Deactivated Webley MK3 .455 Revolver

This is a rare Second Boer War / WW1 era Webley MK3 .455 service revolver. The serial number dates to circa 1897-1898. The barrel is marked P. Webley & Son, London & Birmingham with the MKIII designation and calibre .455 stamped on the left side of break action frame bar. Officially adopted in October 1897, MK3 production was very short lived with the introduction of the MK4 .455 in 1899, and for this reason only small quantities were ever made. Small quantities were adopted by the British military and others sold commercially being made available for private purchase by officers and NCO's. Serial numbers for these revolvers started at 101 to around 11,000. This early example is serial number 4206, and was most likely privately purchased by a member of the armed forces before being marked with a unit or regiment mark "AF631". A great many of these revolvers saw service during the Second Boer War 1899-1902 and the First World War.