Webley and Scott MKI Air Rifle

The Webley and Scott MKI air rifle! The MKI was manufactured between 1925 and 1932. It was available in both .177 and .22 calibres. It was effectively a larger version of the Webley and Scott MKI air pistol using the same, albeit extended, barrel cocking method.

The rear sight is adjustable for elevation whilst the front can be adjusted for windage. The pull length of the trigger is adjustable via a screw on the underside of the action. Rather than use a leather piston seal, the MKI air rifle uses two phosphor bronze split rings. It’s effectively the same principle used on car engine pistons.

When I received this air rifle, the stock was in quite a state. I restored it myself over a number of weeks with CCL stock conditioning oil. However, the rifle had far more serious issues. The piston had been fitted with an o-ring instead of phosphor bronze split rings. Yes, that’s right, a rubber o-ring! Worse still, I found that the safety catch retaining screw had been super-glued in place. In fact, only the head of the screw was present. Close inspection revealed that the thin threaded wall between the safety retaining screw hole and the hole for the safety catch had been broken.

To say I was disappointed was an understatement. I put it away for quite a long time to mull it over. I decided to attempt to repair it. I knew a guy who could weld the hole up and another who could machine it out again. However, we decided to reposition the retaining screw diagonally opposite to the old one just in case the weld didn’t hold during the process. This also meant a new safety catch would be needed along with a new retaining screw. The same chap also made the two new phosphor bronze split rings. Once all the machining work had been done, the rifle was sent away to be reblued.

I think you will agree that the rifle is now in superb condition and it was very much worth the effort to save this piece of airgun history!