Rare Diminutive Webley Woodward 1863 Patent Pistol

In his seminal work “The Webley Story” Dowell explains that these diminutive derringers were made under license from the Woodward patent which was granted on February 3rd 1863. He also states that they were made in very small quantities judging from the numbers he had seen. From my point of view this is only the second I have had in my possession and from my research I suspect there are less than 20 extant. An example is illustrated in Plate 26(b) on page 118 of the Webley Story.
This is a tiny pistol with barrels measuring only 2” long as it was designed to be kept in a vest or pocket. It has a sliding safety which holds the hammer at half cock to prevent accidental discharge if dropped which was pretty essential as the mercury primers of the early rimfires were pretty volatile. The calibre is .28” or 7 mm.
You seldom see these and when you do they are not in great condition. I would rate this one at around 75%, grey to brown toning on the barrels, mechanically sound with reasonable walnut grips and most of the silver plating extant with the exception of some loss on the grip behind the trigger. Mechanically it is sound with a strong action and the side plate states “Woodward’s Patent 3rd February 1863 No 542 which is the serial number of the gun.
This number is also stamped on the bottom of the butt and the barrels. The number 542 does not indicate 542 were made as manufacturers of the time would boost the number to indicate they had made more than the actually had or it could relate to a month, day, number code.
The pistol was loaded by placing the hammer at half cock and twisting the barrels anticlockwise. Cartridge extraction is manual.
This is an attractive, interesting and rare little pistol and it is contained in a contemporary box. A must for Webley collectors.

Code: 50664