Description
Item Description
Bryant Ridge Auction Company is pleased to present this incredible WWII Era double-action only revolver today for a penny start auction, this is the Enfield No. 2 MK 1**!
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Enfield
Model: No. 2 MK 1**
Serial: 4453ZF
Date of Manufacture: 1944 (Top of Barrel Stamped "Arrow/44")
Caliber: .38 S&W
Finish: Black
Barrel Length: 5" Slab Sided
Optics/Sights: Patridge Front with Notch Rear
Stock/Grips: Bakelite
Action: Double Only
Markings: Features British proof marks throughout. Right frame flat stamped "FTR/52" , "D(with a small line through the middle)I**" and "RHODE SIA". The cylinder is stamped "SPT 50".
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Enfield No. 2 was a British top-break revolver using the .38 S&W round manufactured from 1930 to 1957. It was the standard British/Commonwealth sidearm in the Second World War, alongside the Webley Mk IV and Smith & Wesson Victory Model revolvers chambered in the same caliber.
After the First World War, it was decided by the British Government that a smaller and lighter .38 caliber (9.2 mm) sidearm firing a long, heavy 200 grain (13 g) soft lead bullet would be preferable to the large Webley service revolvers using the .455 (11.6 mm) round. While the .455 had proven to be an effective weapon for stopping enemy soldiers, the recoil of the .455 cartridge complicated marksmanship training. The authorities began a search for a double-action revolver with less weight and recoil that could be quickly mastered by a minimally trained soldier, with a good probability of hitting an enemy with the first shot at extremely close ranges. By using a long, heavy, round-nosed lead bullet in a .38 caliber cartridge, it was found that the bullet, being minimally stabilized for its weight and caliber, tended to 'keyhole' or tumble longitudinally when striking an object, theoretically increasing wounding and stopping ability of human targets at short ranges. At the time, the .38 caliber Smith & Wesson cartridge with 200-grain (13 g) lead bullet, known as the .38/200, was also a popular cartridge in civilian and police use (in the US, the .38/200 or 380/200 was known as the ".38 Super Police" load).Consequently, the British firm of Webley & Scott tendered their Webley Mk IV revolver in .38/200 caliber. Rather than adopting it, the British authorities took the design to the Government-run Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, and the Enfield factory came up with a revolver that was very similar to the Webley Mk IV .38, but internally slightly different. The Enfield-designed pistol was quickly accepted under the designation "Revolver, No 2 Mk I" (single/double action, with a hammer spur), and was adopted in 1931, followed in 1938 by the Mk I* (lightened trigger pull, spurless hammer, double-action only), and finally the Mk I** (simplified for wartime production) in 1942.
There were three main variants of the Enfield No 2 Mk I revolver. The first was the Mk I which had a full-spur hammer and was double-action/single-action, meaning the shooter could either thumb-cock the hammer before pulling the trigger or could pull the trigger with the hammer uncocked; some shooters preferred the latter option as the trigger pull is much lighter with the hammer cocked. The second variant was the Mk I*, which had a spurless hammer and was double-action only, meaning that the hammer could not be thumb-cocked by the shooter for each shot. The third variant was the Mk I**, which was a 1942 variant of the Mk I* simplified in order to increase production, but was discontinued shortly thereafter as a result of safety concerns over some of the introduced modifications.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Model: No. 2 MK 1**
Serial: 4453ZF
Date of Manufacture: 1944 (Top of Barrel Stamped "Arrow/44")
Caliber: .38 S&W
Finish: Black
Barrel Length: 5" Slab Sided
Optics/Sights: Patridge Front with Notch Rear
Stock/Grips: Bakelite
Action: Double Only
Markings: Features British proof marks throughout. Right frame flat stamped "FTR/52" , "D(with a small line through the middle)I**" and "RHODE SIA". The cylinder is stamped "SPT 50".
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Enfield No. 2 was a British top-break revolver using the .38 S&W round manufactured from 1930 to 1957. It was the standard British/Commonwealth sidearm in the Second World War, alongside the Webley Mk IV and Smith & Wesson Victory Model revolvers chambered in the same caliber.
After the First World War, it was decided by the British Government that a smaller and lighter .38 caliber (9.2 mm) sidearm firing a long, heavy 200 grain (13 g) soft lead bullet would be preferable to the large Webley service revolvers using the .455 (11.6 mm) round. While the .455 had proven to be an effective weapon for stopping enemy soldiers, the recoil of the .455 cartridge complicated marksmanship training. The authorities began a search for a double-action revolver with less weight and recoil that could be quickly mastered by a minimally trained soldier, with a good probability of hitting an enemy with the first shot at extremely close ranges. By using a long, heavy, round-nosed lead bullet in a .38 caliber cartridge, it was found that the bullet, being minimally stabilized for its weight and caliber, tended to 'keyhole' or tumble longitudinally when striking an object, theoretically increasing wounding and stopping ability of human targets at short ranges. At the time, the .38 caliber Smith & Wesson cartridge with 200-grain (13 g) lead bullet, known as the .38/200, was also a popular cartridge in civilian and police use (in the US, the .38/200 or 380/200 was known as the ".38 Super Police" load).Consequently, the British firm of Webley & Scott tendered their Webley Mk IV revolver in .38/200 caliber. Rather than adopting it, the British authorities took the design to the Government-run Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, and the Enfield factory came up with a revolver that was very similar to the Webley Mk IV .38, but internally slightly different. The Enfield-designed pistol was quickly accepted under the designation "Revolver, No 2 Mk I" (single/double action, with a hammer spur), and was adopted in 1931, followed in 1938 by the Mk I* (lightened trigger pull, spurless hammer, double-action only), and finally the Mk I** (simplified for wartime production) in 1942.
There were three main variants of the Enfield No 2 Mk I revolver. The first was the Mk I which had a full-spur hammer and was double-action/single-action, meaning the shooter could either thumb-cock the hammer before pulling the trigger or could pull the trigger with the hammer uncocked; some shooters preferred the latter option as the trigger pull is much lighter with the hammer cocked. The second variant was the Mk I*, which had a spurless hammer and was double-action only, meaning that the hammer could not be thumb-cocked by the shooter for each shot. The third variant was the Mk I**, which was a 1942 variant of the Mk I* simplified in order to increase production, but was discontinued shortly thereafter as a result of safety concerns over some of the introduced modifications.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping $65.00
We strive to ship orders within the close of the following business day after payment and documentation is received.
Payment Details
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Please note we place a 7 business day hold on shipment, for all non-certified payments.
Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Additional Details
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