My 38 Enfield revolver

RoyceP · March 16, 2023, 08:12 AM

It was advertised as a 38 Mk IV Webley but it's clearly not that. The seller was selling it at a modest price. I figured what the heck?

I went by my favorite reloading store. They were selling 38 S&W once fired brass for $5 for 50. I spent $10 and got 100. They also had some 148 grain LRN bullets so I got a couple hundred of those sized to .361". I used some Unique powder, W-W primers. a 9mm Makarov Lee FCD fits.

It's double action only. The trigger pull is a bit stiff. Sights are decent. Finish is wartime so not too good. It's a blast to shoot and pretty accurate once you get the hang of it.

105kw · March 16, 2023, 11:09 PM

It's a Enfield, built by the British.
A story I was told, is that the British didn't want to buy Webleys. So they did the Enfield. And bought Webleys too.

**Mike Irwin** · March 17, 2023, 06:51 AM

An Enfield No 2, Mk I* or possibly Mk I**, depending exactly on when it was made.

Bob Wright · March 17, 2023, 08:59 AM

Refresh my memory, please: What is the purpose of the steel (?) disc in the grip?

As I recall it had something to do with the take down of the cylinder star?

Bob Wright

**44 AMP** · March 17, 2023, 12:30 PM

Other than reinforcing the grip where the screw is, I don't know, but you might be right.

The steel disc in the stock of a 98k Mauser is for taking down the firing pin assy. I've seen instructions for that.

It must have some use, its British, not French, after all....

RoyceP · March 17, 2023, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Wright

Refresh my memory, please: What is the purpose of the steel (?) disc in the grip?

As I recall it had something to do with the take down of the cylinder star?

Bob Wright

The disc is brass and it is integral with the nut. My impression is that brass disc spreads out the nut's tension on the plastic grip.

**Mike Irwin** · March 18, 2023, 06:39 AM

I've never seen anything engraved on the disk, I've never seen anything indicating that it had any other use than what Royce suggests.

tmd47762 · March 18, 2023, 09:51 PM

I don’t think mine has the disc in the grip, but it’s in the hard to get to safe, so I can’t check.

I suspect it’s just British over-engineering. It might have been easier to stamp a brass washer than machine the appropriate nut into the grip.

They are fun to shoot.

TruthTellers · March 18, 2023, 09:55 PM

I feel the .38 Enfield/Webley top breaks are a better buy these days than the .45's with the shaved cylinders. At least with the .38 models you know they haven't been shot to crap with full power jacketed .45 ACP.

SIGSHR · March 19, 2023, 08:56 PM

The Enfield No 2 Mk 1 was such a close copy of the Webley that they had to pay for patent infringement. The War came, they need anything that would shoot. I have seen Webleys with the "War Finish", they are pretty rough, yours looks OK, like pre-war production.
I have an all-original No.2 Mk1, made in 1932. An HBWC over 2.7 grains of Bullseye is as much and accurate as the same load in 38 Special.

RoyceP · March 19, 2023, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIGSHR

The Enfield No 2 Mk 1 was such a close copy of the Webley that they had to pay for patent infringement. The War came, they need anything that would shoot. I have seen Webleys with the "War Finish", they are pretty rough, yours looks OK, like pre-war production.
I have an all-original No.2 Mk1, made in 1932. An HBWC over 2.7 grains of Bullseye is as much and accurate as the same load in 38 Special.

The load I am using is 2.8 Grains of Unique to push a 148 grain LRN bullet. It's pretty accurate; the issue is my shooting and the horrendous DA trigger pull. I bet once I get used to it, it will be better.

SIGSHR · March 20, 2023, 07:38 AM

Yes, that heavy DA only trigger pull takes it out of the fun category IMHO.

darkgael · March 20, 2023, 08:32 AM

Fwiw from Skennerton:

darkgael · March 20, 2023, 08:47 AM

The brass “marking disc” set into the right grip panel was a feature on the Mark II (1938-1943) and on the Mark III Bakelite grips (1942-45).

Bob Willman · March 20, 2023, 09:34 AM

It looks like mine. My disk in the right grip is not shiny but appears to be blued. On the right side in front of the grip it is stamped DI**. The top of the barrel is stamped CAL 38 in one direction and "something I cant make" followed by 43 in the other direction. There are also some stampings on the rear of the cylinder. Either an F or E and something that looks like D above IR above a strange looking X with a P below all that. The serial number is under the barrel right above the hinge.

NRA Benefactor Golden Eagle Looking forward to Indianapolis.

veprdude · March 27, 2023, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyceP

The disc is brass and it is integral with the nut. My impression is that brass disc spreads out the nut's tension on the plastic grip.

That's certainly its purpose. Any other feature is secondary. Were there cracking issues with previous models? I also agree that it's cheaper to make a big washer to distribute load than to machine a special grip screw nut that is integrated into the other side of the grip.

Jack19 · March 27, 2023, 10:57 AM

That is so cool.

Always wanted a Bulldog in .450.

Prices today are

RoyceP · March 29, 2023, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack19

That is so cool.

Always wanted a Bulldog in .450.

Prices today are

In 450 caliber yes prices are pretty high. However in 38 caliber they are still reasonable. I need to find a decent Webley 38 before prices go crazy.

**44 AMP** · March 29, 2023, 11:11 PM

I got my big bore break action slot filled a long time ago with a Webley Mk VI, better gun all round, I think.

Passed on several Webleys and Enfield .38s when they were in the $150 range, had things I wanted more to spend my money on, and I wasn't keen on tooling up for .38 S&W.

They are neat pieces of history, but not what I call "great" revolvers.

jar · March 30, 2023, 06:41 AM

My 38S&W Webley was a Singapore Police Force revolver.

March 17, 2023, 06:51 AM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,474	An Enfield No 2, Mk I* or possibly Mk I**, depending exactly on when it was made. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 17, 2023, 08:59 AM	#4
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 3,000	Refresh my memory, please: What is the purpose of the steel (?) disc in the grip? As I recall it had something to do with the take down of the cylinder star? Bob Wright __________________ Time spent at the reloading bench is an investment in contentment.

March 17, 2023, 12:30 PM	#5
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 29,496	Other than reinforcing the grip where the screw is, I don't know, but you might be right. The steel disc in the stock of a 98k Mauser is for taking down the firing pin assy. I've seen instructions for that. It must have some use, its British, not French, after all.... __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

March 18, 2023, 09:55 PM	#9
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,914	I feel the .38 Enfield/Webley top breaks are a better buy these days than the .45's with the shaved cylinders. At least with the .38 models you know they haven't been shot to crap with full power jacketed .45 ACP. __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

March 20, 2023, 08:47 AM	#14
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	The brass “marking disc” set into the right grip panel was a feature on the Mark II (1938-1943) and on the Mark III Bakelite grips (1942-45). __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

March 16, 2023, 11:09 PM	#2
105kw Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2017 Location: Columbia Basin Washington Posts: 434	It's a Enfield, built by the British. A story I was told, is that the British didn't want to buy Webleys. So they did the Enfield. And bought Webleys too.

March 18, 2023, 06:39 AM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,474	I've never seen anything engraved on the disk, I've never seen anything indicating that it had any other use than what Royce suggests.

March 18, 2023, 09:51 PM	#8
tmd47762 Member Join Date: April 30, 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 99	I don’t think mine has the disc in the grip, but it’s in the hard to get to safe, so I can’t check. I suspect it’s just British over-engineering. It might have been easier to stamp a brass washer than machine the appropriate nut into the grip. They are fun to shoot.

March 19, 2023, 08:56 PM	#10
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,706	The Enfield No 2 Mk 1 was such a close copy of the Webley that they had to pay for patent infringement. The War came, they need anything that would shoot. I have seen Webleys with the "War Finish", they are pretty rough, yours looks OK, like pre-war production. I have an all-original No.2 Mk1, made in 1932. An HBWC over 2.7 grains of Bullseye is as much and accurate as the same load in 38 Special.

March 20, 2023, 07:38 AM	#12
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,706	Yes, that heavy DA only trigger pull takes it out of the fun category IMHO.

March 20, 2023, 09:34 AM	#15
Bob Willman Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2018 Location: Bowling Green, Ohio Posts: 112	It looks like mine. My disk in the right grip is not shiny but appears to be blued. On the right side in front of the grip it is stamped DI**. The top of the barrel is stamped CAL 38 in one direction and "something I cant make" followed by 43 in the other direction. There are also some stampings on the rear of the cylinder. Either an F or E and something that looks like D above IR above a strange looking X with a P below all that. The serial number is under the barrel right above the hinge. NRA Benefactor Golden Eagle Looking forward to Indianapolis.

March 27, 2023, 10:57 AM	#17
Jack19 Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2001 Location: Somewhere in the Ford Galaxy Posts: 729	That is so cool. Always wanted a Bulldog in .450. Prices today are __________________ Once people stop believing in God, the problem is not that they will believe in nothing; rather, the problem is that they will believe anything. - C. S. Lewis

March 29, 2023, 11:11 PM	#19
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 29,496	I got my big bore break action slot filled a long time ago with a Webley Mk VI, better gun all round, I think. Passed on several Webleys and Enfield .38s when they were in the $150 range, had things I wanted more to spend my money on, and I wasn't keen on tooling up for .38 S&W. They are neat pieces of history, but not what I call "great" revolvers. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

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