Read more about Anderson Wheeler: Anderson Wheeler
Buy an old Webley on GunsAmerica: https://www.gunsamerica.com/Search.aspx?T=webley%20mark%206
As many of you know, owning a handgun is next to impossible in England. But what about making one? I can not think of a single currently made British handgun. There hasn’t been a wheel gun made in the country in over 30 years, but Anderson Wheeler is changing that.
The Webley Revolver can be described as the British version of the US 1911. Not in the function of course, but in the nostalgia, mystique and history. The English Army carried a version of the Webley for almost 100 years. It was the sidearm during the Boer Wars and the First and Second World Wars. It is iconic and one of the first guns that come to mind when talking about British arms.
The Wheeler Mk VII.
Anderson Wheeler is bringing back the Webley and he is making it in England. British citizens might not be able to buy one, but us Yanks across the pond should have a chance soon.
But this is not just a reproduction of the old Webley. For example the caliber is no longer in the almost impossible to find .455 but in .357 Magnum. Changing to the smaller caliber opened up the space for a 7th round.
Production will be extremely limited to about 50 guns per year. Engraved versions and exotic grips will be the norm for these. Most will be handled on a custom order basis. The price point will land around 6,500 Pounds Sterling or about $10,000.
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Anderson Wheeler Mrk. VII. The fit and finish is superb.
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Sorry for not having the best angles and details with the photos on the Mrk. VII. It was behind glass and hard to get a clear shot without glare. This was really the only available angle of the gun.
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They are all mistaken in what they want to copy. The best gun from a marketing standpoint to reproduce that Webley made is the Webley British Bulldog in a modern caliber. A 5 shot in 45 ACP or a 6 shot in 9 mm Luger would be a hot seller. Remember that more British Bulldogs were sold in America that Colt and Smith & Wesson combined. It is a handy little revolver with big bark and bite!
A Webley-Fosbery in .38 special or 9MM would make sense and would justify the price..a Webley Green also (gorgeous pistol) but a boat anchor like a Mark VI? I can pick up a beautiful replica US test trials .45 ACP Luger for the same price. I can pick up a Mark VI original for around 1,000 US dollars.
India Ordnance Factory produces a copy of the Webley in .32 S&W Long, the only caliber Indians are allowed to own. By all accounts, it is a crudely made firearm, plagued with low-quality locally produced ammo. Takes a lot of bribery and travel to own one. Price in Rupees, equivalent to $2000 US. A letter from the factory confirms that they do not export. At that price, they would only glean laughter. Ammo is limited to a dozen or so rounds a year. There are numerous videos on youtube of proud owners firing their revolvers into the air in crowded urban settings. I guess the air pollution is so bad the bullets just stick up there. I suspect a Webley in .357 would be a bit unpleasant to shoot. But then again, no one is ever going to find out.
Personally I’ve no problem with them asking such a price for a high end, custom firearm made for the insanely rich, my issue is that it precludes virtually any chance of new production Webleys for people who don’t own a castle, and the idea of a gun such as this, where it may well never be shot or even handled, it does my heart grief. My family came to America from different parts of Britain throughout the 19th and 20th century and I’ve always loved Britain as it was, and loved the Webley a great deal because of the stirring imagery of the stout, British officer advancing implacably through enemy fire, leading his men to victory. As you could surmise, hearing of a new production one filled me with anticipation, but it is not for me. I’m a working class man, and something like this may as well not exist, but someday I’ll have an old Webley, and that is more than can be said for any British citizen, sadly.
Most of these commenters are totally clueless.
1) Yes 10k is a huge price tag. But Anderson Wheeler doesn’t make mass production anything (the Ferrari analogy above is appropriate). If you want hand-built firearms but some of the finest gunsmiths in the world, it’s gonna cost a LOT.
2) No, they won’t go out of business. Why? Because that company’s target market has been, and will always be, the very richest 1% of gun owners, for whom 10k is nothing. BTW, they’ve been doing this for almost 100 years.
3) No they shouldn’t mass produce it for 1k. Their business isn’t set up for that kind of production, and they don’t have the dealer network in America; there’s no way they could compete with mass-pro companies like S&W. And mass production would ruin their rep as a limited production, ultra-luxury business. Like Rolls-Royce making a Camry – just wouldn’t be Rolls-Royce anymore.
4) Yeah, you wouldn’t buy one. If you even notice the price, you’re not in the Anderson Wheeler market.
Yes that is nothing like a “Ferrari”,& people get it just fine.We’re just not dumb enough to buy a over priced turd.Those grips are beautiful in color and shine,BUT they fit horribly.Just look at where the wood sticks over the steel frame near the trigger guard.UGLY AS HELL.Heres a tip for you DON’T BUY ANYTHING FOR THE NAME STAMPED ON IT. Especially a firearm. Look at what you are buying with a critical eye no matter who made it.
Good eye and good advice.
Updating the links to Anderson Wheeler for those interested. http://andersonwheeler.co.uk/
For way less than $10,000 I could find an Original and have a good gunsmith like Bowen Arms or Cylinder&Slide,etc. Remachine,Refinish,Trigger/action tune, accurize, add custom grips and add so e engraving. It would be as nice or nicer than this gun and a much cheaper price. Not dirt cheap because quality work costs but it would be far from $10,000. I bought a Pietta Colt Paterson replica cap-n-ball revolver in .36cal and for $1500 had it converted to .41LongColt and had the frame engraved and nickel plated. It now looks identical to the Supernatural Demon Killing Colt. I won’t be buying a gun from this guy but it did make me want to upgrade an original. They aren’t rare or expensive. My friend had one with two cylinders one in the original .455Webley and the other in .45AutoRim/ACP w/ moon clips.
Your Pietta Colt Patterson conversion sounds awesome! Got a link to pics and conversion details?
For that kind of money I should be able to buy a repop Webley-Fosberry semi-auto revolver in .38 AND a repop S&W .45 Schofield. Just not interested in this at that kind of price point.
Best of luck, Mr. Wheeler, you’ll need it!
It is good there will be limited production because at that price and caliber there will be limited demand.
Did anyone else notice the extremely poor fitting of the grips to the frame in the photos with this article? Seems that if you are planning to charge $10K for a revolver, you would make an effort to showcase your skills. I think they did so in a glaringly obvious way.
Yes that is nothing like a “Ferrari”as one fellow stated.Those grips are beautiful in color and shine,BUT they fit horribly.Just look at where the wood sticks over the steel frame near the trigger guard.Talking about Bruce Lee’s baby sister Ug…….UG LEE ya know?
While i love the design’s history and it’s top break empire style, I would like it if they made a model for us commoners in 45ACP. I understand that they want a high tier market but they would gain equal if not far more money in expanding the market. There is a love for the classic top break revolvers in a modern easy/cheap to obtain caliber that can be filled by them. They might even convince other classic firearms companies to remake a great classic or two. I only hope they expand the price range of their products so that everyone can experience a classic top break in a preferred caliber.
It should have just been named The Wheeler!
I bet if Uberti put their minds to it they could produce a high quality Webley for a fraction of the price. Recently purchased a Uberti El Patron Competition, 1873 replica in .357. It is meticulously made and just as accurate as my Smith and Wesson Performance Center .357’s, no buyers remorse here.
I didn’t have luck with my uberti, the ejector rod tab, broke almost instantly. They said 2 or 3 weeks for the parts, took 5 months. And I got the wrong part, for the wrong gun
The only way a revolver would be worth ten grand was if it was loaded with solid gold bullets. Sorry but basically no revolver is worth 10 grand unless antique and previously owned by Billy the Kid or the likes of him. What a joke, why would somebody even bother doing a report on something as asinine as this? Wheeler is an idiot if he really thinks these will sell.
Without question it is a beautiful design. My dad had a matched, boxed pair of them when I was a Kid. Would I trade my S&W 629 or my Ruger Superblackhawk for it? Never, in a million years. Sadly, these stand as a monument to the impotence of the new British citizen. Ruined and ruled by the Labor Party, disarmed, voiceless and overrun by a Muslim horde. The day a U.S. citizen cannot freely buy a handgun without much trouble will be quite the day of reckoning indeed. How cowardly and feeble can a nation that considers denying visitation rights to a man who speaks mostly truth and what is on the mind of most sane and objective non-muslim people be. On second thought, it might just be worth it to go out and buy one just because they are too limp wristed to have one themselves.
I love your comment, best yet!
Yeah… but can you wear a cravat with style?
Well, if America screws around and votes in 2016 like they did twice over the last eight years, nobody in America will be able to purchase a Webley .357 (or anything else) either. Right now a company with ties to the United Nations 10 point Global Compact (being a owned by a French firm which is signator company to that U.N. Global Compact) is in charge of doing the bio-metric fingerprinting for Texas CHL applicants. So decisions like that and our past voting record will soon work hand in hand to start our “Registration List” also.
If you think that the government does not already have a list of all the people who have a gun purchased since 2001 you terribly mistaken Background checks are done over the phone which our government has had access to ever since the patriot act was passed Oh I know the check was going to be done and recorded be kept but with access to all phone call they can pull up the list with just a few key strokes on a computer. So if you have handgun that were purchased without a background keep them separate and hidden so when they come for your guns they will not get them all.
I hav a Webley & Scott in 32 caliber and I love it.
What a shame that Britain, that was once a nation of conquerors is now a nation of defenseless sheep.
But, I hope the people who buy one of these enjoy it’s historical value, although in .357. I was going to say too bad Brits won’t be able to enjoy it, but then, anyone who can afford that price probably has the connections to be able to own a handgun in Britain.
At that price point, they should have kept the original caliber. Anyone who could afford one could afford the reloading dies and brass. And would probably choose to do so.
I couldn’t agree more,… why even show us,.. I was really hoping after seeing the teaser that this would be something that an average person could get if they really wanted to,..
Well that’s why the email subject said 10k lmao.
10K ??? I don’t think they will be selling very many of these, and I don’t think they will be in business very long either. Also I’ve noticed no one else has said anything about how the trigger guard sticks out where your middle finger will sit, this should cause some serious pain when firing ?
Dave.
Obviously, at this price,it’s a collectible and not your every day shooter, but it is a unique revolver. I once owned a WW 2 Enfield military version, chambered in .38 S & W. – pretty wimpy for a military cartridge. Powerwise it’s probably on par with a .380. For those who’ve never seen a Webley, the top-break design is probably the best ever made. Most top-breaks get sloppy and loose from heavy use but the Webly could stand up the punishment dished out by the .455 cartridge. The frame has ambidextrous thumb releases and the auto-ejector works well and re-loading with a speed loader is faster than a swing-out cylinder. The barrel is ground flat on both sides, reducing weight and giving it pleasing balance.
I was baffled by the sights however. The front blade is a lot taller than the notched rear sight so if you lined up the sights the way you normally do, the barrel would be pointed at a serious downward angle. I’ve never been able to figure out how to properly aim it.
JP, regarding the front sight height…this was done (by several makers) to allow the shooter to ‘tweak’ the sights for elevation. File it down, a little at a time, until it lines up to your point of aim/point of impact.
If I just had to have a top break revolver, I’d save myself over eight grand and buy an Uberti or Cimmaron. Oh yeah, in 45 Long Colt also.
?? Insanity…near 10 grand for 30 bucks worth of metal and about 4-500 labor…..for resale at about 6-7 hundred…and in an AMERICAN calibre .. instead of a .45 – or .45 LC ?? Poor Britain – have no clue what a real gun is..
Like someone said….we will no doubt – one day — supply them with “real” weapons in the future.
The queen bee needs to get her Country with the real world..and open it up to owning a lousy firearm.
I now know, it really was Colonel Mustard in the Conservatory with the Revolver.
Poor Brits. In the future we will be sending them guns like we did in WW2, when they didn’t have any for the Home Guard. If you do not learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it.
The Brits are a far safer country because of strict gun control. 33,000 will die from guns. More next year. The Brits have been around much longer then we have and are far smarter. We have a problem in America and its called gun addiction.
William, you are a troll. If you don’t like guns stay off the sites. I write regularly for their BMH groups and the private tales they tell me about make me feel safer here in America. We were their first attempt at colonization and in the end we got it right. For your number of gun deaths it would help if you removed all the suicides. People wanting to depart from us will do so gun or no gun. If you think Britain is immune look it over. they have a higher percentage rate than we do,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooa98FHuaU0
This fine bloke’s presentation shows how out of touch England is with the handgun market.
$10,000?!!!!!
May dad actually had a conceal carry license and carried a Webley .45 in New York back in the 30’s & 40’s.
I have the license but haven’t been able to find his revolver in years of searching.
But $10,000 for a new .357? Come on.
We get Webleys on GunsAmerica all the time. Many have been converted to usable calibers, and there is factory Webley ammunition and brass out there you can buy.
I agree it’s a outdated design,WAY overpriced. They don’t have the capacity to build a FOSBERY ? They did in the last century why not today. The Webley was outdated in 1944 it would a new curio today.Well I’ll give them a thumbs up for trying anyway.
BS article for BS Gun. Just another pathetic attempt by a pathetically desperate snotty Brit trying to cash in American Gun sales. I,ve fired several old Webley,s and they are garbage compared to U.S Revolvers. You would have to be a stone cold moron to throw that kind of Coin at a reproduction of this turd of a revolver.
Lighten up francis
Oh, Really Guvnor? Sixty-five thousand lbs Sterling? I can purchase a few Colts, or DW’s for that kinda scratch. Or, a wheelbarrow full of S&W’s and Ruger wheel guns.
By Jov, I believe you have your ascot wrapped too tight there, sport.
Wow.that is a lot of dough !For that a custom order I want it in the caliber I choose ,If I’m paying.And on gun control,How many jews would the germans have killed if they had a 45 with them.? I really trust that mudering bunch in washington with my life,but I like the few worn out old arms I have. My wife was attacked by a couple of pit bull dogs belonging to a couple (she on welfair ) he (spunging) they lived in section 8 houseing, No fence the dogs were left outside in the weather, One was tied to something with a belt. They got loose and came to our house. It was hell I’m 60 ,I got to my wife and tried to kick them,got my wife mainly, Then got her in my truck,went and got my 9.put one in the bitch (the owners paid $4300.00 for these dogs.)both lungs and heart. and 5 in the mail. Gess I was a lot angry.then took her (wife ) to hospital.The owners bowed up at the police when they were told about it and wanted to start some crap,but the law in our little town stoped it.Then they moved.
The title **should** have been “A New British Made Handgun? The Return of The Webley – NOW available in the UK”
… THAT would be news worthy.
Personally I don’t see the point of a replica priced at 10k (+tax)
– being as the address is Mayfair, London I imagine it’s considered as a souvenir for the A-rabs
Agreed! Good luck selling those. I would have to say it is definitely a beautiful piece for sure but, unless there’s a ton of wealthy collectors that are into Welbey’s, I think they’d be lucky to sell anywhere near 50 per year at that price point. I believe the true collector wouldn’t really value an upgraded “new” Welbey so much as they would a “new” old gun. If they’re going to part with that much cash then surely they’re going to be much more interested in purchasing an old weapon in perfect condition that has never been fired rather than simply an improved version of an old gun. Sure, the fact that you could shoot .357 though it could be enticing, but again, at $10,000? Fat chance.
Precisely. All those saying it will never sell have no idea of the sort of market the company is aiming at. Middle America is not that market. This guy might look like a poncified herbert with his ridiculous cravat and his floppy hair, but the people with real money, the ones who’ll spend that on a watch for a casual girlfriend without blinking an eye, love that sort of thing. Those who think it’s a lot of money are demonstrating why the company has no interest in them.
Insane, I wouldn’t pay more than $850-$1000 for it. I don’t need engraving, I just want a functional up to date Webley pistol. You will sell your pistol, because this world is full of people that make money off the sweat of other peoples backs. If they really wanted to bring the pistol back it would be in a realistic price point and they would really be bringing back something interesting, these pistols will never be guns that hit the bush again as they will sit in collections and behind glass, boring!
My thoughts exactly. I’d be willing to pay as much as $1000 for one, byt not $10,000. If theyw ere to mass produce these for sell at about $1000, they’d make a fortune. They are saying 50 units a year at $10,000. That’s only $500,000. They should be shooting for 2,000 units a year at $1000. Thats $2 million.
Right at the end of the interview he says: “…we love this country.” Did anyone else almost hear; “we’re envious of your freedoms”?? That is kinda what I heard.
As for the Webley, it is pretty. But when he started to quote the price in Pounds and I first heard “six thou….” my brain was ahead of him thinking Dollars and at 6K I was already shaking my head…. then he said POUNDS and then the conversion???? $10K?? — A Holland and Holland Webley might only be 10K IF they made one. And they don’t.
No question the price of guns and cost of manufacturing has gone up for the past many years. So a top-notch example of a standard firearm reaches $1k-$2k. So what might be a fair price for this Webley?
I think if it were to be in the $3k-$4k range, I would be pretty likely to add one to my collection. (Did he say: Engraving was going to be extra?) Wait….! Forget it.
Back in my youth (way back in time) Ye Old Hunter and assorted Samuel Clemons outlets sold at under $100.00 a large number of Webleys that had been modified for .45acp. We modified on our ranch some of these to .45 long Colt and used then attached to our jeep fleet for snake guns. Can’t speak as to their accuracy but you could hardly do much to damage one of these. The weapon remains one of the last large caliber top break weapons but they could never hold a candle to a Smith or a Colt. This Brit must be smoking weed there will be less than any 60 that would throw $10.000.00 at such a pistol. Talk about putting lipstick on a pig.
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HI NP–there is a warning video about not firing .45 ACP rounds in a modified Webley pistol. With a picture of a couple of the chambers blown out by the far higher pressure round! Could kill or blind the person shooting it.
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Rocketman
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Well, at that price point you won’t ever have to worry whether the top break design is robust enough for Magnum loads.
It’ll never be fired. lol
Darn, I should have anticipated that price tag right at the beginning of the video when he said he was set up at the Cabot booth. Sad, I was really getting excited.
I have a nice-shooting 1941 “war finish” MK IV Webley in .38 I paid about $550 for a couple years ago. It is in fine condition. It doesn’t have the fit and finish of his $10K version, but otherwise looks identical. I agree with the comments looking for 45 long colt or 45 acp, but there are too many fine guns out there that can be had for under $10K.
I, for one, am glad to see this happening. Not saying I will buy one, but it is great that someone is creating these limited works of art and keeping up the tradition of craftsmanship in the modern mass-produced world. How many of us will ever own (or even touch) a Purdey, Boss, or Holland or any other British handmade firearm? That doesn’t mean they should not exist. Remember, production is expected to be 50 per year, so that weekly revolver’s profit needs to pay that week’s wages, overhead, etc. That being said…it would have a little more attractive chambered in .45 ACP. Auto Rim!
I’d by one for $1500.00 but $10,000.00 that is ridiculous.
I would not have one if they gave them away. I will not support a country that does not allow it’s citizens to buy products made in their own country.
Not to mention the fact they scoff at our second amendment every chance they get.When they become American made,maybe.
I don’t think it’s the British government that’s making these guns, but rather a private enterprise that apparently likes firearms, since they’ve gone to the trouble of designing, engineering and manufacturing one.
Critical thinking isn’t nearly as painful as some make it out to be.
Agreed.
I wouldn’t Trade my Original Python for 2 of them!
British gun control at its finest – price the firearm out of the market.
In my opinion Americans should tell Anderson Wheeler to kiss our gun totin’ derrieres before we buy their over priced piece of ‘nostalgia’.
When a good honest Brit can walk into a gun store in London and buy one for a couple hundred quid, then I’d consider one of these.
As far as I’m concerned this is like Colorado’s liberal government wanting Magpul to stay put in Erie but outlawing their citizens to purchase Magpul’s PMags.
Well said!
It is a damned shame that this takes place. One of the finest rifles in the world–the AI–is British, yet their own citizens would find it almost impossible to own one. I’d love a Webley–but not at that price.
I really enjoyed the interview and seeing the new Webley. I suppose they did their research and know their market as it wont be a piece for us commoners. I enjoy shooting my Webley and it is a true classic but nowhere near the 10k mark. Thanks for the unique interview
I’ll take 4 “antique” Pythons for 10 large……..thanks
Think I’ll wait until those Python rumors come true or not. No there’s a handgun…..
Overpriced, like British cars.
$10,000 ? Probably won’t add one of these to my collection. Maybe at a $1000 in a .45 of some kind.
What??? A $130,000 Ferrari? That company will never make it! They should produce hand-made supercars for $8,000. What are they? Crazy? There is NO market for an ultra-premium handmade product priced accordingly and available in limited quantities. Good thing the Donald Trump capitalists of this site pointed that out.
BTW, look up Anderson Wheeler. They are in their, I think, third generation of their business. Apparently there is a market for what they do and I, for one, am glad that there are companies out there making works of firearms art. Not every purchase needs to be a Wal Mart grade Remington 870.
At last! An intelligent post! Thank you!
Both ahwsome sports cars and revolvers indeed Mr. jbgleeson, but alas, you forget to mention all the auto companies that went by the waste side over the last 100+ years that all had excellent or innovative products that just never made it in the market place for various reasons. There are many more that have failed than there are those who have succeeded. Undoubtedly, cost will almost always plays a significant role in success or failure.
I was really getting fired up about this until he mentioned the choke-inducing price. Forget about being proper Brits and grasp your inner entrepreneurial, capitalistic-pig Yank selves and find a way to crank these out at S&W prices and you’ll be working overtime keeping up with the demand. Also find a way to make them in .22 LR and .45 ACP. I WANT ONE!!!!!
Seeing how many of the old MK VI’s we find that had shaved cylinders for the 45 ACP….it is a shame this caliber wasn’t considered for the re-pop….and also at a more “real” price point. I think there would be a market for such a version, where an incrementally higher price is OK due to the design and workmanship required to build this to the faithful old-school design….but c’mon….. $10k? Undoubtedly will fail commercially. The emotional and moral issue of English gun ownership is true….but here is an entrepreneur trying to re-issue a Britush classic. Where else would you consider building such a follow-up version?
Hard to choose between it and a Korth…
Obviously, a work of art for those blessed with its stewardship. I can appreciate the lines of an Aston-Martin but enjoy the reality of my 20-yr. old Chevy and the checkered cocobolo grips on my Springfield 1911A1.
It’s great to see Mr. Wheeler crafting these. God bless and prosper you along with those who are blessed to be your patrons.
Sweet looking revolver, with a ridiculous price tag. I don’t see this guy staying in business for long.
You had me till the 10 Grand point . Pass .
10 grand…….?????? Really! come on.
I’m currently a U.S. Soldier serving in the UK. Under no circumstance would I support a product produced in a country that precludes its population from owning that item. To describe the British population as sheep is such an understatement that it’s impossible to appreciate how collectivism has consumed the British culture without living in England for an extended period of time. The production of a historical antique won’t do anything to change that and American’s shouldn’t show the Webley company any support until British citizens are empowered to provide for their own security again.
Don’t worry Sam its 10K .I doubt they stay in business.
Well said Sir… errr Mr. Adams. A agree whole heartedly.
I own an older Webley Mark IV in .38/200 S&W and it’s a nice shooter and well built. I’m sorry for Mr.Wheeler because his products look like a works of art, but I just cant, in good conscience lay out 10 grand to help finance a country that criminalizes it’s own subjects from owning a 129 year old design revolver with such a strong British heritage. If he brought his production here, I think he would find a more receptive clientele for his fine guns….they look like beauties!
I think they should make it in 45 Long Colt. I know I would buy one.
First, I was excited about this. Then I was the part about limited numbers and the price. Yeah, I’d love a Webley, or a solid reproduction of one, but I’m thinking closer to the under $1000 range. £6500 for a revolver? That’s absurd.