India Designs Webley Derived Titanium Revolver For Women

Gun Watch ^ | 21 January, 2014 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

The Nirbheek is a six shot .32 that weighs only 500 grams (18 ounces).   The frame is made of titanium, though it is not clear if the barrel or other parts are made of steel.  The design derivations from Webley are clear.  As seen in some Webley civilian versions, it appears to have a square push cross bolt safety located just above the grips.

Here is the anouncement from the Field Gun Factory, Kanpar, where the gun is produced by the Indian government.  It is proclaimed as the "Indian Ordinance Factories valuable contribution to women's security". 

 A top break stirrup latched design, it should be more than strong enough for short .32 revolver cartridges, which are some of the lowest pressure centerfire cartridges available.   It appears to have a 3 inch barrel.  American ballistics on the .32 Smith and Wesson show an 85 grain bullet at about 700 fps.  I have not located ballistic information for Indian loads.  The .32 short Colt was popular in Europe where it was known as a .320 revolver.   Indian cartridges might be based on that design, which has similar ballistics, an 80 grain bullet at 770 fps, as listed in one of my old Cartridges of the World references.

Power is a step up from a .22 Long Rifle out of similar barrel lengths, and the centerfire ignition system is more reliable.

From phatkallys.com:

Senior IPS officer Arun Kumar, on the other hand, has a different point of view. “Once a target of rape whips out a handgun, the element of surprise is sure to scare the life out of most of the persons who attempt rape,” he said. “In most of criminal cases in India, the perpetrator, irrespective of whether armed or not, neither expects nor faces any stiff resistance from the target. Women carrying small handguns will surely make a difference to the tendency,” said Kumar, additional director general of police (ADG) heading Rules and Manuals wing of the UP Police.

 The revolver is quite pricey, at Rs 1,22,360, nearly $2,000 dollars.   It does not appear to be a mass produced item, as the factory manager seemed quite pleased to have 80 "formal inquires and over 20 bookings".   The revolver may come to be one of the rarest of production revolvers.

This appears to be part of the increasing Indian awakening interest in the right to bear arms for self defense.   Recent years have seen an increased awareness of the usefulness of arms.   Many Indian cultures have a long history of martial prowess.  

It would certainly be an attraction to any revolver collection in the United States.

©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
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[marktwain]

A .32 short top break revolver made of titanium. Specifically for women. This is a breakthrough design, and not because of the metal used. When a government run factory produces a revolver specificallly designed for women's defense, they have acknowledged the utility of guns for self defense. From there, the second amendment naturally follows. It may take decades, but India is clearly on the path toward recognizing the right to be armed. Almost none of Europe is at this point yet. Maybe the Czech republic.

All of gun control is based on the presumption that guns are not useful for self defense.

[Farmer Dean]

What,2000 bucks for that thing??I could buy 2 HK USP or 3 Beretta 92 for that kind of money.

[driftdiver]

Important step for India.

My keltec .32 weighs 7oz unloaded and holds 7 rounds.

[Oldexpat]

It won’t help aging hippie tourists much.

[Antihero101607]

Neat.

[Kenny Bunk]

Ah the power of FReep!

I recommended that the Lady Rosco have a lanyard attachment, and lo, those worthy oriental gentlemen ordnance engineers have delivered! Splendid chaps.

I shall pray they didn't take any talent off the Vincent Black Shadow re-creation effort.

[Vaquero]

Jay with his original Vincent

[Obadiah]

What? A .32? Well, I guess it is better than shooting a spitball at a target...

[smokingfrog]

Under-powered and over-priced. Typical government idiocy.

[jdsteel]

FReepers, don't miss the two most important words in the article: India & women. India has a BIG problem with violence against women and rape. It is NOT a place where a woman can travel alone safely. This seems to me to be targeted at (higher caste) wealthy, somewhat independent Indian women. It would be protection as well as a status symbol among friends. They will probably have no problem getting domestic orders for these.

[from occupied ga]

All of gun control is based on the presumption that guns are not useful for self defense.

I hate to take the cynical view, but I disagree. All gun control is based on the presumption that guns ARE useful for self defense and might be used against the main criminal enterprise in any region, the government*

*Who takes a regular shakedown of your earnings? When the mob does it it's called "a protection racket" when the government does it it's called "taxes."

[PapaBear3625]

What,2000 bucks for that thing??I could buy 2 HK USP or 3 Beretta 92 for that kind of money.

But not in India, if India bars importation of handguns.

[G Larry]

Oh good.....a SAFETY....on a REVOLVER....!?!?!?

[PLMerite]

If you really, absolutely have to stop someone, nothing has "halt!" like the original .455 Webley.

[killermosquito]

can you explain the hook and strap? I guess I assume that if you are riding on a horse and the gun falls out of the holster it isn’t lost. Is that correct?

[AnAmericanMother]

Actually, the .455 is a sweet shooter and has negligible recoil. But that's mostly because the revolver empty must weigh about 2 pounds . . . if you run out of ammo, you can beat your assailant with it pretty effectively. Not a good carry piece for delicate Indian ladies (where DO you carry in a sari? Bra holster?)

I have an unaltered original (a lot of these were modified to accept .45 ACP in half moon clips). Getting the .455 ammo is a real pain, but a couple of outfits here are turning down .45 Long Colt on a lathe to get new brass. Probably 1 out of 10 or 20 won't fit right, but once you cull through them you have a good start with fresh brass.

The bonus is that reloaded with Unique powder the cartridge spits huge gouts of green fire out of the muzzle and sideways out of the forcing cone. Guaranteed to have everybody on the line stop firing and ask "What the &^%^*%$%^ was THAT?!?!?"

[AnAmericanMother]

I absolutely agree. This is a good start.

We are a bit spoiled here, with all the many choices available for every possible preference. Not everybody HAS a Second Amendment.

[AnAmericanMother]

Lanyard around your neck and pistol in the waist holster. It is to avoid dropping the thing and losing it. The Brits traditionally have been VERY sticky about losing any materiel, particularly firearms. Bill Mauldin commented on it in "Up Front" - where the Tommy is saying to Joe, "You blokes leave a messy battlefield!"

You might get a neck injury though if you dropped it.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

What? A .32? Well, I guess it is better than shooting a spitball at a target...

I guess you wouldn't mind getting shot in the face with one, right? ;^)

[mountn man]

44 magnum
28.3 oz
$590