Webley Longspur
James Webley · Revolver · Discontinued · 1853
Also known as: Webley Long Spur, Webley Patent Longspur, Webley 48-bore Longspur
Overview
The Webley Longspur is an early British percussion cap-and-ball revolver patented by James Webley of Birmingham in 1853. It was the first revolver produced by the firm that would become the famous Webley & Son, an open-frame, five-shot, single-action design. Its defining feature is the long, low, extended hammer spur that gave the revolver its name and allowed exceptionally fast cocking of the action. The barrel was hinged and secured to the frame by a cross wedge (first and second models) or a thumbscrew (third model), allowing it to be tilted down for cylinder removal. The holster-size model was chambered in 48 bore with a seven-inch rifled octagonal barrel.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1100 g (38.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 318 mm (12.52") |
| Barrel Length | 178 mm (7.01") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 230 m/s (755 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 240 J (177 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 25 m (27 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 90 m (98 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 16 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .44 Caliber Percussion · primary — also known as 48-bore, .451 ball, 48 gauge ball
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Percussion Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Hammer Rest Between Nipples
- Features: Open Top Frame, Extended Hammer Spur, Detachable Barrel, Single Action, Octagonal Barrel
Variants
- Webley Longspur Belt Model - Belt Model
- Webley Longspur Pocket Model - Pocket Model
Service history
Operators
- British civilian and military purchasers
Production
Production years: 1853-1860
Hand-made in relatively small numbers; surviving serial ranges run from roughly 100 to over 1500 across the three model patterns
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: James Webley
Discontinued: 1860
Notes
Produced in three frame sizes: Holster (48 bore), Belt (60 bore) and Pocket (120 bore). Three sequential model patterns exist, distinguished chiefly by the barrel-retention method. Weight is estimated from surviving holster-model examples.
Background
The Longspur was Webley's first revolver and established the Birmingham firm as a serious rival to the Adams and Colt designs of the 1850s, laying the groundwork for the Webley service revolvers that would arm the British Empire for the next century.