The 'Winds of Webley' have changed......to a Hurricane!

Stu.22 said:
Thank’s @elitist
Will see what it’s like once taken apart hopefully just a touch up job will be fine and some blueing on the barrel should be surface
Replacement forend and pin as both missing
There are a few screws that have seen better days that I will replace more cosmetic than anything else
It’s shooting fine so hopefully internally just a good clean/polish 👍

picked up a .177 a couple of years ago that was in better condition just replaced the fore end due to some deep scratches this one shoots great

Might invest in some Walnut Grips the do sett them off

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That's a nice-looking one Stu! I always reface damaged screw slots, so they don't spoil the overall look. A set of Andys (@airgunner.177) grips do finish them off nicely and make them feel a lot better in the hand. I'm a fan....
 
Stu.22 said:
Nice work has came up a treat 👍
got one hear picked up some time ago in .22 that needs a bit work done and a couple of parts replacing
Forend is the only part missing
Barrel is a bit sloppy when it’s open definitely needs looking at

What’s the best paint to use on the frame?

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With the recent weather not being so favourable
Decided to give the .22 Hurricane I purchased off here some tlc and a service

Hasn’t turned out to bad and shooting nicely
Replacement front end turned up today just to finish the job off

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Stu.22 said:
With the recent weather not being so favourable
Decided to give the .22 Hurricane I purchased off here some tlc and a service

Hasn’t turned out to bad and shooting nicely
Replacement front end turned up today just to finish the job off

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Good to hear! Glad to know that it's shooting OK. I gave into temptation and bought this mint, boxed .22 version, a few weeks ago. I actually didn't have a Hurricane in .22, so that was my excuse! It is actually one of the earlier ones, which had amongst other slight differences to the later version, the single word 'Hurricane' and also 'Birmingham' on the fore-end, but like many others, it had split
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, albeit cleanly. Previous owner had replaced it with the later 'Webley Hurricane' type. The original was included with the sale and I intend to bond it at some juncture, just to retain it as an original part.
 
Watchsapart said:
What a lovely job! Well done
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Thank you! Must admit I do like a good restoration job to keep me occupied and my interest going. It's very unusual for me to buy a mint, boxed example, like the Hurricane above. For me, there's no real skill or talent involved in just getting out my wallet and buying something perfect and once the initial excitement of the purchase has dissipated, I'm left feeling a bit empty if I've got no rust or chipped paint to deal with......!
 
elitist said:
Thank you! Must admit I do like a good restoration job to keep me occupied and my interest going. It's very unusual for me to buy a mint, boxed example, like the Hurricane above. For me, there's no real skill or talent involved in just getting out my wallet and buying something perfect and once the initial excitement of the purchase has dissipated, I'm left feeling a bit empty if I've got no rust or chipped paint to deal with......!
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Being the world's worst DIY'er, I'm the complete opposite! ;)

The trouble with buying a truly pristine item is I'm then frightened of over using it, despite my self imposed rule that all collectables I retain must be working and capable of hitting the mark.
 
John M said:
Being the world's worst DIY'er, I'm the complete opposite! ;)

The trouble with buying a truly pristine item is I'm then frightened of over using it, despite my self imposed rule that all collectables I retain must be working and capable of hitting the mark.
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Well, my DIY skills (!) are certainly not universal, as would have been observed by anyone who watched me struggle to install a 'chimney' cooker hood in recent days. The air in the kitchen was heavy with expletives and our poor little dog took refuge Gromit- like in the depths of her igloo bed, until the madman with the misbehaving drill ceased hostilities with the wall!
 
elitist said:
Just over 3 years ago, the very first gun that I ever restored was a rather rusty, early .177 Hurricane. Flushed with the success (!) of this initial foray into renovating old Webley pistols, since that time almost a dozen Tempests have passed through my hands. Like many users, I tended to prefer the ergonomics of the Tempest and so that first Hurricane didn't really get that much use, so about a year ago when someone placed a 'Wanted' ad. for a good .177 example, on the spur of the moment, I decided to sell it. As is often the case, I soon rather regretted it....

A couple of months back on Guntrader, I spotted a .177 Hurricane described as an, "Ugly duckling in need of some TLC," that was realistically priced in relation to its condition and the information that it was currently very low powered. I went ahead and bought it and upon receipt, I had to agree that it wasn't a very handsome example and it also struggled to discharge a pellet from the barrel. I've detailed in a previous thread, how the low power was due to a most unusual and disintegrating form of breech 'seal' and how once that had been rectified, the pistol performed more than adequately. However, attempting to transform this ugly duckling into something more akin to a 'swan,' wasn't going to be as quick and simple a procedure as replacing that seal.

At this stage, I'm no longer that surprised when I see the combined effects of a lack of patience, the wrong tools and general cack-handedness, manifested in various forms on these Webleys. Nonetheless, I still so wish that some people would have treated these pistols with a modicum of respect and common sense when it came to embarking upon some maintenance. This Hurricane was no exception and apart from that 'interesting' breech seal, a previous owner had gone on to attempt the removal of the trigger pins with possibly an old nail and for some reason, attacked the stirrup catch and it's retaining pin quite enthusiastically with another implement of torture. Hmmm....

Prior to this, I've not had cause to try and remove gouges from these particular components, so there followed some lengthy and nifty moves with my set of needle files on these little parts. I'm currently hampered by a rather sore, blistered, 'mystery' rash all over my fingers, which are not at all conducive to either using my hands in an everyday fashion or in particular, working on guns.....so due to this, I've really struggled with this project. With regard to the plastic fore-end/shroud, in most previous cases, I've laboriously polished out any scratches, abrasions etc., but in this instance, my hands just weren't up to the task and I had to be resigned to buying a new one from Knibbs. However, this was the only expenditure on this pistol, as I already had a breech seal 'in stock' as well as the new trigger pins, which I decided to install in the end.

Overall, I'm around 95% happy with the restoration. There is still some slight, visual evidence remaining of the pistol's past journey through its own Webley World of Woe, as my ministrations (and my poorly fingers!) weren't up to completely eradicating every scar, but it aint looking too bad really.

As is my usual modus operandi, after a thorough cleaning, the spring guide was polished, spring ends likewise and the cocking slot smoothed, before everything was re-lubricated and put back together. The mainspring didn't look to be in bad condition at all, so replacement wasn't required at this juncture. However, Steve (@Troy.T. ) swears by the quality and performance of Chambers' springs and I must admit to being tempted to try a couple in the not too distant future. For the present though, the current one cocks relatively easily, shoots smoothly and is producing an average of 450 fps using Excite Econ II pellets, which is more than acceptable.View attachment 632775View attachment 632776View attachment 632781View attachment 632782View attachment 632783View attachment 632784
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Good job, love my own Hurricane.
 
Stu.22 said:
With the recent weather not being so favourable
Decided to give the .22 Hurricane I purchased off here some tlc and a service

Hasn’t turned out to bad and shooting nicely
Replacement front end turned up today just to finish the job off

View attachment 953594

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Click to expand...
Very nice! I've nearly sold my Tempest a few times now then thought better of it, the old Webleys are just so good.
 
elitist said:
Thank you! Must admit I do like a good restoration job to keep me occupied and my interest going. It's very unusual for me to buy a mint, boxed example, like the Hurricane above. For me, there's no real skill or talent involved in just getting out my wallet and buying something perfect and once the initial excitement of the purchase has dissipated, I'm left feeling a bit empty if I've got no rust or chipped paint to deal with......!
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Whilst, "......I do like a good restoration job...." I would qualify "good" and there are some that I would happily give a miss to, especially when they are, with regard to their condition, how can I put it, somewhat optimistically (!!) priced......

Whilst having a quick look at the Webley offerings over on Gu*Tr**er, I came across this very tatty example of a Hurricane, which the seller is hoping to achieve £120 for! Crikey....... I've paid half that for Hurricanes and Tempests in far better condition than this one......but that's just me! This single photo. doesn't do justice (!) to the extent of the pistol's poor condition in relation to the asking price.

So if anyone is desperate for a Hurricane in the Oxfordshire area and is happy to part with £120 for this little gem, go for it. Just please don't ask me if I can make it half-way decent for you.......

**PS......the sheet with the bunny on is quite cute though isn't it?**

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elitist said:
Whilst, "......I do like a good restoration job...." I would qualify "good" and there are some that I would happily give a miss to, especially when they are, with regard to their condition, how can I put it, somewhat optimistically (!!) priced......

Whilst having a quick look at the Webley offerings over on Gu*Tr**er, I came across this very tatty example of a Hurricane, which the seller is hoping to achieve £120 for! Crikey....... I've paid half that for Hurricanes and Tempests in far better condition than this one......but that's just me! This single photo. doesn't do justice (!) to the extent of the pistol's poor condition in relation to the asking price.

So if anyone is desperate for a Hurricane in the Oxfordshire area and is happy to part with £120 for this little gem, go for it. Just please don't ask me if I can make it half-way decent for you.......

**PS......the sheet with the bunny on is quite cute though isn't it?**

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Nice little dig 😂 and to be fair in far better condition than some of the scrap you have bought and polished :)
But it seems there are quite a few people desperate enough to want a Hurricane as I had 10+ enquiries and sold to the first person that came to view :)
Just aswell really as need to top up my wallet to buy the next mint examples that come up.

PS it was Easter when I took the picture hence the bunny 👍
 
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