The Six-Barreled Colt-Webly Semi-Autmoatic Shotgun

Sam admiring the fine workmanship of the six-barreled automatic shotgun
Sam admiring the fine workmanship of the six-barreled semi-automatic shotgun

From a previous post, you know that I’ve been working on some props for an upcoming GASLIGHT photo shoot.  One of the props I’ve been working on is this six-barreled, Colt-Webly shotgun.

The six-barreled shotgun is difficult for aimed fire, but it makes a swell area effect weapon!
The six-barreled shotgun is difficult for aimed fire, but it makes a swell area effect weapon!

The high mounting of the ammunition magazine makes it difficult to aim.  The weapon is designed to be fire by a heavy man to repel boarders or discourage large groups of unfriendlies.

Closer look at the left side of the receiver.
Closer look at the left side of the receiver.

This is a closer a closer look at the left side of the receiver mechanism.  Note the double trigger.  The front trigger is for semi-automatic fire.  The rear trigger is used to three-round bursts.

Right side of receiver
Right side of receiver

This is a view of the right side of the receiver.  Note the copper dial near the near brass strap.  This is used to adjust the amount of gas vented after each round.  When set properly, a round will fire every time the front trigger is pulled.  If not adjusted properly, the receiver won’t cycle properly.  Sometimes this can cause rounds to mis-feed.  In extreme circumstances, particularly when firing a three-round burst, it can cause the receiver to explode.  This has been known the ruin the day of the operator and make him quite surly.  This is another reason the weapon is most often employed from the hip.