Enfield MK6
Pistol,
Revolver, Webley, No. 1 Mk VI in .455 Webley
or
Enfield
Mk VI Revolver in .455 Eley?
The
Webley Mk VI is similar to the Mk V, but with a square "target" style grip (as
opposed to the "bird's head" style found on earlier models) and a 6-inch (152
mm) barrel. This model was officially adopted on 24 May 1915 and was produced
until 1923.
The Mk.
VI was also manufactured by the Royal Small Arms Factory, otherwise known as
"Enfield" under the designation: Pistol, Revolver, Webley, No. 1 Mk VI in .455
Webley from 1921 to 1926.
It was an
external copy of the Webley, but the internals were modified so as not to fit
the Webley.
It turns
out that the RSAF had not purchased a licence from Webley to manufacture the Mk.
VI.
Webley
launched legal proceedings and won.
The RSAF
ceased production in 1926.
Weight,
empty: 1090g
Total
length: 286mm
Barrel:
152mm = ~6 inches
Notes:
- The
Colt New Service was also supplied to the British in .455 Eley caliber for 2
reasons.
1) the
cartridges supplied to Colt were of "Eley" manufacture.
2) Colt
did not see itself engraving the name of a competitor on its revolvers and
preferred to engrave .455 Eley than .455 Webley.
- Enfield
was a state-owned manufacturer, the British government was not satisfied with
the price to pay for a Webley weapon, a private company that had to make a
profit and pay taxes; but the 14-18 war was far away and Enfield had workers
without having orders. It is possible that the government wanted to obtain
cheaper supplies and/or export weapons without leaving too many traces.
The
Enfield revolver has a marking that is probably Egyptian. (why?)
It is
rarer than the classic Webley because the quantities produced would probably be
20 to 30,000 and would be numbered as follows:
1 to 9999
A1 to
A9999
B1 to
B9999
George E.
