Tuning Tuning of the best Webley Air pistol variant

[Steveoo]

IMO the best variant of the vintage Webley was the MK1. Many will make a case for the own personal favourite, bringing various advantages that each model has but in regard all these things considered, the MK1 is the best.

The Webley Senior was considered a deluxe, more expensive version, with its thumb catch, a curved, polished trigger and its Phosphor Bronze piston ring. They thought this more expensive ring would be a big improvement but this was not born out in practise as you cannot beat a nicely set up leather seal and it caused too much slam once worn in. Also due to a lack of any trigger adjustment, a 6lb pull, few could hit a barn door with it. Pistols really require a delicate trigger ...much more so than a rifle. No one ever understood why the MK1 trigger adjustment was dropped for this gun. The trigger adjustment was re-instated later on for the Premier and the Tempest/Hurricane but it was never quite as good as the Mk1 due to a slight change to the sear geometry.

Despite the Senior and Premier having the improved thumb catch, i find it less comfortable than the Mk1 catch in operation and the Tempest/ Hurricane even more uncomfortable on the skin of the thumb. Aesthetically, i also prefer the cleaner lines of the Mk1 for not having the offset of the thumb catch and the pivot hump welded on top of the front of the cylinder.

The disadvantage of the Mk1 is its simpler cocking link which offers 40 percent less mechanical advantage than the duel linkage of the later models. Its a tough little beast to cock but if adult, you can get use to it. Suffice to say, i would not recommend it as a youths gun, or adult of low arm strength, but it is not a problem for me.

Some pictures...

 

[Steveoo]

The internals have been tweaked for more power and smoothness.

The Mk1 utilises a leather piston seal which can achieve far better accuracy than the later Teflon seals in the Premier and Tempest/ Hurricane but it needs setting up correctly. You first need to chuck out the old leather seal in your gun, which will be too oil loaded, rotting and possibly over expanded. New seals can be had from Chambers. You also need to chuck out the inner leather packer, as it over expands the outer seal over time .

I replaced it with a shock absorbing rubber, machined to fit almost flush and minimising lost volume.

Finally, i polished all the components and skimmed 1/16 off the front face of the piston to allow a bit more stroke and volume.

After a run in period, Hobby pellets hit 485 Fps, with minimal recoil. The trigger set at a 2.5lb made for some accurate shooting.

 

[airgunmike56]

Wow I got one in 177 I bought about 1980 , What would be the asking price of one of these.

Mike

 

[Steveoo]

It really depends on the condition. In £s Sterling, they fetch £150 to £200 for reasonable condition but mint specimens like mine can make £275.

There is no doubt it has the best trigger, even including the very latest Tempest in that. The leather seal gives it the nicest shot cycle and it does not wear out your thumb.....its just a tough mother to cock.

 

[cecookdev]

Hi 

Just bought a Webley Mk1 in reasonable condition and as I always do with a new purchase I stripped and cleaned it with paraffin in my automotive parts washer made an inspection of all the parts and replaced the mainspring and all the seals lubricating with PTFE oil and was very surprised with how well it shot being as accurate as my original model 5 and what surprised me the most was it was producing just over 3.5ft lb, amazing for such a small pistol with a small cylinder, shoots way better than my Webley Tempest and as you say has a really good trigger for a vintage air pistol, the build quality is these pistols is second to none, I can see why people collect them, and so my collection has started 



Charlie 

 

[Steveoo]

Hey buddy thats great ....you can get even more power if required.

The MK1 completely blows away a Tempest. Build quality, zero plastic, and a better performance....The trigger is in a different class also....The Mk1. trigger can be set to almost match quality...just be careful to not set it too light.....So set it until the gun is not quite holding sear when cocked, being careful to maintain a good grip on the barrel tension. and then release the tension. Now you have found the far margin, of the gun not safely sear engaging, you can now back the screw off one complete turn to make it safe, running a trigger of about 2.5lbs .....that is about half the weight of a Tempests