INFO ONLY NOT FOR SALE P17-10
Enfield No2 MK1** .38 Revolver Mfr by Albion
Date Acquired:
Caliber: .38
Purchase Price:
Finish: Blued
Bore Condition: VG-EXC
Barrel Length: 5”
Stock Condition: G-VG some mars
Type: Revolver
Metal Condition: EXCELLENT
Serial #: C25XX
Markings: Top of barrel CAL-38, Right side above grips Albion No2 Mk1** 1943
Accessories: Unissued holster and lanyard
Other Information: Very Nice overall VG-EXC
The first models of the revolver, the Mark I and Mark II, were official British military sidearms from 1880 through 1887. However the original cartridge was considered underpowered during the Afghan Wars and loading the gun was complicated. It was superseded by the Webley Mark I revolver.
The Mark II Enfield was adopted by Canada's NorthWest Mounted Police in 1883 and remained in service as their official sidearm until the Colt New Service revolver was adopted in 1905. About 1100 Enfield revolvers were delivered to the NWMP.
After the First World War, it was decided that a .38 calibre (9.65 mm) pistol firing a 200 grain (13 g) bullet would be as effective as the .455 calibre (11.6 mm) round.
The British firm of Webley & Scott tendered their Webley Mk IV in .38/200 calibre. Rather than adopting it, the British authorities took the design to the Government-run Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield. The Enfield factory came up with a revolver that was very similar Webley Mk IV .38, but internally slightly different designed by Captain Boys (the Assistant Superintendent of Design). Webley sued for some £2250. Their action was contested by Enfield and the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors awarded W&S half their claimed amount.
This pistol was designated as the Enfield No. 2 Mark 1 revolver and adopted for use from 1932.
During the Second World War, large numbers were handled to the FFL and FFI; the weapon is known as "Enfield Commando" in France.
Variants
Mk 1*
spurless hammer,
double action only
Mk 1**
Simplified for wartime production in 1942.
The vast majority of Enfield No 2 Mk I revolvers were modified to Mk I* during WWII. The Enfield (and Webley revolvers) were not completely phased out in favour of the Browning Hi-Power until 1963.
The "Official" reason for the change to the Mk I* version was that the Tank Corps had complained the spur on the hammer was catching on things inside tanks, but most historians and collectors nowadays agree that the real reason was that the Mk I* version was cheaper and faster to manufacture.
The No 2 Mk I* is, in theory, at least as accurate as any automatic pistol of it’s time in short-range combat situations, and because of the relatively light double action trigger pull. It is, however, almost useless for precision shooting- the double action pull will still throw even a competent shooter's aim off enough to noticeably affect accuracy.
The Enfield No 2 is also very fast to reload, as are all British top-break revolvers, because of its automatic ejector, which removes simultaneously all six cases from the cylinder. A modern speedloader designed for Smith & Wesson "K" Frame revolvers will function with any of the British .38/200 top-break revolvers, further speeding up the reloading process.
Some unit Armourers are known to have retro-fitted the Enfield No 2 Mk I* back to the Mk I variant, but this was never an official policy and appears to have been done on an individual basis.
Other Manufacturers
The vast majority of Enfield No 2. Revolvers were made by RSAF (Royal Small Arms Factory) Enfield, but wartime necessities meant that numbers were produced elsewhere.
Albion Motors- Albion Motors in Scotland made the Enfield No 2 Mk I* from 1941-1943, whereupon the contract for production was passed onto Coventry Gauge & Tool Co. By 1945, over 42,000 Enfield No 2 Mk I* revolvers had been produced by Albion/CG&T.
The quality and workmanship on the Albion and CG&T guns is identical to that of RSAF Enfield, and the revolvers are all sturdy, reliable, and effective.
HAC- The Howard Auto Cultivator Company in NSW, Australia tooled up and began manufacturing the Enfield No 2 Mk I* and I** revolvers in 1941, but the production run was very limited (estimated at around 350 or so revolvers all up), and the revolvers produced were criticised for being non-interchangeable, even with other HAC produced revolvers.
It is thought that most of the HAC revolvers have either been crushed in the various Australian Gun Amnesties and "Buy-Backs", or else are still stored in people's attics and basements in Australia.
