A hodge-podge of sidearms
Mike Erwin--- wrote:
I thought only the Enfields were made without hammer spurs???
Mike, I believe you're right. And I should have expanded the nomenclature to include the design originators, at Enfield Lock. It is the "Revolver No. 2 Mark I*, commonly called the Enfield."
As far as I know, all the Webleys had a hammer spur.
It is interesting how many handguns were in general issue in the British forces in WW-II-- Of course, they were hurting for handguns, and relied heavily on U.S. Lend lease, when the domestic arms could barely keep up with the need for SMLE and Bren long guns. (The submachine guns were still another story.)
The Webley .380, I believe designated both the Mark III and Mark IV.
The Enfield .380s, Revolver No. 2 Mark I and Revolver No. 2 Mark I*
The Webley No. 1 Mark VI .455--This was the big, square butt, six-inch barrel revolver.
The U.S. arms makers were well represented, too:
Colt Government Models, in both .455 Webley and standard .45 ACP.
Smith & Wesson Hand Ejector Military & Police revolvers in .38 S&W, mostly with five-inch barrels.
And then there were the old-line officers, from the days when officers were expected to furnish their own sidearms in the service caliber--Many older Mark Webleys, particularly the Mark IV, the round butt .455 with four-inch barrel, and the commercial Webley .380 caliber. Still others struggled through with issue arms from an eralier age, which had never been exchanged.
Best,
Johnny