Enfield No. 2 Mk I
Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield · Revolver · Discontinued · 1932
Also known as: Enfield No. 2, Pistol, Revolver, No. 2 Mk I, Enfield .38, .38 Enfield
Overview
The Enfield No. 2 Mk I is a British top-break, double-action revolver chambered in .38/200 (.38 S&W) that served as a standard British and Commonwealth sidearm from the 1930s through the 1950s. Adopted in 1932 to replace the heavier .455 Webley, it was developed from a Webley & Scott design and produced at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock. Its six-round cylinder hinges open via a top-break frame with an automatic star ejector for rapid reloading.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 765 g (27.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 260 mm (10.24") |
| Barrel Length | 127 mm (5.00") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Cylinder |
| 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 | Wood |
| 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: Revolver Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Rebounding Hammer
- Features: Top Break Action, Automatic Ejector, Six Round Cylinder
Variants
- Enfield No. 2 Mk I* — 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
- Canadian Armed Forces
- Australian Army
Conflicts
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
Production
Estimated total produced: 380,000 · Production years: 1932-1957
Roughly 270,000-380,000 produced; wartime output supplemented by Albion Motors and Singer. Officially adopted 2 June 1932.
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: Webley & Scott / Royal Small Arms Factory
Discontinued: 1957
Notes
Three principal marks were produced: the Mk I (1931) with a conventional single/double-action lockwork, the Mk I* (1938) converted to double-action-only with a spurless hammer for tank and vehicle crews, and the wartime-simplified Mk I** (1942). Wartime production was supplemented by Albion Motors and the Singer sewing machine company.
Background
The spurless-hammer Mk I* version was introduced after concerns that the exposed hammer of the original could snag inside the cramped interiors of tanks and armoured vehicles; the resulting double-action-only design became the most common wartime variant.