The Delightful Webley & Scott Ltd MK IV

Originally designed as a more mild mannered replacement for the Webley Mark VI in .455 Eley for British military service, the Webley & Scott Ltd Mark IV, a double action revolver chambered for the .380/200 (.38 S&W) cartridge, became a substitute standard to the Enfield No. 2 Mark I during World War II. A top break design, its stirrup (which retains the backstrap) gives the Webley greater strength than other break top revolvers and its automatic extractor can allow it to be reloaded surprisingly fast by familiar hands. While speedloaders are not available for it, those designed for smaller framed six shot revolvers like the Colt Detective Special can be made to work acceptably and Bianchi Speed Strips perform well.

The relative lack of power provided by the .380/200 (.38 S&W) cartridge has long been criticized. Originally loaded for British service with a 200 gr. lead bullet at around 620 FPS, current .38 S&W cartridges are loaded with 146 gr. RNL bullets at around 680 fps. The actual effectiveness of this little cartridge falls somewhat between glowing reports of rather long tumbling bullets providing extraordinary results on one hand and bouncing off of German greatcoats on the other. While the modest ballistics of this cartridge can be improved with handloads, the .380/200 (.38 S&W) will never be a powerhouse and many consider it to be bare for defensive applications.

Yet, in its day, the .380/200 (.38 S&W) was a surprisingly popular police cartridge and pocket pistols in this caliber, made by everyone from Iver Johnson and Harrington & Richardson to Colt and Smith & Wesson were quite popular. Perhaps this is for two reasons: 1. Small and inexpensive break top revolvers in this caliber were once prolific and they were even available by mail order back in the era when the Constitution still guided the laws of the United States. 2. The .380/200 (.38 S&W) is pleasant to shoot and surprisingly accurate; target pistols were once made in this caliber and none other than Elmer Keith extolled its accuracy.

While many regard the revolvers such as the Webley & Scott Mark IV and cartridges such as the .380/200 (.38 S&W) as suitable memories of a bygone era, I find my old Webley to be an utter delight! Remington .38 S&W ammunition loaded with 146 gr. RNL bullets shoot precisely to point of aim and can be consistently stacked one atop the other, shot offhand at seven yards (I have witnesses that will attest to this). While many would put the archaic old Webley away, I have shot mine regularly over the years, I still carry it, and I remain confident in its simple design and stellar accuracy. Originally purchased for a mere $85 back in the 1990s, my old Webley & Scott Mark IV represents a small investment that keeps on giving.