Webley RIC
Webley & Scott Ltd. · Pistol · Discontinued · 1868
Also known as: RIC Model, Royal Irish Constabulary Revolver, RIC No. 1
Overview
The Webley RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary) was the first commercially successful Webley revolver, a solid-frame, gate-loaded double-action service revolver introduced in 1868. Chambered most often in .442 Webley, it took its name from the Royal Irish Constabulary, which adopted it as a standard sidearm. Compact and robust, it was produced for some six decades in a range of calibres and remained in service with Ireland's national police for half a century.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 850 g (30.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 235 mm (9.25") |
| Barrel Length | 114 mm (4.49") |
| Firing Mechanism | Double Action Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Rotary |
| Muzzle Velocity | 198 m/s (650 fps) |
| Effective Range | 23 m (25 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 91 m (100 yd) |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .442 Webley · primary — also known as .442 RIC, .442 cf
- .455 Webley — also known as .455 Eley
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Gate Loaded Cylinder
- Features: Solid Frame, Side Loading Gate, Compact Service Design
Variants
- Webley RIC No. 2 — Compact
Service history
Operators
- Royal Irish Constabulary · adopted 1868 · as RIC Revolver
Conflicts
- Anglo-Zulu War (1879)
- Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-1880)
Production
Production years: 1868-1898
Tens of thousands produced across calibres; no single firm total is confirmed.
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: Philip Webley
Discontinued: 1898
Notes
Offered in a full-size No. 1 and a smaller, lighter No. 2 pattern, and in commercial chamberings down to .320 and .380. Service models were typically six-shot; many commercial examples were five-shot.
Background
A Webley RIC reportedly belonged to Lieutenant John Chard, the Royal Engineers officer who commanded the British defence at the Battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879, and the RIC pattern is also widely associated with the type of revolver carried by US officers of the period.