mawkie
C&R Whisperer
-Sold nearly 3 dozen rifles and pistols at auction last month and in the wake of that added two rifles and three pistols to the rapidly shrinking herd. Three were bucket list items, including this tiny Webley & Scott Model 1912 striker fired pocket auto in .25 ACP. This example was built in Sept. 1925. Total production from 1909 thru 1938 was 14,955 units.
-Commonly called the 6.35mm Hammerless to differentiate it from it's older brother, the Model 1907 aka the 6.35mm Hammer. The M1912 actually had an internal hammer, just like the Colt 1903 Hammerless.
-W&S licensed the design of the M1912 to American Harrington & Richardson but there was a 3 year delay getting the US built auto to production as changes were required to skirt Colt patents. Both the M1912 and the H&R Self-Loading Caliber 25 are very similar with minor changes to the breechslide and triggerguard. The breechslide change made it easier and cheaper for H&R to manufacture. The Self-Loader also did away with the sights that the M1912 sports. Considering the use of a .25 vest auto as a point and shoot pistol it's not unsurprising.
-The M1912 sold well throughout Europe but not so much here in the USA. They're not anywhere near as easy to find as the older Webly M1907 Hammer model. I've had the M1907 in my collection for decades but never had the opportunity to acquire a M1912 until last week when, surprisingly, two of them came to market. I scooped this one up for a very fair price. The hard part will be finding a British holster for it. The Parker Hale 1933 catalog shows one so at least I know what to look for!
-Commonly called the 6.35mm Hammerless to differentiate it from it's older brother, the Model 1907 aka the 6.35mm Hammer. The M1912 actually had an internal hammer, just like the Colt 1903 Hammerless.
-W&S licensed the design of the M1912 to American Harrington & Richardson but there was a 3 year delay getting the US built auto to production as changes were required to skirt Colt patents. Both the M1912 and the H&R Self-Loading Caliber 25 are very similar with minor changes to the breechslide and triggerguard. The breechslide change made it easier and cheaper for H&R to manufacture. The Self-Loader also did away with the sights that the M1912 sports. Considering the use of a .25 vest auto as a point and shoot pistol it's not unsurprising.
-The M1912 sold well throughout Europe but not so much here in the USA. They're not anywhere near as easy to find as the older Webly M1907 Hammer model. I've had the M1907 in my collection for decades but never had the opportunity to acquire a M1912 until last week when, surprisingly, two of them came to market. I scooped this one up for a very fair price. The hard part will be finding a British holster for it. The Parker Hale 1933 catalog shows one so at least I know what to look for!
