Enfield Mk II Revolver
Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield · Revolver · Discontinued · 1882
Also known as: Enfield Revolver Mk II, Enfield Model 1881, Pistol Revolver Enfield Mark II
Overview
The Enfield Mk II is a British top-break, double-action service revolver chambered in .476 Enfield, introduced in 1882 as a refinement of the 1880 Mk I. It used the distinctive Owen Jones extraction system, in which opening the action slid the cylinder forward along its axis to strip spent cases against a fixed extractor plate. Adopted as the standard British military sidearm, it was found underpowered in colonial campaigns and was replaced by the Webley Mk I from 1887.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1130 g (39.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 292 mm (11.50") |
| Barrel Length | 146 mm (5.75") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 183 m/s (600 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 288 J (212 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .476 Enfield · primary — also known as .476 Eley, .455/.476
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Revolver Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Notch
- Features: Owen Jones Extraction, Sliding Cylinder, Top Break Frame, External Hammer, Lanyard Ring
Variants
- Enfield Mk I Revolver — Predecessor
Service history
Operators
- British Army · adopted 1882 · as Pistol, Revolver, Enfield (Mark II)
- Royal Navy · adopted 1882
- North-West Mounted Police · adopted 1883
Conflicts
- Mahdist War (1881-1899)
- First Boer War (1880-1881)
Production
Production years: 1882-1889
Produced at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield; superseded as the standard British sidearm by the Webley Mk I from 1887.
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: Owen Jones
Discontinued: 1889
Notes
The Owen Jones extractor was intended to allow selective ejection of spent cases while retaining live rounds, but in practice the mechanism was complex and unpopular. The Mk II was declared obsolete following the adoption of the Webley.
Background
Named for designer Owen Jones, the Enfield's forward-sliding cylinder extraction was clever in theory but cumbersome in the field, and the .476 cartridge proved too weak for the stopping power demanded in Britain's colonial wars, hastening the revolver's replacement by Webley.