Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original Victorian era British double action centerfire revolver retailed or marked by Parker, Field & Sons of 233 High Holborn, London, and closely following the early Webley RIC No. 1 pattern. Serial numbered 10921, it has a 4" barrel, fully checkered wood grip, Birmingham proof marks, right side loading gate, and a bore measuring approximately .439", consistent with a .44 caliber centerfire cartridge. The exact cartridge designation is not marked and remains uncertain.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The revolver is very similar in overall form to the early Webley RIC No. 1, one of the important British solid frame double action centerfire revolver designs of the late 19th century. This example is not marked Webley, however, and should be described as an RIC style revolver rather than attributed directly to Webley manufacture.

The top strap is engraved:

PARKER FIELD & SONS,
233 HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON

This is a company with a long history of gunmaking, lasting almost 100 years. The business started with John Field, who had been a goldsmith, sword cutler, and gun maker at 233 High Holborn from 1783 to 1791. He traded under his name and also as Field & Co. and Field & Clarke. When John died in 1791, William Parker went into partnership with his widow, and they traded as Field & Parker. In about 1814, William's daughter, Mary, married John Field Junior.

William became gun maker to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn (the future Queen Victoria's father), then to King William IV.
When William died in 1841, John Field Junior and his sons John William Parker Field and William Shakespeare Field started trading as Parker, Field & Sons.

In 1850 John Field Junior died, and his sons took over the business. JWP Field was an accomplished rifle shooter; he was Instructor to the Honorable Artillery Company from 1866 to 1879 and Captain of the English Twenty shooting team. At some point, Parker, Field & Sons received the greatest accolade, becoming gunmaker to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, a recognition the firm made good use of in their case labels and advertisements.

William Shakespeare Field died in 1875, and from 1877-1883 the company relocated to 59 Lehman Street. John William Parker Field continued running the firm as Field & Sons until he died in 1879. The firm ceased business in 1886 after just over 100 years in the trade.

The front of the cylinder base pin is marked with serial number:

10921

The rear of the cylinder is additionally marked:

54

which appears to be an assembly or component number rather than the primary serial number.

The left side of the barrel is marked with the CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / BPC "black powder proof" and CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / V "viewed" marks from the city of Birmingham. There are additional "viewed" marks on the cylinder, one next to each cap nipple cone. This city was well known for its firearms industry, which supplied many guns to smaller gun shops and outfitters.

Additional Birmingham view marks are present around the cylinder adjacent to the individual chambers.

No caliber marking could be located. The bore measures approximately .439", while the chamber mouths measure approximately .447", consistent with a .44 caliber centerfire cartridge. The cylinder is approximately 1 3/16", or 30mm, long, which limits the range of possible cartridges. Because no cartridge designation is stamped on the revolver, the exact chambering is unidentified beyond approximately .44 centerfire.

The revolver measures approximately:

9" overall
4" barrel
Approximately .439" bore
Approximately .447" chamber mouths
1 3/16" cylinder length

A hinged loading gate on the right side provides access to the chambers. There is no ejector rod present, nor is there obvious evidence that one was ever fitted.

The fully checkered wooden grip remains in very good condition with strong pattern definition and no major cracks, chips, or repairs. Small oval silver colored escutcheons are inset near the lower portion of the grip on both sides.

The lanyard ring mounting boss remains present at the base of the grip, although the ring itself is missing.

The original finish has largely faded to an even worn gray brown oxidized patina. Scattered peppering is present, particularly along the underside of the barrel, but there is no major deep pitting or severe powder erosion noted.

The revolver currently operates in both single and double action without obvious interruption. Cylinder indexing functions, though there is a small amount of looseness in the lockup. The revolver can also be disassembled in its normal manner for cleaning. These observations describe only its present mechanical condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that it is safe to load or fire.

The bore is in very good condition with a mostly bright appearance and crisp lands and grooves. It shows relatively little visible use, with only scattered spots of oxidation attributable to past moisture exposure.

Overall condition is very good for a Victorian centerfire revolver of this period. The Parker, Field & Sons address remains legible, the Birmingham proofs are present, the grip is particularly well preserved, and the bore remains strong. The principal condition points are the faded original finish, scattered peppering and oxidation, slight cylinder lockup play, missing lanyard ring, and uncertainty regarding the exact .44 caliber cartridge.

With its Parker, Field & Sons 233 High Holborn marking, Webley RIC No. 1 style configuration, serial number 10921, Birmingham proofs, double action mechanism, checkered grip, and very good bore, this is an appealing example of a British Victorian centerfire service style revolver. It would fit especially well in a Parker, Field & Sons, British RIC pattern, Victorian police and military sidearm, or 19th century British firearms collection.

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: circa 1870
Maker: Parker, Field & Sons
Serial No.: 10921
Caliber: .44
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Overall Length: 9 inches
Barrel Length: 4 inches
Action: External Hammer Double/Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

More on the Webley Royal Irish Constabulary Revolvers:
British gunmaker Philip Webley and Son of Birmingham produced their first cap lock revolvers, known as Webley Longspurs, in 1853 with limited success, due to the popularity of the already established Adams revolvers. Taking lead in the new centerfire metal cartridge technology, they produced their first breechloading, centerfire cartridge revolvers in 1867. They immediately became popular with British Army officers, who at the time were expected to purchase their own personal weapons (swords and pistols) on their own expense, as very robust, compact and reliable weapons. They were the first popular Webley product that made the firm famous. Due to their quality, they remained in production for more than 30 years.

In 1868, the Royal Irish Constabulary was formed as a paramilitary force armed with carbines and revolvers. As the Webley revolver was adopted as their first service weapon, that specific model was known after that as the Royal Irish Constabulary revolver. This was then used as the basis for later Webley designed revolvers. This continued after 1897, when Webley merged with W.&C. Scott & Son and Richard Ellis & Son to become the firm of Webley & Scott. This amalgamated firm continued to produce various "Webley" style revolvers in different configurations well into the second world war.

Webley R.I.C. revolver No 1
Designed in 1867 for .442 centerfire cartridge, it was one of the earliest British breechloading revolvers. Solid frame revolver, with a round barrel screwed into the frame, and a one piece wooden grip held by two vertical screws. The foresight is slotted in, mostly semi-round, while the backsight is a long, V-shaped groove on the top strap above the cylinder. It has a loading gate hinged at the bottom that opens sideways, held by a flat spring. The six cambered cylinder is plain in the early models, while in later ones it was fluted to achieve a small reduction in weight. The ejector rod is mounted on a yoke (swivel) under the barrel and mostly housed in the hollow cylinder arbor, so it can be pulled out and swung to the right when needed. When the ejector rod is drawn out, the cylinder may be removed after drawing the arbor forward. The revolver has a double-action lock, with a half-cock position for loading.

These revolvers were made in a variety of calibers, but no less than .410 in (10.4 mm). They were widely used all over the British Empire, and copied in various European countries. In 1872, a pocket model (.442 in) with a 2.5 in barrel was produced, which was the precursor of the famous British Bulldog revolvers.

Webley R.I.C. revolver No 2
Produced from 1872, slightly smaller (8.25 in length, 3.5 in barrel) and lighter (0.76 kg) model, with the same overall characteristics. They were made in a variety of calibers, from .320 and .380 to .450. Service revolvers were six-shot, but smaller commercial 5-shot variants were also very popular.

Service history
These revolvers were massively used by British officers and horsemen in the Anglo-Zulu War (1879). Practical use in combat showed that they were mostly effective on the distance of less than 25 yards.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to most US States and most U.S. territories.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to most addresses within the United States.