This revolver is listed by serial number on page 61 of "Webley & Scott Automatic Pistols" by Gordon Bruce as one of twelve Webley-Fosbery revolvers ordered by Chief Constable Major George G. Tarry in 1911 through the Army & Navy C.S.L. for the Leeds City Police. Its serial number range is listed on page 60 as allocated on November 3, 1903. The included appraisal for this revolver indicates less than 100 of the .38 caliber Webley-Fosbery revolvers are believed to survive, and included correspondence indicates this revolver was the first sent to Leeds on June 1 while the remaining 11 were sent on the 30th suggesting they tested this revolver before accepting the rest. The correspondence also indicates the Leeds City Police revolvers were subsequently returned to the factory and then sold after WWI, primarily in the export market, and some were modified from their original configuration by the factory at that time making those in original configuration especially rare. The cylinder on this revolver is not cut for use with clips and may have been replaced by the factory after WWI as noted in the documents, but it is numbered to the gun and could also be original. These revolvers are already very scarce as only around 4,750 Webley-Fosbery revolvers split between .455 and .38 caliber variations are believed to have been manufactured in 1900-1924. The .38 caliber model was far less popular; only an estimated 267 or less were manufactured (see page 60 of "Webley & Scott Automatic Pistols"). These revolvers were designed by Lieutenant Colonel George Vincent Fosbery and "self-cock" upon firing. The recoil causes the barrel and upper frame assembly to slide backwards and at the same time the cylinder is turned using the distinctive zig-zag guides. Cocking the hammer alone does not revolve the cylinder. The whole upper assembly must be pulled backwards like the slide on a semi-automatic pistol. It can even be carried "cocked and locked" using the safety switch on the left side. The design allowed for fast and accurate shooting. Noted marksman Walter Winans used an early example in 1902 and fired six shots in two-inch bullseye at 12 paces in just seven seconds and twelve shots into a three-inch bull's-eye in approximately 15 seconds which included time to reload using a speed loader. This one has a blade front sight, "WEBLEY & SCOTT LTD BIRMINGHAM & LONDON" on top of the rib, notch on the latch for a rear sight, "WEBLEY FOSBERY" on the left side of the top strap, the bullet trademark and "38 AUTOMATIC" on the left side of the lower frame, "1349" on the right side of the lower frame and on the right holster guide, Birmingham proofs, "49" on the back of the cylinder, "SAFE" marking on the top of the left grip panel, and lanyard ring on the butt. Additional matching serial numbers are found under the grips on the various action components and the left side of the butt at the heel. With two speed loaders.

Excellent with 90% plus high polish blue finish, the top section of the front sight blade rubbed back to bright for better visibility, mild cylinder rotation wear, some light scratches, and minor fading on the grip straps. The grips are also excellent and have crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. This is an incredible, high condition example of one of the rarest Webley variations made all the more desirable by it documented original issue to the Leeds City Police.