Webley & Scott to launch 'Made in India' revolvers
The home-grown revolver of Webley & Scott, the renowned British firearms company, is being manufactured in Hardoi town of Uttar Pradesh under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make in India initiative. "The firearm is likely to be launched by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath next month, following which it will reach the market," Sial Manufacturers' Director Surendra Pal Singh said on Thursday.
Launch expected to be scheduled for next month
Singh stressed that time had not yet been allotted by the Chief Minister's office for the launch and efforts were being made to schedule it next month. Meanwhile, one revolver each has been placed in the gun house of the Sial group in Lucknow and Kanpur in view of people's curiosity to see it. However, the displayed ones are not for sale.
Sandila unit the first of Webley & Scott in India
Webley & Scott had entered into an understanding with Lucknow-based Sial Manufacturers to manufacture firearms. According to Singh, the unit in Sandila, around 55 km west of Lucknow, is the first of Webley & Scott in the country.
Revolvers will be sold through gun houses
The Ordnance Factory in Kanpur has checked the revolver and preparations are on for setting up a firing range in the Sandila unit for the next testing. Singh said, "An understanding has been reached with 15 gun houses in different states of the country till now for selling the revolver. The company will not sell directly but through gun houses."
Webley & Scott received licence to manufacture ammunition in 2019
"Revolvers, pistols, airguns will be made in Sandila unit. Keeping in mind the vast market potential, the decision to set up this unit was taken," Singh had earlier said. "We had applied for the licence in 2017 and received it in March 2019," he added.
Company plans to manufacture goods for defense and paramilitary forces
Sial holds a stake of 51 percent while the British firm 49 percent in the unit that has been completed in a year's time. The company will also make goods for the defense and paramilitary forces later. Since there is a demand for revolvers, the unit will be manufacturing them initially and it will cost Rs. 1.55 lakh. Other products will be brought later.
Webley & Scott supplied arms to British Empire's military
Webley & Scott is an arms manufacturer founded in Birmingham, England. Webley produced handguns and long guns from 1834-1979 when the company ceased to manufacture firearms. In 2010, Webley & Scott restarted the production of shotguns for commercial sale. It is famous for the revolvers and automatic pistols it supplied to the British Empire's military from 1887 through both the World Wars.
