Enfield No. 2 Mk I* Revolver
Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield · Revolver · Discontinued · 1938
Also known as: .38/200 Revolver, Enfield No. 2 Mk I Star
Overview
The Enfield No. 2 Mk I* is the spurless, double-action-only variant of Britain's standard .38/200 service revolver, introduced in June 1938. The hammer spur was removed at the request of the Royal Tank Corps, whose crews found the original Mk I's exposed hammer snagging inside the confines of a tank, leaving a smooth, snag-free DAO action that could only be fired by pulling the trigger through. It served the British Army and Commonwealth forces throughout the Second World War and into the post-war years, chambered for the .38/200 (.38 S&W) cartridge.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 765 g (27.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 260 mm (10.24") |
| Barrel Length | 127 mm (5.00") |
| Action Type | Lever Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Double Action Only |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Trigger Pull | 53 N (11.9 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 189 m/s (620 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 232 J (171 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 18 m (20 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 7 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Bakelite |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .38 S&W · primary — also known as .38/200, .380 Revolver Mk I, .38 Smith & Wesson
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Top Break Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Double Action Only Trigger
- Features: Top Break Action, Spurless Hammer, Automatic Extractor, Six Round Cylinder, Fixed Sights
Variants
- Enfield No. 2 Mk I** — Wartime Simplified
Base model
Service history
Operators
- British Army · adopted 1938 · as Pistol, Revolver, No. 2 Mk I*
- Royal Tank Corps · adopted 1938
- Commonwealth forces
Conflicts
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
- Malayan Emergency (1948-1960)
Production
Production years: 1938-1957
Many Mk I revolvers were converted to Mk I* DAO configuration during the war
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Discontinued: 1957
Notes
Distinct from the base Enfield No. 2 Mk I (single-action/double-action with a hammer spur). The Mk I* DAO conversion gave a heavier 11-13 lb trigger pull. A further-simplified wartime Mk I** dropped the hammer safety stop.
Background
The hammer spur was deleted after tank crews complained the original No. 2's spur kept catching on equipment in the cramped interior of a tank, turning Britain's service revolver into a double-action-only weapon by accident of armoured warfare.