British Constabulary Revolver?

rburch · August 4, 2016, 09:07 AM

So I stopped by a pawn shop while back home visiting my folks, I'm friendly with the owner and he showed me this:

He knows nothing about it has no clue what caliber it is or where to get ammo.

It reminds me a bit of a Webly, and my Nagant revolver.

It is double action, and looks to be about 44-45 cal to me, and has this marking:

Cal 12, do they mean it's a 12 mm?

Anyone know anything about this thing?

Hawg · August 4, 2016, 09:59 AM

I'm thinking that's probably a Belgian knockoff. A real one should have Webley & Scott markings and English proofmarks. Look at the back of the cylinder and see if it has ELG stamped on it. If it does it's Belgian.

lamarw · August 4, 2016, 10:06 AM

Here is one thread from the not to distant past on this forum plus there is a lot of other information to include a lot of pictures on google.

https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=532674

Slamfire · August 4, 2016, 11:52 AM

Similar but not identical to the pistol used to murder President Garfield.

http://www.historicalfirearms.info/p...james-garfield

T. O'Heir · August 4, 2016, 01:41 PM

No such thing as a "British Constabulary" revolver issued by anybody in England. No metrics in England when that style was in use either. As mentioned, it's likely Belgian with the finish removed or some bone head chromed it. Thing has zero collector value.
.455 Webley, .476 Adams, et al used the same bullet diameter. 11.3 or 11.6 mm.

**Mike Irwin** · August 5, 2016, 09:50 AM

It's most likely a Belgian knock off, and to my eye appears to have been plated, or replated, fairly recently.

My best guess is that it's modeled after the Webley Royal Irish Constabulary model, which was Webley's first double action revolver model and which was adopted by the RIC in the late 1860s.

The caliber 12 MAY refer to the gun being chambered for the rather uncommon .500 Tranter cartridge (also known as the .500 Webley). The RIC model and a few later Webleys were made in .500 Tranter, and the cartridge was loaded in Belgium and possibly in Germany by DWM.

James K · August 5, 2016, 07:51 PM

At maybe $100, it would be interesting. At $330, the interest goes away pretty quickly.

Jim

Bill DeShivs · August 5, 2016, 08:58 PM

I'm not so sure that's not the original nickel plating.
If it's not, someone did a very good job polishing it.

Mk VII · August 6, 2016, 02:40 PM

Another (zombie) thread about these BCR's, which appear to be RIC knockoffs.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=532674

August 4, 2016, 09:07 AM	#1
rburch Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2007 Location: Blacksburg VA Posts: 750	British Constabulary Revolver? So I stopped by a pawn shop while back home visiting my folks, I'm friendly with the owner and he showed me this: He knows nothing about it has no clue what caliber it is or where to get ammo. It reminds me a bit of a Webly, and my Nagant revolver. It is double action, and looks to be about 44-45 cal to me, and has this marking: Cal 12, do they mean it's a 12 mm? Anyone know anything about this thing? __________________ I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.

August 4, 2016, 11:52 AM	#4
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	Similar but not identical to the pistol used to murder President Garfield. http://www.historicalfirearms.info/p...james-garfield __________________ If I'm not shooting, I'm reloading.

August 4, 2016, 01:41 PM	#5
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	No such thing as a "British Constabulary" revolver issued by anybody in England. No metrics in England when that style was in use either. As mentioned, it's likely Belgian with the finish removed or some bone head chromed it. Thing has zero collector value. .455 Webley, .476 Adams, et al used the same bullet diameter. 11.3 or 11.6 mm. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

August 5, 2016, 09:50 AM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	It's most likely a Belgian knock off, and to my eye appears to have been plated, or replated, fairly recently. My best guess is that it's modeled after the Webley Royal Irish Constabulary model, which was Webley's first double action revolver model and which was adopted by the RIC in the late 1860s. The caliber 12 MAY refer to the gun being chambered for the rather uncommon .500 Tranter cartridge (also known as the .500 Webley). The RIC model and a few later Webleys were made in .500 Tranter, and the cartridge was loaded in Belgium and possibly in Germany by DWM. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

August 5, 2016, 08:58 PM	#8
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	I'm not so sure that's not the original nickel plating. If it's not, someone did a very good job polishing it. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

August 4, 2016, 09:59 AM	#2
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	I'm thinking that's probably a Belgian knockoff. A real one should have Webley & Scott markings and English proofmarks. Look at the back of the cylinder and see if it has ELG stamped on it. If it does it's Belgian.

August 4, 2016, 10:06 AM	#3
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	Here is one thread from the not to distant past on this forum plus there is a lot of other information to include a lot of pictures on google. https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=532674

August 5, 2016, 07:51 PM	#7
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	At maybe $100, it would be interesting. At $330, the interest goes away pretty quickly. Jim

August 6, 2016, 02:40 PM	#9
Mk VII Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2000 Location: England Posts: 455	Another (zombie) thread about these BCR's, which appear to be RIC knockoffs. http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=532674