At the time there was a "rifle" butt replacement for the handle of the Webly •445 revolver. Teaming this up with the bayonet would have made a very useful 'carbine' for trench raids !
Put a rifle stock on it, a hand fitted ergonomic grip and some period radium sights (gotta get your historic dosage of radioactive material) and you've got yourself a trench raiding/ medium range beast! :D
As for whether these were ever used... An old friend said that his Grandad in WW1 was an elite tench fighter. He went into the trenches with two revolvers with blades on them. Not exactly a scientific and bonafide source (two young blokes taking in an AOL call centre) but the detail he gave about the blades on the guns is interesting seeing as these did exist.
and people are acting like pistol bayonets that are made now are silly... You never know when you might end up in a trench with more people to fight than you have bullets!
my thought is tho...a pistol fight in a trench or anywhere else you have a pistol...they can be shot one handed (and in super close fighting one handed would be just as accurate) so you could easily hold your revolver or handgun in one hand and a knife in the other. not like a rifle where holding it one handed is super awakward and hard to do..so yeah..also you cant holster a rifle...you can a handgun so...why is all i ask. it may be cool yeah but its not needed and if anything adds steps before you can holster and maybe pick up an enemies weapon. so you have to discard your handgun or fumble around with the bayonet so..ya see?
except that an officer (who might expect to use a side arm) might want his other hand free for anything from admin duties to throwing a grenade to radioing.
Right? Is he 60 years old and confused by Pong on a television screen? Would have been more rich with a definitive article, "the computer games". but you can't ask for everything!
Notice how strong this really is, it's attached directly to the center of mass of the webly, also happens to be the strongest part of it's frame, this would work, however dubious in real effect it is, it would work. Now onto those stupid M1913 rail mounted pistol bayonets.....you will snap the rail off if you even attempt to put any striking force that way.....more so if you have a plastic frame.
yo boi jonx What? i am talking about the M1913 rail, thats just it's model number, has nothing to do with year. the M1913 is the pict Rail we see on basically all modern firearms, it's not designed to take impact as a bayonet lug.
dat guy I'm personally not sure of the Kevlar fiber's actual chemical make up, but it can be reinforced with plastic resins to create what some call fiber reinforced plastic and or a composite structure.
Quite right. The Royal Navy is "Royal" because it was founded by the sovereign's decree and was legally regarded as a privilege granted to the monarch by parliament. The Army, however, belongs to the British people, not the monarch. They even fought a series of civil wars in the mid-1600's to prove the point. Certain regiments and corps are designated "royal" as a honorific to recognize continued superior performance. If a unit has evolved from a "royal" unit, it will be also "royal". Example: the Royal Air force evolved from the Royal Naval Air Service. royal due its descent from the Royal Navy, and the Royal Flying Corps, which descended from the Royal Engineers
This was an interesting one. I know that earlier Pistols, like Flintlocks and Percussion, had some bayonets but I didn't know that they had them for WWI Pistols.
As the officer with sword in one hand and revolver in your other hand I would actually use this bayonet, this way you don't have to drop the revolver during trench raids to fight hand to hand to take out the knife, what takes time etc. I think this actually is practical, just not as the primary weapon.
Burt Sampson BF1 is bollocks. It's so bad it's offensive to the memory of those who fought. Verdun on the other hand is a masterpiece. It's terrifying, brutal, realistic and historically accurate. A fraction of the price for an infinitely better game.
I would have definitely been in favor of those bayonets being produced during WWI, WWII, and the Korean War that way British officers and NCOs would have an excellent secondary weapon along with their Webley pistol. One minor difference is I would extend the blade to 12.5 inches ( 4 inches longer)
Practical or not that's so cool. It amazes me a bit how perfectly they fit too. It looks like the gun was intended to accept that bayonet. Pretty genius and simple too.
Did he say, "Maybe, Stab something." ?!? at the end? Very funny. Love guns, love history, love FW. Ian may be getting loopy, late at night. Thanks for the stabbing advice!
Nice. I was never much interested in English pistols or revolvers until I saw this. Surefire way to get my attention: add a blade to something! Now let me do some research on Webley pistols and see how they function and they price.
I wasn't there (obviously) but would imagine one of the big trench knives in the off hand a superior fighting combination. A revolver bayonet seems like several opportunities to impale yourself - not least if re-loading. I do admire the simple yet robust engineering involved. Something to bear in mind is the officer's other duties. Communication (often by whistle) and night time navigation (compass with a fluorescent needle) - both require a free hand. Relatively short numbers suggest most officers found alternate ways to address close fighting. By this time the officer's sabre is back in stores - a trip hazard in the mud and wire between the trenches. Also a give-away that the bearer is a high-value target. By the second (tin hat) phase of the war, officers tried to eliminate cues for enemy snipers. They'd swap the Webley for an En fiend rifle during offensives, and abandon the tailored uniform trousers for something cut much closer to the general issue,.
I doubt it was my request that made you post this but thank you anyway, some bayonets I've seen are really unique and some stupid too so it's always nice to see more
I can't imagine using a bayonet at the end of a top break revolver to be a very good idea. The pivot in the frame already weakens the gun's structure. You would be placing a fair amount of stress directly on the hinge as well as the hinge release.
The British Army is historically a collection of militias raised at the behest of the Monarch, it answers to Parliament rather than the Monarch. My father was in the Royal Marines and didn't have any respect for the Army, they have a deep seated distrust of the Army which I gather is historical.
The Parachute regiment have a long history of rivalry between the Royal Marines as they are both elite fighting forces, the regular Army though know that they are a world apart from them both. Para para in the sky living proof that shit can fly. Marine marine in a boat living proof that shit can float.
Because during the war to turn the kingdom into a constitutional monarchy the Royal Army was the royalist faction (hint: they eventually lost). The British Army won, hence they keep the name. The Royal Navy and Air Force (which if I recall correctly grew out of the Navy) have no such ties to the conflict and so keep the "Royal" appellation.
It is a neat idea that I always kind of liked. You can get modern pistol bayonets as well, and they would work just fine, except that it is far more practical to put a flashlight and/or laser on instead. Maybe I should combine a flashlight and laser into a bayonet and have it all! I can not patent that though, so anyone who can make that happen is free to take the idea, ha.
Is there any record as to how this was actually used? It seams that if you grasp the barrel with bayonet oriented in an ice pic type grip you could then also use the revolver grip as a club. Might be a decent melee weapon.
Late War Time Production. That Webley's stamped 1918, so a lot of the time finish and markings weren't as high quality due to the production requirements.
It is a "Shire" but most home counties folk pronounce it "sher" as in "washer". I don't think anybody would have commented save for the fact he, admiably, tries to get names right.
So looking at it, I am not sure how you would hold it. I imagine the preferred method would not be by the barrel as it would be hot from shooting. I think you would at least need to change your grip position to get a better thrusting motion. Maybe you just hold it as normal. Any ideas anyone? I was thinking wrap your hand around the top of the pistol grip and over/in front of the hand guard.
I feel like a traditional knife on your belt would do the job as well if not better. wouldn't it be kind of awkward to handle a blade with a pistol grip?
This would be the reason this has never been a popular idea. A bayonet on a rifle or musket works because the length of the firearm means you're left with a short, slightly overweight spear, but a bayonet on a pistol is just a knife that weighs 3lbs for no adequate reason. The one possible argument in its favor I can see is that there's no need to holster your revolver and draw your knife when you need it, but I doubt that's enough to compensate for how awkward the weapon is to actually use.
Technically it's converting a pistol into a (pretty effective) fistweapon. I strapped one of my German Army knifes to an old defunct air pistol and gave it a try, it was pretty awesome at stabbing even through a pretty thick load of cardboard. However, the weapon becomes extremely front-heavy, and it felt very encumbering when I even just tried to aim it normally. Add the probs with properly holstering and drawing it when you desperately need it in a close-combat situation, and you will see why it simply isn't worth it a few simple stabbing attacks. Not to mention the advantage that you can parry with a knife in your offhand while knocking your foe on the head with your pistol - you can forget that with a pistol bayonet altogether.
It leaves a free hand and you don't have to draw your knife but... that's about where it ends. Plus all the previously listed downsides and you get something that's probably not worth the trouble. But hey, it looks cool.
There was a specific context in which bayonets on handguns were the most popular and that was in a context in which you would be facing opponents with swords. The bayonet makes it easier to parry, while your other hand is still free to do other things (such as wielding your own melee weapon). It is something that's been documented in historical sources, although I can't recall where.
Looks cool and well made. Though I imagine the time you'd save by not reaching for your trench knife would be far exceeded by the time you'd waste operating a clumsy, front-heavy revolver. Also, regular knives allow for a far greater range of stabbing and slashing attacks, while bayonets are mostly limited to thrusting. On a rifle, the reach of a bayonet is a big advantage. On a pistol, not so much.
polarstarcurly it's clumsy at best, but the benefit is that once ammo runs out, you can just grip the berrel/bayonet handle and use it as a thrusting knife. Can save you in a few critical seconds than reaching for a pocket or strapped weapon. Also leaves a hand free for another weapon. Still the chances of that were slim. Better off with a rifle bsyonet combo. At least militaries were still training for the use of those in WWI. Portugal even used some martial arts with their rifle bayonets.
It could save a second or two sure. I'm just not sure if that's worth the extra hindrance. Also, what is this second weapon everyone keeps saying you would have in your other hand? Did people dual wield pistols in WWI?
***** anything could be in the second hand. Grenades, second pistol, rifle, could be using it to signal, or have control over your gas mask. Really depends on the circumstances. Though, it was likely very rare.
I'm curious, how hot is the barrel after firing six shots as fast as possible? Would it be unbearable and need some rapping on the barrel or have to use gloves?
My father and i are collectors and im sad to say he beat me to the punch on getting a webley but i am gonna show him the video and see how long it takes him to find one of these.
This idea may not be as silly as it seems. I bet it would actually be a somewhat useful combination in a cramped trench. Also, the handle sounds more like bell bronze than gun metal. Perhaps some more recycling going on?
Just a historic note, The British Army is not referred to as the "Royal" Army, as, unlike the Navy, Air Force, and Marines, the Army is not under the direct authority of the Crown. This was done by Parliament, in the era of Cromwell, to prevent the Crown from using the Army to oppress the "people", IE to become an autocracy. The Army could only be used with the consent of Parliament. Needless to say, all branches of the British Armed Forces now are more under the authority of Parliament, but the aforementioned is why the British Army is NOT called the Royal Army.
Hi Ian, fascinating stuff (as usual), really enjoy your videos. Just one small niggle (sorry) - the correct term is the 'British Army' and not the 'Royal Army'. The prefix 'Royal' (although given to The Navy and The Airforce of the UK) is not used for The Army as that prefix is reserved as an Honour awarded to individual regiments. Again, so sorry to be so pedantic and British.
Generally with close combat weapons, a battle-ready blade needs to be very securely fastened to the hilt. Authentic swords, knives and bayonets therefore tend to be so well made that the weapon behaves as one solid object. If such a blade has a metal hilt, it will ring when struck as if it the weapon were one continuous piece of metal. A fake however is likely to be less well made, and thus the blade and hilt are likely to be poorly merged. This will leave pockets of air or glue or whathaveyou that will make the hilt give a muted "thud" sound rather than a clear ring. Note that this is not foolproof in either direction; a well-made fake could pass the ringing test, just as an old or damaged sword might come a bit loose in the hilt.
Minor nitpick: The British Army is NOT called the Royal Army, which considering that some units trace themselves back to the regiments of Parliament during the Civil War makes sense. The Navy is Royal the Army is not.
I think people are forgetting that the designer of this accessory actually saw WWI combat, and was directly involved within it. Thus it's more than likely that he came up with the idea, as a result of those engagements (rather than some sort of pipe dream with no real experience of war). So in all honesty it's probably more than likely that this actually was a useful weapon in WWI, and almost certainly saw action.
That Webley has a bayonet and the magazine isn't in the grip. Doesn't that make it an assault pistol?
California about to come for Ian!
Acording to the law the state of new york passed after sand hook shooting yes.
@@thunberbolttwo3953 ahh good ole California and New York. The Sodom and Gomorah of the modern day world.
@@KandiKlover how dare people want to do something about children getting gunned down
@@ENCHANTMEN_ It sure has been effective, oh wait.
At the time there was a "rifle" butt replacement for the handle of the Webly •445 revolver. Teaming this up with the bayonet would have made a very useful 'carbine' for trench raids !
Does it have a bipod attachment? ;)
for the pistol or the bayonet?
Hey guys I just unlocked a bipod for my plane
Put a rifle stock on it, a hand fitted ergonomic grip and some period radium sights (gotta get your historic dosage of radioactive material) and you've got yourself a trench raiding/ medium range beast! :D
Austin David indeed! :D
*Pibod. :)
"Supposin' he's got a point-ed Webley..."
"SHADDUP!"
I just want a webley. Gorgeous looking revolver with a great history to them
I hope you eventually got one.
As for whether these were ever used... An old friend said that his Grandad in WW1 was an elite tench fighter. He went into the trenches with two revolvers with blades on them.
Not exactly a scientific and bonafide source (two young blokes taking in an AOL call centre) but the detail he gave about the blades on the guns is interesting seeing as these did exist.
and people are acting like pistol bayonets that are made now are silly... You never know when you might end up in a trench with more people to fight than you have bullets!
Jobby Bones Bludgeoning "guys" with your "killer-boner"!? "Not that there's anything wrong with that".🦃
my thought is tho...a pistol fight in a trench or anywhere else you have a pistol...they can be shot one handed (and in super close fighting one handed would be just as accurate) so you could easily hold your revolver or handgun in one hand and a knife in the other. not like a rifle where holding it one handed is super awakward and hard to do..so yeah..also you cant holster a rifle...you can a handgun so...why is all i ask. it may be cool yeah but its not needed and if anything adds steps before you can holster and maybe pick up an enemies weapon. so you have to discard your handgun or fumble around with the bayonet so..ya see?
thats cause most modern bayonetes are shit because no one expects you to have to use it in day-to-day life.
except that an officer (who might expect to use a side arm) might want his other hand free for anything from admin duties to throwing a grenade to radioing.
The german bayonet is totally badass.
I love how Ian says computer games
Right? Is he 60 years old and confused by Pong on a television screen? Would have been more rich with a definitive article, "the computer games". but you can't ask for everything!
Notice how strong this really is, it's attached directly to the center of mass of the webly, also happens to be the strongest part of it's frame, this would work, however dubious in real effect it is, it would work.
Now onto those stupid M1913 rail mounted pistol bayonets.....you will snap the rail off if you even attempt to put any striking force that way.....more so if you have a plastic frame.
yo boi jonx What? i am talking about the M1913 rail, thats just it's model number, has nothing to do with year.
the M1913 is the pict Rail we see on basically all modern firearms, it's not designed to take impact as a bayonet lug.
yo boi jonx I'm talking the comercial K-bar pistol bayonets, nobody seriously has put a bayonet on a pistol since the Richard bayonet.
Fun fact, kevlar is a plastic
dat guy I'm personally not sure of the Kevlar fiber's actual chemical make up, but it can be reinforced with plastic resins to create what some call fiber reinforced plastic and or a composite structure.
Sorry to nitpick, but the British army is the only one of the three arms not referred to as "royal," at least since the civil war.
Interesting piece!
Quite right. The Royal Navy is "Royal" because it was founded by the sovereign's decree and was legally regarded as a privilege granted to the monarch by parliament. The Army, however, belongs to the British people, not the monarch. They even fought a series of civil wars in the mid-1600's to prove the point. Certain regiments and corps are designated "royal" as a honorific to recognize continued superior performance. If a unit has evolved from a "royal" unit, it will be also "royal". Example: the Royal Air force evolved from the Royal Naval Air Service. royal due its descent from the Royal Navy, and the Royal Flying Corps, which descended from the Royal Engineers
@@colbeausabre8842 Royal Marines earned the title "Royal" for their fidelity and courage sometime around 1800 - I can't remember exactly.
lol yer both assholes how about the rcn?
@@colbeausabre8842 By "people" you mean "parliament"?
@@haltomont Don't be a troll. Forgotten Weapons has a lot of old people who like it, and very many nice people. "asshole" is really harsh.
Pure gold. "Some sort of, 'stabby, bayonet implement'. "
You just made my Memorial Day weekend.
I need more 'stabby' in my life.
This was an interesting one. I know that earlier Pistols, like Flintlocks and Percussion, had some bayonets but I didn't know that they had them for WWI Pistols.
Imagine Dirty Harry with a bayonet on his .44 mag. Sharks with laser beams on their heads wouldn't stand a chance.
But probably not the laser dragon from FC3-BD. That thing was the epitome of gratuitous destruction.
I predict DLC from EA with this as an add-on attachment for Battlefield 1. Other than that, that's a really interesting bayonet concept.
BaconOddity Tell me how I can get and equip a bayonet on my Webley in the game at the moment.
#DICE get on it!
***** Well, that would be the practical thing to do but it's all about that wow factor with these things
As the officer with sword in one hand and revolver in your other hand I would actually use this bayonet, this way you don't have to drop the revolver during trench raids to fight hand to hand to take out the knife, what takes time etc. I think this actually is practical, just not as the primary weapon.
carroj9 Like a weaponised spork? 😄
They have this in Verdun but not in BF1. Get your shit together DICE.
Bayonet charge! With a pistol!
I agree, DICE should have added stuff like this.
don't worry, they'll add it in as DLC and it'll cost $29.99
More incentive to use bayonets is the LAST thing the players of BF1 need.
Burt Sampson BF1 is bollocks. It's so bad it's offensive to the memory of those who fought. Verdun on the other hand is a masterpiece. It's terrifying, brutal, realistic and historically accurate. A fraction of the price for an infinitely better game.
I have one of the reproductions for my Mark VI. I still need to fit it to the pistol.
Bayonet on my revolver? Nah, I'll hold out for a grenade launcher.
Holyshit, Gunblades were real.
TheGM you should check out old flintlock gun hatchets and swords with literaly gun hilts
Isn't there also an older cutlass pistol?
@@Oblithian Elgin Cutlass Pistol.
I've seen this in Verdun before. Really excited to see this one :D
Always Historic
Alway entertaining.
Keep up the great work!
Your love of history/firearms is amazing and is much appreciated.
The Japanese would have loved this, even putting bayonets on their machineguns in WW-2.
Putting bayonets on their service katana
They'd have put a bayonet on a hand grenade if there was room. ;-)
*COUGH*Verdun*COUGH*
*COUGH*bestweaponinverdun*COUGH*
The most tactical revolver.
Also, "stabby bayonet implement" is totally the technical term for this.
Ian could with his voice fit perfectly as an dungeon master in an D&D game.
I would have definitely been in favor of those bayonets being produced during WWI, WWII, and the Korean War that way British officers and NCOs would have an excellent secondary weapon along with their Webley pistol. One minor difference is I would extend the blade to 12.5 inches ( 4 inches longer)
Practical or not that's so cool. It amazes me a bit how perfectly they fit too. It looks like the gun was intended to accept that bayonet. Pretty genius and simple too.
Did he say, "Maybe, Stab something." ?!? at the end? Very funny. Love guns, love history, love FW.
Ian may be getting loopy, late at night.
Thanks for the stabbing advice!
Nice. I was never much interested in English pistols or revolvers until I saw this. Surefire way to get my attention: add a blade to something! Now let me do some research on Webley pistols and see how they function and they price.
I saw one of these in Ypres, there was also a bayonet on a 1917 revolver. Do you know anything about the 1917. They also had weird stocks.
"you call that a knife.... *THIS* is a knife!"
I wasn't there (obviously) but would imagine one of the big trench knives in the off hand a superior fighting combination.
A revolver bayonet seems like several opportunities to impale yourself - not least if re-loading.
I do admire the simple yet robust engineering involved.
Something to bear in mind is the officer's other duties.
Communication (often by whistle) and night time navigation (compass with a fluorescent needle) - both require a free hand.
Relatively short numbers suggest most officers found alternate ways to address close fighting.
By this time the officer's sabre is back in stores - a trip hazard in the mud and wire between the trenches.
Also a give-away that the bearer is a high-value target.
By the second (tin hat) phase of the war, officers tried to eliminate cues for enemy snipers.
They'd swap the Webley for an En fiend rifle during offensives, and abandon the tailored uniform trousers for something cut much closer to the general issue,.
I doubt it was my request that made you post this but thank you anyway, some bayonets I've seen are really unique and some stupid too so it's always nice to see more
Gotta love the early 20th century answer to "how do we make this weapon more effective?". Put a bayonet on it!
That webley with the bayonet on it is one of the most menacing weapons I've ever seen
7:09
le *ding*
Will Pritchard Bayonet work on Webley-Fosbery Autorevolver?
That would be really cool.
I saw the thumbnail that had rope, a bayonet, and a webley and my first thought was a shootable knife...
I can't imagine using a bayonet at the end of a top break revolver to be a very good idea. The pivot in the frame already weakens the gun's structure. You would be placing a fair amount of stress directly on the hinge as well as the hinge release.
Can you still open/ reload the revolver with the bayonet on there? seems the end of the bayonet is close to the pivot point.
Yes you can, though on mine the ejection star would not cam over to return and drop the spent cases.
There's a Royal Air Force and a Royal Navy but the army is the British Army, not royal. No idea why.
The British Army is historically a collection of militias raised at the behest of the Monarch, it answers to Parliament rather than the Monarch. My father was in the Royal Marines and didn't have any respect for the Army, they have a deep seated distrust of the Army which I gather is historical.
The army feels the same about the Royal Marines I'm sure. And the RAF look down on everybody. LOL
The Parachute regiment have a long history of rivalry between the Royal Marines as they are both elite fighting forces, the regular Army though know that they are a world apart from them both.
Para para in the sky living proof that shit can fly. Marine marine in a boat living proof that shit can float.
Dates back to the civil war. The British Army is the descendant of the New Model Army and is very definitely Parliament's.
Because during the war to turn the kingdom into a constitutional monarchy the Royal Army was the royalist faction (hint: they eventually lost). The British Army won, hence they keep the name. The Royal Navy and Air Force (which if I recall correctly grew out of the Navy) have no such ties to the conflict and so keep the "Royal" appellation.
It is a neat idea that I always kind of liked. You can get modern pistol bayonets as well, and they would work just fine, except that it is far more practical to put a flashlight and/or laser on instead. Maybe I should combine a flashlight and laser into a bayonet and have it all! I can not patent that though, so anyone who can make that happen is free to take the idea, ha.
Is there any record as to how this was actually used? It seams that if you grasp the barrel with bayonet oriented in an ice pic type grip you could then also use the revolver grip as a club. Might be a decent melee weapon.
Hey, it's actually pronounced Barkshire, confusing I know. Love your content, not trying to be douchey.
Was about to comment the same thing
Surely you mean Bark-sher?
And thinkng of things English, what's with the crappy stamping of "England" on the Webley?
Late War Time Production. That Webley's stamped 1918, so a lot of the time finish and markings weren't as high quality due to the production requirements.
Although you do have to commend that he pronounced the shire bit correctly. Most Americans I've met get that one wrong.
It is a "Shire" but most home counties folk pronounce it "sher" as in "washer".
I don't think anybody would have commented save for the fact he, admiably, tries to get names right.
This was a big help!
I have the feeling that if those things had been more popular then we would say "running with a Pritchard" instead of "running with scissors".
Could this be used as a parrying dagger and paired up with a rapier? While attached to a Webley, that is.
So looking at it, I am not sure how you would hold it. I imagine the preferred method would not be by the barrel as it would be hot from shooting. I think you would at least need to change your grip position to get a better thrusting motion. Maybe you just hold it as normal. Any ideas anyone? I was thinking wrap your hand around the top of the pistol grip and over/in front of the hand guard.
Thanks Ian.
I kind of wanted to see the sight picture with the bayonet attached, and hear about how front-heavy the gun became.
Neat stuff, brother. Enjoyable. You seem to serve up the weird and unique, plus we get our history fix too!
You amaze me every time I watch one of your video's. What ever their paying you it isn't enough. ;)
Kenny VanCleave Patreon mate
I do mate.
Kenny VanCleave
*videos
*they're
I feel like a traditional knife on your belt would do the job as well if not better. wouldn't it be kind of awkward to handle a blade with a pistol grip?
This would be the reason this has never been a popular idea. A bayonet on a rifle or musket works because the length of the firearm means you're left with a short, slightly overweight spear, but a bayonet on a pistol is just a knife that weighs 3lbs for no adequate reason.
The one possible argument in its favor I can see is that there's no need to holster your revolver and draw your knife when you need it, but I doubt that's enough to compensate for how awkward the weapon is to actually use.
Technically it's converting a pistol into a (pretty effective) fistweapon. I strapped one of my German Army knifes to an old defunct air pistol and gave it a try, it was pretty awesome at stabbing even through a pretty thick load of cardboard. However, the weapon becomes extremely front-heavy, and it felt very encumbering when I even just tried to aim it normally. Add the probs with properly holstering and drawing it when you desperately need it in a close-combat situation, and you will see why it simply isn't worth it a few simple stabbing attacks. Not to mention the advantage that you can parry with a knife in your offhand while knocking your foe on the head with your pistol - you can forget that with a pistol bayonet altogether.
It leaves a free hand and you don't have to draw your knife but... that's about where it ends. Plus all the previously listed downsides and you get something that's probably not worth the trouble. But hey, it looks cool.
There was a specific context in which bayonets on handguns were the most popular and that was in a context in which you would be facing opponents with swords. The bayonet makes it easier to parry, while your other hand is still free to do other things (such as wielding your own melee weapon). It is something that's been documented in historical sources, although I can't recall where.
@MemoryDecipheR well sure, but that's one niche benefit for making your weapon worse in 99% of cases
Interesting piece of history
Looks cool and well made. Though I imagine the time you'd save by not reaching for your trench knife would be far exceeded by the time you'd waste operating a clumsy, front-heavy revolver.
Also, regular knives allow for a far greater range of stabbing and slashing attacks, while bayonets are mostly limited to thrusting. On a rifle, the reach of a bayonet is a big advantage. On a pistol, not so much.
I see the advantage of having a bayonet on a longer rifle, but does this offer any sizable advantage over just carrying a trench knife?
leaves a hand free for another weapon
Webley akimbo?
polarstarcurly it's clumsy at best, but the benefit is that once ammo runs out, you can just grip the berrel/bayonet handle and use it as a thrusting knife. Can save you in a few critical seconds than reaching for a pocket or strapped weapon. Also leaves a hand free for another weapon.
Still the chances of that were slim. Better off with a rifle bsyonet combo. At least militaries were still training for the use of those in WWI. Portugal even used some martial arts with their rifle bayonets.
It could save a second or two sure. I'm just not sure if that's worth the extra hindrance. Also, what is this second weapon everyone keeps saying you would have in your other hand? Did people dual wield pistols in WWI?
***** anything could be in the second hand. Grenades, second pistol, rifle, could be using it to signal, or have control over your gas mask. Really depends on the circumstances. Though, it was likely very rare.
magnificent concept.
Have you "Webley-Kaufmann" model rewolwer?
id take one with me, why not.
shooty, stabby in one hand, maybe a club or a shovel in the other, in a cramped space you wouldnt feel unarmed.
These are super interesting. Such a strange concept, putting a bayonet on a revolver.
Why is there a hole in the underside of the guard? Just weight-saving measure?
It'd be funny to open carry this.
Wonder if can get one for a Charter Arms revolver?
Did anyone try a similar version that would fit a WW2 .380 Webley? Or was it deemed simply too impractical?
Ian, is there any difference in fitment between different calibers of Webley? Or would they all be capable of accepting a Pritchard bayonet?
Can you reload the pistol with that thing on there?? It looks like it won't let the gun break apart
I assume that it would fit a webley mark 4 with a 6 inch barrel?
It's a cool idea,although I can't help but wonder why they didn't drill out the handle to save weight.
Very "tacticool" design
Anthony Williams watch from about 4:00 the handle is pretty much drilled out already He also shows it pretty well as he rotated it at 5:17
+SgtKOnyx i meant holes straight through,like the pan handle of a trangia stove,just to shave of weight/materials
you mean skeletonize? it wasn't a thing yet.
Why lighten the handle when the bayonet makes the gun nose heavy.. it would be even more unbalanced...
I'm curious, how hot is the barrel after firing six shots as fast as possible? Would it be unbearable and need some rapping on the barrel or have to use gloves?
fair enough but I was mostly thinking in terms of using it on a range or something.
My father and i are collectors and im sad to say he beat me to the punch on getting a webley but i am gonna show him the video and see how long it takes him to find one of these.
Good reproductions are available!
I want many, for every model of pistol , and shotgun and lmg and rifle
The shape of a revolver handle might let you hurl this at the enemy when out of ammo lol.
Would the bayonet interfere at all with breaking the Webley open to reload?
i wonder how well the handle/barrel ergonomics are that looks like a savage club spike combo anyway w/o ammo
I wonder if shoulder stock would make it easier to use bayonet
This idea may not be as silly as it seems. I bet it would actually be a somewhat useful combination in a cramped trench. Also, the handle sounds more like bell bronze than gun metal. Perhaps some more recycling going on?
Could you please do a video about the VSS Vintorez?
or the AS VAL
If he finds em am Sure he will
Is that the same Greener that produced the Greener double barrel shotgun?
Wouldn't the actual use of this bayonet put a lot of stress on the latch that keeps the top break closed?
Very interesting video about a very novel accessory! Just one little quibble, it's the British Army, not the Royal Army.
Just a historic note, The British Army is not referred to as the "Royal" Army, as, unlike the Navy, Air Force, and Marines, the Army is not under the direct authority of the Crown. This was done by Parliament, in the era of Cromwell, to prevent the Crown from using the Army to oppress the "people", IE to become an autocracy. The Army could only be used with the consent of Parliament.
Needless to say, all branches of the British Armed Forces now are more under the authority of Parliament, but the aforementioned is why the British Army is NOT called the Royal Army.
FYI @00:58 Berkshire is pronounced 'Barkshire'
Would this serve as a nice hilt/handle as well? seems like it would when you showed it up close on the Webley
Want! The site says it's between 1K and 2K. How much for the bayonet and the revolver?
Can you open the revolver when the blade is on ?
Reminds me of Andy serkis in Deathwatch!
Excellent video!
Frickin' Cool!
Would be more effective if it was mounted down from the grip to use like normal pistol strike motion.
Hi Ian, fascinating stuff (as usual), really enjoy your videos. Just one small niggle (sorry) - the correct term is the 'British Army' and not the 'Royal Army'. The prefix 'Royal' (although given to The Navy and The Airforce of the UK) is not used for The Army as that prefix is reserved as an Honour awarded to individual regiments. Again, so sorry to be so pedantic and British.
"Pedantic and British" is a little redundant, isn't it?
I can't believe verdun has this and not dice. Damn!
I've seen one in a private collection and that's the only one I've seen in person
Nice equipment.
I'm calling my Crimson in Destiny 2, Pritchard from now on out of respect. Awesome video as always
Pls guide me about webley scott automatic pistal .25 calibre internal hammer
1912 make pocket pistal
It is the British Army. Royal is for the other branches in the UK and various Commonwealth countries.
Is there a particular reason authentic examples produce a clear high note when struck, and replica's don't?
Generally with close combat weapons, a battle-ready blade needs to be very securely fastened to the hilt. Authentic swords, knives and bayonets therefore tend to be so well made that the weapon behaves as one solid object. If such a blade has a metal hilt, it will ring when struck as if it the weapon were one continuous piece of metal.
A fake however is likely to be less well made, and thus the blade and hilt are likely to be poorly merged. This will leave pockets of air or glue or whathaveyou that will make the hilt give a muted "thud" sound rather than a clear ring.
Note that this is not foolproof in either direction; a well-made fake could pass the ringing test, just as an old or damaged sword might come a bit loose in the hilt.
Minor nitpick: The British Army is NOT called the Royal Army, which considering that some units trace themselves back to the regiments of Parliament during the Civil War makes sense. The Navy is Royal the Army is not.
That's fucking awesome!
I think people are forgetting that the designer of this accessory actually saw WWI combat, and was directly involved within it. Thus it's more than likely that he came up with the idea, as a result of those engagements (rather than some sort of pipe dream with no real experience of war).
So in all honesty it's probably more than likely that this actually was a useful weapon in WWI, and almost certainly saw action.
It must make aiming harder, who does it weight?