Enfield Revolver No. 2 Mk I
Royal Small Arms Factory · Pistol · Out Of Production · 1932
Also known as: Pistol No. 2 Mk I, Enfield .38, .38/200 Service Revolver
Overview
The Enfield Revolver No. 2 Mk I is a top-break, six-shot, double-action service revolver chambered for the .38/200 (.38 S&W) cartridge. Adopted by the British Army in 1932 to replace the older Webley Mk VI in .455, it was designed at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock as a lighter, smaller-caliber alternative more easily handled by less-trained conscript soldiers. It served as a standard British and Commonwealth sidearm throughout WWII and into the early Cold War.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 766 g (27.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 260 mm (10.24") |
| Barrel Length | 127 mm (5.00") |
| Action Type | Recoil Operated |
| Firing Mechanism | Double Action Single Action |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 189 m/s (620 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 232 J (171 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 14 m (15 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 50 m (55 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 25 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 432 mm (17.01") |
| Number of Grooves | 7 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .38 S&W · primary — also known as .38/200, .380 Revolver Mk I, .380 Revolver Mk IIz, 9x20mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Top Break Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Rebounding Hammer, Transfer Bar
- Features: Top Break Action, Automatic Extraction, Fixed Sights, Lanyard Ring
Variants
- Enfield No. 2 Mk I* — Spurless Double Action Only
- Enfield No. 2 Mk I** — Wartime Simplified
Service history
Operators
- British Armed Forces · adopted 1932 · as Pistol, Revolver, No. 2 Mk I
- Australian Defence Force
- Canadian Armed Forces
- Royal Hong Kong Police
- Various Commonwealth forces
Conflicts
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
- Malayan Emergency (1948-1960)
- Mau Mau Uprising (1952-1960)
Production
Estimated total produced: 380,000 · Production years: 1932-1957
Approximately 55,000 Mk I (with hammer spur) and roughly 270,000 Mk I* / Mk I** combined produced before the end of WWII; total production of all marks reached around 380,000 units.
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: Captain Boys / Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield team (modified from Webley & Scott design)
Discontinued: 1957
Notes
The Mk I* (introduced 1938) removed the hammer spur to make the revolver double-action-only, ostensibly for tank crews who feared snagging - though some historians argue the change was driven by a fatal accident with the original design. The Mk I** was a further-simplified wartime production variant with a number of safety features removed; many were later upgraded to Mk I* standard.
Background
Britain's switch from the hard-hitting .455 Webley to the .38/200 was based on a 1920s study claiming that a 200-grain .38 lead bullet had nearly the same incapacitating effect as the heavier round but was easier to shoot accurately under stress - a conclusion that proved deeply unpopular with soldiers, who often considered the Enfield No. 2 underpowered for the brutal close combat of WWII.