h Enfield/Webley .38 Revolvers of WWII - Dillon Precision · PDF fileThe revolver illustrated...
1
41 41 D P f r - - y d plaint and a claim for development costs. In 1928, they were advised that the design was judged that of Captain Boys with Webley assistance – a rever- sal of the proper order of things, according to W&S. Webley’s development claim was denied, although they later received a small sum from the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors. The close relationship of Webley with the British War office had effectively been destroyed. On June 2, 1932, the “Pistol, Revolver, No. 2 Mark I” was approved after a number of minor modifications including a hammer block safety. Production then began at Enfield. Captain Boys, the prime mover of the new revolver, passed away not long after, in 1935. In 1936, the No. 2 Mark I was joined in production by the No. 2 Mark I* (Mark One Star), which was a double action-only model without a hammer spur. Its successor was the Mark I**, a minor modification. Both of these revolvers were in response to complaints by the Armored Corps that the hammer spur tended to hang up on the interiors of tanks, especially when entering and exiting quickly. No. 2 revolvers and parts were produced not only by Enfield, but also by numerous subcontrac- tors scattered around England, most notably Albion Motors Ltd. During World War II, the original Web- ley Military Mark IV was issued to supplement these guns. Contracts for these commercial revolvers were let in 1940, 1941 and 1944. Guns resulting from the last contract mostly had a rougher exterior, and were marked “WAR FINISH” on the left side of the frame. Webley was proud of its commercial-finish guns, and wanted it under- stood that the finish on these wartime revolvers was an exception and not up to its usual standards. The revolver illustrated is one of these Mark IV Webleys, and was manufactured in 1944. The Enfield and Webley revolvers were the stan- dard British military sidearms during World War II. They were issued to officers and other specified personnel. The Browning High Power pistol (as manufactured by Inglis of Canada) was provided only to special forces and paratroopers, where it served admirably. Unfortunately, the .38/200 car- tridge of the topbreak revolvers never achieved a reputation for man-stopping power, but the guns were often used to good effect and could be relied upon even in adverse conditions. When France fell in 1940, and with the losses generated from the British Expeditionary Force evacuation of Dunkirk, there was an extreme short- age of suitable arms. Domestic retailers in the U.K. emptied their shelves of .455 and .38/200 hand- guns for the war effort. Webley & Scott cranked up production of the Mark IV and dispersed its manufacturing locations, utilizing five separate locations in the Birmingham area. Virtually identical to the No. 2 revolvers, no change in training was required for the troops equipped with the Webleys. Because of their double- and single- action design, the Webleys were in fact preferred by the British troops over the double-action only Enfields. The Webleys’ only downside lay in their lack of parts interchangeability, as that design required con- siderable hand fitting dur- ing production. Because of this, most Webley parts were marked with the last two digits of the serial number to keep components sorted out properly. By the early 1960s, the old top- break Enfield and Webley revolvers were officially obsolete and were to be replaced by the High Powers. Still, large numbers reportedly remained in inven- tory and saw front line service as late as 1968 or 1969. In fact, it was told that it was rare during that time to see a Browning High Power anywhere except in special forces and the paratroops! These British relics of World War Two were eventually released as surplus and offered for sale around the world. They are still available for rea- sonable prices on the collector market, but finding one today will take some searching. They are defi- nitely classic military handguns and a must for any collector of WWII firearms. eld/Webley .38 Revolvers of WWII h s t . April 11 Blue Press Section 2 2/14/11 2:57 PM Page 41
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Transcript of h Enfield/Webley .38 Revolvers of WWII - Dillon Precision · PDF fileThe revolver illustrated...
4141
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plaint and a claim for development costs. In 1928,they were advised that the design was judged thatof Captain Boys with Webley assistance – a rever-sal of the proper order of things, according toW&S. Webley’s development claim was denied,although they later received a small sum from theRoyal Commission on Awards to Inventors. Theclose relationship of Webley with the British Waroffice had effectively been destroyed.
On June 2, 1932, the “Pistol, Revolver, No. 2
Mark I”was approved
after a number ofminor modifications
including a hammer block safety. Productionthen began at Enfield. Captain Boys, theprime mover of the new revolver, passedaway not long after, in 1935.
In 1936, the No. 2 Mark I was joined inproduction by the No. 2 Mark I* (Mark OneStar), which was a double action-only modelwithout a hammer spur. Its successor was theMark I**, a minor modification. Both of theserevolvers were in response to complaints bythe Armored Corps that the hammer spur tendedto hang up on the interiors of tanks, especiallywhen entering and exiting quickly.
No. 2 revolvers and parts were produced notonly by Enfield, but also by numerous subcontrac-tors scattered around England, most notably AlbionMotors Ltd. During World War II, the original Web-ley Military Mark IV was issued to supplementthese guns. Contracts for these commercialrevolvers were let in 1940, 1941 and 1944. Gunsresulting from the last contract mostly had arougher exterior, and were marked “WAR FINISH”on the left side of the frame. Webley was proud ofits commercial-finish guns, and wanted it under-stood that the finish on these wartime revolvers
was an exception and not up to its usual standards.The revolver illustrated is one of these Mark IVWebleys, and was manufactured in 1944.
The Enfield and Webley revolvers were the stan-dard British military sidearms during World War II.They were issued to officers and other specifiedpersonnel. The Browning High Power pistol (asmanufactured by Inglis of Canada) was providedonly to special forces and paratroopers, where itserved admirably. Unfortunately, the .38/200 car-tridge of the topbreak revolvers never achieved areputation for man-stopping power, but the gunswere often used to good effect and could be reliedupon even in adverse conditions.
When France fell in 1940, and with the lossesgenerated from the British Expeditionary Forceevacuation of Dunkirk, there was an extreme short-age of suitable arms. Domestic retailers in the U.K.emptied their shelves of .455 and .38/200 hand-
guns for the war effort. Webley & Scott crankedup production of the Mark IV and dispersedits manufacturing locations, utilizing fiveseparate locations in the Birmingham area.Virtually identical to the No. 2 revolvers,no change in training was required for
the troops equipped with the Webleys.Because of their double- and single-
action design, the Webleys were infact preferred by the British troops
over the double-action onlyEnfields. The Webleys’ only
downside lay in their lack ofparts interchangeability, asthat design required con-siderable hand fitting dur-ing production. Becauseof this, most Webleyparts were marked withthe last two digits of theserial number to keepcomponents sortedout properly.
By the early1960s, the old top-break Enfield and
Webley revolverswere officially obsolete and were
to be replaced by the High Powers.Still, large numbers reportedly remained in inven-tory and saw front line service as late as 1968 or1969. In fact, it was told that it was rare during thattime to see a Browning High Power anywhereexcept in special forces and the paratroops!
These British relics of World War Two wereeventually released as surplus and offered for salearound the world. They are still available for rea-sonable prices on the collector market, but findingone today will take some searching. They are defi-nitely classic military handguns and a must for anycollector of WWII firearms.
h Enfiieelldd//WWeebblleeyy ..3388 RReevvoollvveerrss ooff WWWWIIII
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s proudfinishithe finishrevolversand notndards.
April 11 Blue Press Section 2 2/14/11 2:57 PM Page 41
