“Enfield Revolver” No2 Mk1 (.38/200) History & Shooting Demo 

Blessings from Australia 🇦🇺 Cheers Thomas 🇺🇸

I love .38-200, and handload it for the other three British military revolvers it was used in. The Webley Mk IV .380, S&W Military & Police Lend-Lease, and Colt Official Police. All with 5" barrels. Only the Colt is actually marked .38-200. Matt's Bullets has the only exact historically correct bullet I've been able to find for this cartridge. Pet Loads lists 2.0 grains of Bullseye as duplicating the British Service load at 1.240" overall length, which is what I use. It shoots right to the sights of my S&W, and a little high in the other two guns. Though they may have been sighted for 50 yards. The standard .38 S&W 145 grain load hits low in everything. Very low noise cartridge that hits pleasingly hard. Interestingly, the Colt has a tight .356" groove diameter, indicating they used a .38 Special barrel and simply marked it for the different caliber. But it seems to cause no trouble. The others have the standard .360"-.361" groove diameter. No caliber markings on the Webley, and the Smith is marked for .38 S&W rather than .38-200. Beware of Smiths and possibly Colts converted to .38 Special later on. This sort of works, but cases will bulge and occasionally split in them, and come out looking oddly bottlenecked. Though it poses no danger. This is unfortunate, as the original caliber is perfectly good. Some conversions are marked, but most are not. It was done to the Smiths most by importers in the big surplus boom of the '50s and '60s. A quick look in the chambers will tell the story. Converted chambers will have an odd two step appearance. They are safe to shoot, but it degrades the performance of both the original caliber and .38 Special.

Good commentary on our British allies handgun. A six-shot, break-top revolver, chambered for the British .38/200 cartridge. These simple, but very efficient revolver, including the more refined Webley Mk IV Revolver, served British interests from WWII, to the Korean Conflict, to the Hong Kong Police Dept in China, to anywhere British had foreign interest and assets in. Recently I saw a Enfield .38 on a news video, dated several years ago. A Arab "whatever" had that great British arm in his very grimy hands, waving it around in a threatening manner against Israeli Forces. I'm glad I wasn't present with the Israeli soldiers. I would have been sorely tempted to "off" that terrorist, just to rescue that legendary Enfield from the hands of an evil doer. I have collected Enfield Revolvers for many years and have always found them very interesting and fun to shoot. I use hand loaded .200gr. lead round nose ammo, loaded to the specs of the old British .38/200 cartridge. I keep an Enfield in my bedside nightstand, loaded with this proven combat cartridge, for home defense and road insurance. The model I keep loaded is a Mk I* revolver. Double-Action-Only with the "needed" hammer block that the Mk I** did not have for manufacture speed. That did not last long before because of the "drop&fire" problem that could happen without a hammer block. Some of the Defense Forces in former Brit colonies were still carrying the Enfield up unto recent times. Some former colonial police still pack this "tried & proven" revolver for duty use. In years past, going back into the early 1980's, as a cop in a small Georgia town I would carry my first Enfield on duty. A very quiet small town, protected by a young cop with his Enfield No. 2 Mk I* Revolver, the first of a collection to grow. I really got a charge out of packing that Enfield on duty from time to time. A Colt Official Police.38 (4"bbl) was my primary carry, but on occasion I would pullout that Enfield for duty carry. Those were the greatest times of my life Law Enforcement. Thanks for this video on a firearm legend.

It's basically a copy of the Webley. I have a nice one made in 1932, all original. The 38 S&W is one of those rounds, a lot of "experts" dismiss it as ineffective but they won't volunteer to be shot at with it.

Good shooting 👍

I just picked up one with the DI** markings. It was purchased by the former owner in 1960 as Ihave his returned check for $14.67 from when he purchased it.

Matt’s Bullets also sells the 38/200 rounds.

Hi Thomas. The Broad Arrow is rather misundestood. It is not an 'Acceptance' mark. It is a 'Goverment Property Mark'. All and everything owned by the Britsh Goverment would have that mark. Which includes miles stones, furniture, clothing , and in older times Prisoner's uniforms. 😁. The other mark you find is an X , two arrows nose to nose. This is a 'sold out of service mark. Does the Victory have it though? If it wa ssupplied under LendLease, it will be marked (As my MB42a is , though don't tell your govement!) Property of United States. If it was a commercial sale, ie bought, it is UK Goverment property , so will have a Broad Arrow. Incedentally, you are a better shot than one of my old teachers. He used to tel a story of going around a building in France, and bumping into a German soldier. He fired six shots from his revolver, range about two feet and missed. German fired a shot form his rifle, virtually touching him, and missed. At that point both smiled , turned and ran!

These revolvers saw a lot of service all over the world until recently yet they are overlooked for their older counterpart

Compliments on the through review of this revolver. Since you mentioned that you have the S&W Victory, the Webley, and the Enfield bobbed hammer 2* trio of service sidearms, perhaps you could assemble a posse of trusted associates to comparatively shoot and switch out turns firing each of the 4. And then confer on impressions. About 6 years ago the "und Englander" youtuber Bloke on the Range did just that with only 3 of these 4, and their impressions were an interesting discussion. The spurred hammer Webley Mk4 was the most preferred. The S&W was criticized for the small smooth grips. One commented that old veterans related that whenever able to, those issued with an Enfield bobbed hammer sidearm would try to trade it off for something with a cocking spur.

Great hat! Nice pistol too!👍🏽😀❤️🇺🇸

Where do you get the 38/200 ammo? I can get 38/145 but it aims low.