doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com KB Serial # prefix on Webley & Scott 700?

A nice Webley & Scott Model 700 (I think) landed here yesterday.

Made in 1967, according to the proof, it has "KB" in front of a 138497 serial number.



I've not seen that before and am wondering if anyone here has any insight into what it might mean.

There's nothing unusual about the gun other than that, it's a typical Model 700; perhaps a nudge on the heavy side at 6.9 lbs.

28" barrels, .009/.017 chokes, 15 1/2" LOP over a nice leather covered pad, 1 3/8" DOC, 2 3/16" DOH

Gunman might have some insight. He was employed there, in that era.

Best,
Ted

Thanks, I sent a message. He hasn't visited since 3/12/26.

That serial number is about right for manufacture in 1967.

I have never seen any prefixes (or suffices) on Webley serial numbers here. However the style of engraving does not look like the usual factory numbers. Perhaps Kenneth Browne had it engraved specially for himself...

HB

On the date, the date code in the proof marks is clearly an SB, which is 1967.



I will compare the engraving to the other Model 700 I have on hand.

I'm not familiar with Kenneth Browne?

I agree with historic bore... after market/replacement engraving. It just doesn't look correct.

K???????? B??????? Potential owners initials/name!

I have handled a lot of 700's and have never seen serial number suffix/prefix.
Just my thoughts. Regards Mr w martin

This is a 1966 M700 I sold a few years back, it was NIB. Hard to tell from the OP pictures, but the engraving does look very similar, if not the same, at least on the fences...

Clarification.
Whilst I am unable to view the images you have posted, I will only add that my opinion was based solely on the KB 138497,on trigger guard tang, unheard of with letter prefix and
having been re engraved and not looking correct. I am not in any way questioning the integrity of the gun.
Regards

Mr. Martin,
I’ll attempt to repost the photos in a server that is not censored in the UK:




Let me know if you can see them now.

Best,
Ted

Thanks Ted, clear photos of a 700 ,obviously similar to the 700 under discussion .However, they don't shine any light on the serial number ,with prefix,engraving on tang. It is my opinion that ,for whatever reason, the number has been re engraved with letter prefix addition. Thanks again for reposting images. Mr w martin

The wear on the tang is consistent with the rest of the gun, and the rest of the engraving on tbe trigger guard and tang is the same as the other model 700 I have on hand...I don’t think it's aftermarket/ replacement.

I accept that the tang may be original, but I would be amazed if the gun left the Webley factory with the KB engraved.I cannot offer any other idea and look forward to the true explanation. Richard Gallyon ( no longer connected with Gallyon Guns)has the records and I've always found him extremely helpful.
I really like Webleys , although I feel they are not the most pleasant guns you shoot.
Regards mr w martin

Asking about the gun in in other places indicates that it's probably a batch number, or possibly a custom order gun with the original buyer's initials.

Possibly, but I have neither seen nor heard of similar (Webley with prefix to serial). Do the other serial numbers on the gun also include prefix? Regards

They do not.

That reinforces my thoughts that the tang serial number has been redone with the addition of initials. The visible parallel guide lines above and below the number are not usually noticeable and as I said previously it just looks a little off.
Nothing untowards or wrong, but I do not think it left Webley with KB stamp.
Hopefully someone will provide the definitive answer.

Regards, mr w martin