05-Aug-2026
Some airguns earn their place in history through performance, others through sheer character. The Webley Tempest manages both. This compact, all-metal spring pistol, the last in a line of Webley overlever pistols stretching back to the 1920s, remains one of the most searched-for used air pistols in Britain, and clean examples are snapped up quickly whenever they come to market. If you have been hunting for a Webley Tempest for sale, or simply wondering whether this pocket-sized piece of Birmingham gunmaking deserves a place in your cabinet, here is everything you need to know.
A direct descendant of the 1924 original
The Tempest’s story really begins with the Webley Mark I of 1924, the pistol that established the famous overlever, barrel-cocking layout: the barrel sits above the air cylinder and hinges up and back to compress the spring. That basic architecture ran through the Senior, the Premier and the Hurricane before arriving at the Tempest in 1979, a slightly smaller, handier companion to the Hurricane aimed at plinkers and garden target shooters.
Production continued in Birmingham until Webley’s UK operations closed in 2005, after which the Tempest was built abroad to the original pattern. That history matters to buyers: Birmingham-made pistols carry a premium with collectors, and the stamps and markings tell you where and roughly when a given example was made.
How it shoots
Let’s be honest about what the Tempest is and is not. It is a short-barrelled spring pistol producing modest power, entirely appropriate for its purpose of informal target shooting and plinking at sensible ranges. The firing cycle has the characteristic snap of a small springer, and the fixed sights are basic but effective. Ten metres is its happy place; soda cans and knock-down targets at garden distances are its natural prey.
What makes it satisfying is the engineering. The all-metal construction gives it a heft and solidity no modern polymer pistol can match, the overlever cocking action is a pleasure to operate, and the whole pistol fits in a coat pocket. It is the airgun equivalent of a classic British sports car: not the fastest thing on the road, but the one you reach for when you want to enjoy the drive.
Tempest, Hurricane or something else?
The Hurricane is the Tempest’s bigger brother, slightly longer, a touch more powerful, with adjustable sights and scope-rail provision. If you want the more capable target pistol, seek out a Hurricane; if you want the purer, more compact classic, the Tempest is the one. Earlier Webley pistols such as the Senior and Premier are increasingly collector territory, with values to match originality and condition.
Beyond Webley, the used air pistol market offers everything from recoilless match pistols to CO2 replicas. Buyers wanting modern precision often look at pre-charged pistols like the Weihrauch HW44, a different animal entirely, at a very different price. Browse the full range of air pistols and air guns for sale on Rightgun.uk to compare what your budget buys, including the Webley & Scott listings where Tempests most often appear.
What to check when buying a used Tempest
The Tempest is robust, but age catches up with every springer. Check these before you buy:
Mainspring and seals. A tired spring or hardened breech seal saps what power the pistol has. Ask when it was last serviced; replacement springs and seals are readily available and a refresh is inexpensive work for an airgun smith.
Lock-up. The barrel should latch positively with no side-to-side play at the pivot. A loose pivot screw is easily tightened; a worn latch less so.
Finish and markings. Original blueing in good order lifts value considerably. Birmingham-marked pistols (“Made in England”) are the collector’s pick. Boxes, papers and original grips all add appeal.
Grips. The moulded grips crack if the pistol has been dropped. Originals in clean condition matter for value; aftermarket replacements exist but purists prefer factory items.
Our general guide to buying a second-hand air rifle covers the same inspection logic in more depth, almost all of it applies equally to pistols.
What is a Webley Tempest worth?
Values depend on where it was made, condition and completeness. Later imported examples in working order sit at the affordable end of the market; clean Birmingham-made pistols with box and papers command noticeably more, and near-mint early examples are becoming genuine collectables. As ever, the sensible approach is to compare several current listings before you commit, the spread between a scruffy shooter and a boxed beauty is wide, and the market moves. Checking live Webley listings on Rightgun.uk gives you today’s picture rather than last year’s folklore.
The law, briefly
Standard air pistols like the Tempest are limited to 6 ft·lb of muzzle energy in the UK and may be owned without a licence in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by those aged 18 and over (Scotland requires an air weapon certificate). The usual rules on safe storage away from minors and sensible use on private land with permission apply. Our UK air rifle laws and licensing explainer covers the wider legal picture for airgun owners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Webley Tempest still made? Webley’s Birmingham factory closed in 2005, but the Tempest continued in production overseas to the original design. Used examples of both eras circulate freely on the UK market.
Is a Tempest good for target shooting? For informal garden and club plinking at ten metres or so, it is ideal and enormous fun. For serious 10m match shooting you would want a dedicated match pistol, but that misses the point of the Tempest’s charm.
What pellets does it take? Tempests were made in .177 and .22. Lighter flat-head pellets suit target work in .177; .22 examples favour general plinking. Try a few brands, individual barrels have preferences.
Do I need a licence for a Webley Tempest? No licence is needed in England, Wales or Northern Ireland for this sub-6 ft·lb pistol if you are 18 or over. In Scotland an air weapon certificate is required.
Find a Webley Tempest on Rightgun.uk
Classic British air pistols rarely hang around when they are priced fairly. Keep an eye on the Webley & Scott air gun listings and the wider air gun marketplace on Rightgun.uk, and if you have a Tempest, Hurricane or older Webley pistol you no longer shoot, listing it on Rightgun.uk takes minutes and puts it in front of the collectors and shooters actively searching for exactly what you own.
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