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My new Webley Junior – Part 3

Posted on July 14, 2010 by B.B. Pelletier ↓ 67 Comments

by B.B. Pelletier

This Webley Junior is in fantastic condition for a 60+ year-old air pistol.

Normally Part 3 would be an accuracy test; but if you’ve followed this report, you know that my Webley Junior was shooting very slow when I tested it for velocity. So, I told you I would disassemble it and have a look inside to learn what I could about the shape of the powerplant.

The first clue I had took no disassembly whatsoever. I simply looked through the cocking slot on top of the gun and noticed that the mainspring was bone dry. I’d lubricated the breech seal and piston seal before velocity testing, but I left the mainspring alone. I’m glad I did, because I learned that this gun was really too dry inside for proper operation. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

My new Webley Junior – Part 2

Posted on July 5, 2010 by B.B. Pelletier ↓ 53 Comments

by B.B. Pelletier

Part 1

Before I begin today, just a word about the upcoming Daisy Get Together in Michigan. It’s in Kalamazoo on Sunday, August 22. That’s a one-day show. Admission is $2 to see a room full of fine collectible BB guns. For a flyer and more information, contact Bill Duimstra (616-738-2425) or Wes Powers (517-423-4148).

Today, I’ll test the velocity of the new Webley Junior. These guns are supposed to be low-powered, so expect velocities in the 275 f.p.s.region.

One thing I know about older vintage airguns is that they have leather piston seals. The Webley pistols also have a leather breech seal connecting the air transfer port to the breech. It’s a hollow metal tube surrounded by leather that also needs to be oiled. So, the first order of business is to oil the seals.

My new Webley Junior – Part 1

Posted on June 30, 2010 by B.B. Pelletier ↓ 67 Comments

by B.B. Pelletier

When I came home from the hospital, all my internet business was in disarray. Edith had been keeping up with my email, but she hadn’t known about the various accounts I have, nor did she have the time to look at them. One of these was the Texas Gun Trader, an online in-state trading place where I meet others to buy and sell firearms. I had over 1,400 guns to look at!

One of those listings was a Webley Junior pistol, which caught my eye. It was priced close to the top of the market, but it seemed to be in very nice condition. So, I contacted the seller down near Houston and we negotiated. Normally, I meet the seller face-to-face, but in my current condition that was impossible, so we worked out a deal to ship the gun. Being an airgun, this was entirely legal.

Airgun darts

Posted on May 11, 2010 by B.B. Pelletier ↓ 54 Comments

by B.B. Pelletier

Update on Tom/B.B.: When I visited him Monday afternoon, we discovered that he’d lost 50 lbs. of water in less than a week. All vital signs are stable and things look quite good!

Today’s blog was written by B.B., but we have an announcement first.

Pyramyd Air is having its 3rd Annual Airgun Garage Sale on June 5. As in previous years, there will be a mountain of guns and accessories with slashed prices and dented pellet tins at huge discounts. Come early, bring cash or credit cards, and shop til you drop!

Now, on to today’s blog.

An airgun dart is very accurate due to the high drag of its animal hair or fiber skirt. It’s forward-weighted and has fletching, just like the hand-thrown dart.

Webley Junior – Part 2

Posted on May 4, 2010 by B.B. Pelletier ↓ 131 Comments

by B.B. Pelletier

Update on Tom/B.B.: I spent several hours with Tom on Monday evening. He continues to make nice progress. Happy days are here!

Part 1

On to today’s blog about the Webley Junior’s accuracy and velocity tests.

This turned out to be quite a collectible and a very interesting pistol.

Although most Juniors are smoothbores, the barrel on our gun looked like it was rifled. To check, I pushed a pellet through the barrel. The rifling would have engraved itself on the thin skirt, enabling me to count the lands and grooves and check their pattern. But to my surprise, the pellet showed no signs of any rifling. Another look through the bore revealed that it was, indeed, a smoothbore, but when there was oil present, it tended to look like it was rifled. Maybe the barrel was originally rifled and the factory reamed them smooth because they were earmarked for Juniors. Or, maybe the appearance of the rifling is simply an optical illusion.