.455 inch Blank, Proof and Tracer

Blank Mark I

"Cartridge S.A. Blank Pistol Webley Mark I (Also Enfield)" was approved in May 1897 to design RL 9311 and shown in LoC Paragraph 8842 dated October 1897. In 1917 the title was changed to "Cartridge S.A. Blank Revolver .455 inch Mark I".

afterwards. "Cartridge S.A. Blank Pistol Webley Mark II (Also Enfield)" was approved in March 1899 and shown in LoC Paragraph 9632 dated June 1899. In 1917 the title was changed to "Cartridge S.A. Blank Revolver .455 inch Mark II" and again in December 1927 to "Cartridge S.A. Balnk Revolver .455 inch L Mark IIT".The case was similar to the Blank Mark I except that a shallower crimp was used. The charge was 8 grains of Blackpowder RFG2 with two wads. The hradstamp of early production included the numeral "II" and after 1927 "LIIT", the "L" indicating Blank and the "T" Blackpowder.

One feature of both the .455 inch Blank Mark I and II was that the cap was secured in the case with four stab crimps. This was because the pressure generated when fired was not high enough to force the case against the recoil shield of the revolver but was sufficient to push the cap partially out of the case if it were not crimped, thus jamming the revolver.

Blank India Pattern Mark II

Little is known about this blank other than it was manufactured at Kirkee during WW2 and is shown in Indian documentation of that period.It consisted of an uncrimped case with a small charge in the base secured by shellac with no wad.The headstamp included the numeral "II" but it is presumed this applied to the ball Mark II case that was used to make the blank.Proof Mark I

"Cartridge Proof S.A. Ball Pistol Webley Mark I" was approved in April 1914 to design RL 21495A but was not shown in Lists of Changes. The title was changed in 1917 to "Cartridge S.A. Proof Revolver .455 inch Mark I" and again in December 1927 to "Cartridge S.A. Proof Revolver .455 inch Q Mark I". In July 1941 a nitrocellulose version was approved to design DD/SAA/149 as

"Cartridge S.A. Proof Revolver .455 inch Q Mark Iz".

The case was as the Mark II ball but was copper washed and originally the headstamp included the word "PROOF". This was changed to the letter "Q" together with the mark numeral in 1928 and had a yellow primer annulus.

The lead bullet was originally that of the Mark II ball made from an alloy of 12 parts lead to 1 part tin and weighing 265 grains. however, as the mark of ball progressed so did the bullet of the Proof round and some used the 220 grain bullet of the Mark IV ball round.

The propellant charge with the Mark II bullet was 7.5 grains of Cordite 1/.05 or 5.8 grains nitrocellulose to give a pressure of 6.25 tsi minimum and 7.75 tsi maximum, but the Cordite charge would have been adjusted when the Mark IV bullet was used.

Sealed Pattern of the .455 inch Proof Mark I with Mark IV bullet held in the National Firearms Centre, Leeds.

Tracer

Although never adopted for service, a .455 inch tracer round was developed about 1950 for use as a sub-calibre round for the 3.5 inch Rocket Launcher.

The round utilised the envelope of the Mark VI bullet but with a long tracer cavity in the core. Envelope material was gilding metal.

The headstamp on the experimental rounds is the commercial "KYNOCH .455" but the round can be identified by the heavy ring crimp around the primer.

Left: .455 inch Tracer round and headstamp. Right: Kynoch drawing of bullet.