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**2018 DEACTIVATION CERTIFICATED**Enfield No.2 Mk I .38 Top Break Revolver. D 5988. - D 5988 After the First World War, it was decided by the British Government that a smaller and lighter .38 calibre (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 calibre cartridge, it was found that the bullet, being minimally stabilised for its weight and calibre, tended to 'keyhole' or tumble longitudinally when striking an object, theoretically increasing wounding and stopping ability of human targets at short ranges. Consequently, the British firm of Webley & Scott tendered their Webley Mk IV revolver in .38/200 calibre. 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, spur less hammer, double-action only), and finally the Mk I** (simplified for wartime production) in 1942. This example retains the majority of its colour. The grip is showing minor signs of service wear and is intact. The pistols serial number is ‘D1418’ and the pistol cocks and dry fires correctly in single action. A good example for the collector or re-enactor. The price for this pistol includes deactivation certificate & UK delivery. D 5988. £475.00
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