No. 2 revolvers measured an overall length of 10.25 inches (260mm) with 5-inch barrels (127mm). The unit weighed 1.7lbs unloaded. Muzzle velocity was listed at 600 feet per second.
Production revolvers were produced through three distinct production forms as the Mk.I, Mk.I* and Mk.I**. The Mk.I was the original production offering with the external hammer spur. Mk.I* models were based on the Mk.I though with the aforementioned spur-less hammers and these appeared from June 1938 onwards. This version was then standardized upon to guarantee that British tanker crews received the appropriate model - previous Mk.I forms then in circulation were thusly converted at government facilities to the Mk.I* standard when they came through for repair. An additional change came through a revised main-spring which lessened the required trigger pull. Beginning July 29th, 1942 - with Britain and her Commonwealth nations fully at war against the Axis powers - the No.2 received an all-new production variant in the Mk.I**. The Mk.I** was, for all intents and purposes, a revised Mk.I* revised for mass production. This primarily resulted in the hammer safety being removed which, though it lent a certain air of danger to general management of the No. 2 revolver (the revolver could easily accidentally discharge if dropped), allowed manufacture facilities to produce the revolver at a quickened pace and at lower procurement cost to the government. The safety feature was only reinstituted after the cessation of hostilities making both the Mk.I and Mk.I** production forms extreme rarities in today's collector market.
In practice Enfield No. 2 revolvers saw widespread service with British and Commonwealth forces throughout World War 2 (1939-1945) though it was not as highly valued as other sidearms of the conflict were. The loss of its original single-action operation and thumb-cocking facility made for an inaccurate weapon to fire and the trigger required a heavy pull. Tanker crews, for which the spur-less design was initiated for, were issued a special thigh fabric holster for their No. 2 revolvers though these proved cumbersome and prone to snagging before being dispensed with in a short time. As a whole, No. 2 revolvers were still serviceable, reliable and mechanically sound despite the noted drawbacks.
The series was produced by through several facilities beyond the storied Enfield arsenal. This included manufacture at the Albion Motors Ltd company of Scotsoun, Galsgow and the Singer Sewing Machine Company of Clydebank. Approximately 380,000 Enfield No. 2 revolvers were produced before the end of the war. Webley & Scott eventually did sell their own .38 (Webley Mk.IV) to the British Army only when Enfield stocks were not sufficient to meet the wartime demand - these also chambered in .38 SAA Ball and were close in appearance to their Enfield cousins, though interchangeability of parts was not possible.
Operators included Australia, Canada, Gambia, Lesotho and the United Kingdom. Its use also spanned the Korean War (1950-1953).
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