Webley revolver help

[Gillam&Miller]

Has anyone ever come across this mark on a webley before ?

 

[Nebraska Lawdog]

Lots of British firearms had the store (business) name marked on them.
I had a Webley Greene that was marked similarly.

 

[Old Soldier]

It is not a Webley. It is a Bentley-type revolver. These were made to Bentley's 1853 patent, but Bentley did not make that many. They were made by Birminghan Gunmakers 'by arrangement', without patent serial numbers. and differed in that they were made with a 'panel' over the working parts on the left of the frame, Bentley's were solid frame. They also omitted Bentley's 'stop lever' (equivalent to Colt's "half-cock" for loading) on the hammer and replaced it with a sprung stop-check on the frame. They were cheaper than the other big sellers like Adams and Tranter. They bore Birmingham proof stamps but were rarely marked with the maker's name and any markings were usually the retailer's.

The reason they are termed 'Webley/Bentley is because the original design (1851) used the Webley wedge lock for the barrel. The later ones used Bentleys 1853 screw-on barrel - screwed on to the arbor (like yours) and secured with a screw or thumb-screw to the forward part of the frame.

British retailers usually stamped the top of the barrel and the only retailer I can find with that name (same one!) is:
FOLSOM, H. & CO.
620-622 North Main St., St. Louis, Mo., mid 19th century. Gunsmith and sporting goods dealer; for a time in partnership with H. E. Dimick as Dimick & Folsom.
Folsom, Henry Folsom & Co.
Active as gunmaker, St. Louis, 1849 to 1875 or later. Associated with H. Dimick & Folsom, 1849-53, then H. Folsom & Co. thereafter.

The only 'Charles St' I can find in St Louis is St Charles St.

It reads like 'Charles St NC' or perhaps 'NO' (New Orleans? - St Charles St?)

Many were sold to the USA before and during the Civil War - especially the Confederacy.

 

[Story]

@Raleighdepot

Henry Folsom, importer. Starts on pg 7-8. Pistol imported between 1864 and 1866.

The New Orleans branch was opened in 1864 (New Orleans had fallen to the Federals HENRY FOLSOM & CA ST. LOUIS STORE in 1864) at 55 Charles Street under the name of Hne[en]ry Folsom & Company. It was managed by George Folsorn, a brother of Henry. In 1866 it was moved to 3 Old Levee Street and in 1868 to 9 Old Levee Street. At the time of the second move the name was changed to Folsom Brothers. In 1888 the Company was incorporated under the name H,&D. Folsom Arms, Company under the laws of New Jersey and the New Orleans office adopted the same name. A rifle marked ffFolsom and Kittridge, New Orleans'' has been seen, but this relationship has not been traced.

https://americansocietyofarmscollectors.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/1963-B7-Guns-And-Their-Makers-Of-The-Great-Weste.pdf

 

[Old Soldier]

The New Orleans branch was opened in 1864 (New Orleans had fallen to the Federals HENRY FOLSOM & CA ST. LOUIS STORE in 1864) at 55 Charles Street under the name of Hne[en]ry Folsom & Company. It was managed by George Folsorn, a brother of Henry. In 1866 it was moved to 3 Old Levee Street and in 1868 to 9 Old Levee Street. At the time of the second move the name was changed to Folsom Brothers. In 1888 the Company was incorporated under the name H,&D. Folsom Arms, Company under the laws of New Jersey and the New Orleans office adopted the same name. A rifle marked ffFolsom and Kittridge, New Orleans'' has been seen, but this relationship has not been traced.

Where is Charles Street in New Orleans or has it vanished via re-development? Google Maps only has St Charles St.

 

[Greshamian]

This is a Webley of the period, a 2nd model "Longspur".

 

[Old Soldier]

Yup. Sure is. It is also single action - and quicker to cock than a Colt! You can see the Webley patent wedge too!

 

[Gillam&Miller]

anyone know what the value of this gun would be ??

 

[Story]

anyone know what the value of this gun would be ??

You're welcome.

 

[Old Soldier]

anyone know what the value of this gun would be ??

In the UK - up to £1000 ($1,200), in the USA - probably about half that, but it does have a US retailer stamp, so .....