeing how well I can shoot it. Several different YouTube videos suggest the Mark 1 is a reasonably acurate pistol.
	Regards -Ec