Royal · Revolver
Enfield Mk II Revolver
Revolving · .476 Enfield · introduced 1882
Also known as Enfield Revolver Mk II, Enfield Model 1881, Pistol Revolver Enfield Mark II
About the Enfield Mk II Revolver
The Enfield Mk II is a British top-break, double-action service revolver chambered in .476 Enfield, introduced in 1882 as a refinement of the 1880 Mk I. It used the distinctive Owen Jones extraction system, in which opening the action slid the cylinder forward along its axis to strip spent cases against a fixed extractor plate. Adopted as the standard British military sidearm, it was found underpowered in colonial campaigns and was replaced by the Webley Mk I from 1887.
Named for designer Owen Jones, the Enfield's forward-sliding cylinder extraction was clever in theory but cumbersome in the field, and the .476 cartridge proved too weak for the stopping power demanded in Britain's colonial wars, hastening the revolver's replacement by Webley.
Enfield Mk II Revolver specifications
General
- Type
- Revolver
- Action
- Revolving
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer-fired
- Trigger
- Double action
- Calibres
- .476 Enfield
- Magazine capacity
- 6 rounds
- Magazine
- Revolving cylinder
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 146 mm (5.7 in)
- Overall length
- 292 mm (11.5 in)
- Weight (empty)
- 1.13 kg (2.49 lb)
Barrel
- Rifling
- Right hand
Materials
- Barrel
- Steel
- Receiver / frame
- Steel
- Stock
- Wood
- Finish
- blued
Performance
- Muzzle velocity (typical)
- 183 m/s (600 fps)
- Muzzle energy (typical)
- 288 J (212 ft·lb)
- Effective range
- 50 m
History
- Introduced
- 1882
- Discontinued
- 1889
- Production status
- Discontinued
- Country of origin
- GB
- Designer
- Owen Jones
Features
- Owen jones extraction
- Sliding cylinder
- Top break frame
- External hammer
- Lanyard ring
Safety
- Half cock notch
The Owen Jones extractor was intended to allow selective ejection of spent cases while retaining live rounds, but in practice the mechanism was complex and unpopular. The Mk II was declared obsolete following the adoption of the Webley.